What a perfect name for a Swiss horse whose coat is the color of a chocolate bar: Toblerone.
The 19-year-old gelding and his rider, Nadja Minder, lead the 5-star Defender Burghley Horse Trials after the first day of dressage with 29.5 penalties.
The oldest horse in the field has the honor of being the first Swiss entry to head the standings in the 65-year history of the event.
Nadja Minder and Toblerone. (Defender Burghley photo)
The combination have been seen regularly on the Swiss team since for five years. They were the pathfinders at the European Championships last year. They were twentieth at Burghley in 2024.
“It was really cool,” said 30-year-old Nadja after her ride..
“Toblerone is a pro now and I just have to make him believe he can do good dressage. When a horse knows its job so well, it is just about getting them fit and supple and Piggy March [the 2022 Burghley winner] has helped me a lot with that.”
Having a Swiss take the lead may provide a bit of temporary solace for the team, which lost a star, Felix Vogg, when his mount, 2025 Maryland 5-star winner Cartania, was not able to compete because of a low red blood cell count.
The top-placing American in eighth place is Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Tolan King (34.4), following by Cassie Sanger with Redfield Fyre (38.2) in fourteenth place. Caroline rides again Friday on HSH Blake, who had a fall on cross-country last month at the world championships.
She was a member of the bronze medal team there as the crop score. Another member of the team, Will Coleman, also rides Friday with Very Dignified.
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