EARDISLEY’S Louise Harwood is gearing up for the challenge of her life as she and horse Mr Potts prepare to ride at the Burghley Horse Trials.

Already boasting a plethora of Burghley experience, Harwood is preparing to embark on the famous course for a 14th time and a fourth ride with Mr Potts.

Mr Potts will be one of 100 horses taking to the international four-star event in Burghley Park, Lincolnshire from September 1 to 4.

Event riders will compete in dressage, cross country and show jumping disciplines, looking to follow in the footsteps of 2015 winner Michael Jung as well as six-time champion William Fox-Pitt, who has just represented Team GB at the Rio Olympic Games.

And while Harwood, 40, is looking to revel in her latest Burghley experience, she is more than looking forward to what tricks the event has in store.

“You can never master Burghley, there’s always something they change and you go there not really knowing what to expect, no matter how many times you’ve been before,” said Harwood, who stables at Rose Cottage Great Oak in Eardisley.

“I must like scaring myself.

"It’s the biggest course in the world but I’m drawn to that challenge, I’ve been able to get some horses who perhaps aren’t the best at dressage to pull it off elsewhere and get some placings.

“Every jump is big or wide, there isn’t any which you see as a nice, easy jump – you walk the course and can see just how fast it is and somehow, even when the course doesn’t look it, you’re able to get round.”

Mr Potts will be the only ride of Harwood this year, who also rode Whitson at Burghley 2015.

But, knowing the rewards at stake, Harwood is keen to focus all her attentions on one horse, also giving herself a chance to revel in the occasion.

“It didn’t go brilliantly with Whitson there last year, and I think he would be more suited to a flatter course,” she said.

“I’d love to be able to get another all-clear round at four-star, Mr Potts gets round them every time and we placed 12th just a couple of years ago.

“Any time we do slip up it’s due to silly mistakes such as being on the wrong line for a jump, so there’s a lot of potential there. My aim is a clear cross country.”

* The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials from September 1 to 4 has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years.

For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk