Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo Defend Burghley Title
The final day at Burghley delivered everything this sport is known for: pressure, movement on the leaderboard, and one rider holding her nerve at the very end.
Ros Canter entered the show jumping arena with two fences in hand. She already had the crowd behind her after producing the only cross-country round inside the time on Saturday, a performance that gave her the lead going into the final phase. Today, she needed composure to finish the job.
Ros Canter & Lordships Graffalo: Balance and Precision
Lordships Graffalo, “Walter,” rose to the occasion once again. Their round was measured and economical, not showy but effective — the balance and rhythm that has become their trademark. A couple of time faults were added, but every fence stayed in place.
The stands erupted as they crossed the finish. Ros and Walter were met with a standing ovation from the Burghley crowd, a response that reflected not just the win but the significance of what they had achieved together.
Competing as an Expectant Mother
What makes this victory even more striking is the context. Ros is expecting her second child in early 2026. Yesterday morning, before tackling the cross-country, she quietly took time out to jump Walter in a schooling session — making sure she still felt mentally and physically prepared to ride at the standard this level demands. She chose to trust her body, trust her instincts, and only compete once she knew she was ready.
In the aftermath, Ros acknowledged that while “a couple of people mentioned being careful, staying safe, and asked if I really wanted to do it,” the overwhelming response from the community had been supportive.
That acknowledgement matters. Expectant mothers deserve the space to use their intuition, to judge for themselves when they are capable, and to continue at the top of their game without compromise. Ros’s win is not just a sporting milestone, it is a reminder that pregnancy does not remove women from the highest level of competition — and that they still deserve to lead, to win, and to be celebrated.
Making History
This result secures Ros back-to-back Burghley titles and confirms Lordships Graffalo as the first horse ever to win two Badmintons and two Burghleys. For Ros, it is another milestone in a career already defined by consistency and resilience, now matched with a human story that resonated across the Burghley crowd.
Final Top Three — Burghley 2025
🥇 Ros Canter & Lordships Graffalo — 23.6 (clear round, 2 time penalties)
🥈 Austin O’Connor & Colorado Blue — 32.6 (one rail down)
🥉 Harry Meade & Cavalier Crystal — 33.3 (clear round)
The 2025 edition of Burghley will be remembered for that final round — balance, control, and a rider who proved that motherhood and elite sport do not exist in separate spaces.
