U.S. Rider Caroline Pamukcu Secures Podium Finish at Defender Burghley Horse Trials

Fourteen years is a long time to wait for a podium finish at the world's most demanding equestrian event. That drought ended on Sunday when 31-year-old American rider Caroline Pamukcu piloted her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse, HSH Blake, to a third-place finish at the 2026 Defender Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire, England.[1]

The result marks the first time a United States combination has cracked the top three at the prestigious CCI5*-L event since Sinead Maynard took second place in 2012. Competing at Burghley for the first time, Pamukcu navigated the grueling three-day test to finish on a final score of 44.0, securing honors as both the highest-placed American and the highest-placed debutant in the field.[1]

The podium finish completes a rapid, high-stakes redemption arc for the Pennsylvania-based rider. Just five weeks ago, Pamukcu and HSH Blake were eliminated at the FEI Eventing World Championships in Aachen, Germany, after a fall at fence 17 on the cross-country course. The pair walked away uninjured, but the early exit left Pamukcu gutted and searching for a reset.[1][2]

"I'm really happy, but it's bittersweet, I would say," Pamukcu told reporters after her final round. "I'm very disappointed that I fell for my team at worlds, but I hope I redeemed myself this weekend." She spent the intervening weeks based at British Olympian Pippa Funnell's yard, regrouping and preparing for the 65-year-old British fixture.[1][2]

The turnaround began on Thursday with a polished dressage test that earned a score of 32.0, placing the duo fifth after the opening phase. On Saturday, they tackled Derek di Grazia's notoriously massive cross-country track. HSH Blake, a gelding owned by Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin, and Pamukcu's husband Deniz, answered the 28-question course without a jumping fault, adding only 8.0 time penalties to move up the leaderboard.[1]

The final day's show jumping phase proved decisive for the entire field. Pamukcu entered the grass arena firmly in contention and delivered a composed effort, dropping just a single rail to add 4.0 faults to her total. That consistency was enough to vault her into third place as other top contenders faltered under the pressure.[2]

Great Britain's Gemma Stevens claimed the overall victory aboard Chilli Knight, jumping a flawless final round to finish on her dressage score and win by a massive 13.4-penalty margin. British rider Katie Magee took second on Treworra, making it an all-female podium at the 2026 event.[2][3]

The American contingent saw further success with Will Coleman finishing seventh aboard Very Dignified. The 11-year-old mare, making her five-star debut, jumped double-clear on Sunday to finish on a score of 47.2. "For me, Burghley is the ultimate in our sport," Coleman said. "It's the crown jewel of five-star eventing. It's the ultimate test."[1]

For Pamukcu, the result cements HSH Blake's status as one of the sport's elite mounts. The pair previously finished second at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L in April and won individual gold at the 2023 Pan-American Games. "He's such a special guy," Pamukcu said. "I've had him since the beginning and there's no other horse I'd rather do my first Burghley on."[1]