The coming of September means it’s Burghley Horse Trials time again, and one hoards of horse-mad singles who date with us look forward to in the country calendar. Equestrian, cross country and eventing are some of the most popular interests picked to display in profile bios and the prestigious competition is common ground to connect over.
To mark the occasion, we’ve delved into the Burghley archives to unearth the quirky, creative horse names who have competed over the famous fences that we think are a perfect fit for dating the Muddy Matches way.
Love Note
Composing that opening first message to a profile that has pricked your interest is always a brave step, and is a romantic gesture mostly meaningful to receive. Part of Tim Price’s competitive line-up, Love Note competed at Burghley in 2023.
Amour
A flight of French fancy and romance needs no clarity as to tie to dating, though its mystique is often something that draws someone into our muddy world first up. Amour was a ride of the Burghley legend, Mary King.
Devotion
Deep meaningful commitment is the holy grail in the online dating world and, alongside loyalty, authenticity and honesty, is something we treasure. But finding that special connection also takes devotion to the process. Devotion rode the fences with Izzy Taylor, niece of Burghley’s first winner Anneli Drummond-Hay, in the seat.
Flirt
We all like a good flirt, and the playful behaviour that comes with it; a hallmark of any good early dating interaction. It’s just about striking the right amount. Lucinda Fredericks competed with Flirt at Burghley in 2010.
Romantic
Straight out of the gate! Everyone is on the hunt for some rural romance when they join us. Romantic was a early career entry for eventual five-time Burghley winner, Andrew Nicholson.
Charming
An attractive quality, the hopes of unearthing a ‘charming’, charismatic muddy match are high on many an online dating wish list. Charming was a historic ride of William Fox-Pitt, Burghley’s most successful rider with six wins.
Cavalier Crystal
‘Cavalier’ evokes a chivalrous, romantic figure who is bold and courageous (just like those first adventures into the online dating world). This reliable mare – the ride of Harry Meade in 2025 – has finished third twice at Burghley, and is noted for her consistency.
Court Jester
We know for sure that a playful sense of fun and the ability to not take yourself too seriously goes down well in catching the attention of mud lovers when dating with us. It’s true, you can woo through humour. Court Jester was another Pippa Funnel ride in 2005.
Charisma
The magnetic pull of charisma makes for one of the most sought after, attractive personality traits in a prospective date and that definitely applies on Muddy Matches, where manners and character often outlast good looks. Blyth Tait rode Charisma at Burghley in 1998, a horse noted for its Olympic and five-star performances.
Heartbreaker
The character to steer well clear of when online dating, but also a common trope in building emotional intelligence and self worth. Pippa Funnell, a Grand Slam winner at Burghley, rode Heartbreaker in past events, contributing to her storied career.
Sweet Opposition
This one evokes ideas of the affectionate, playful push-pull dynamic of early dating. Will they, won’t they? It really is the thrill of the chase sometimes. Part of the 2022 Burghley field, Sweet Opposition had Kirsty Chabert as the rider.
Moonlight Charmer
A name that has a smooth, daydreamy vibe to it – a great fit when venturing into dating – but with the ‘Moonlight’ bit throwing up the idea of late night exchanges too which might not not so romantic. Gemma Tattersall, who also rode Adore in 2017, was the competition ride in 2019.
Desire
Whatever your motivation, desire – alongside passion – is always high up on a reason to get yourself out there and explore what Muddy Matches has to offer – and, let’s face it, it’s what fuels many a first connection. With Badminton wiiner Laura Collett in the seat, Desire was in the 2022 Burghley field.
Sweetheart
“Sweetheart” as a term of affection might just be a little too cheesy and cute for many of our mud-loving singles to utter, but no list of Burghley horses would be complete without an entry with Mark Todd in the seat.
Loverboy
Now the playfulness of ‘Loverboy’ comes in stark contrast to ‘Sweetheart’. We can absolutely hear the cheeky shouts of ‘Loverboy’ across the yards in a less than serious but still affectionate way. Andrew Hoy, an Australian eventing legend, rode Loverboy in past Burghley events.
So, what do you think of our list of Burghley runners and riders with a dating association from over the years?
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