Phillip Dutton announced on his Facebook page on Sept. 3 that he has withdrawn Mighty Nice from the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials CCI****, Sept. 4-7.

“Unfortunately, Bruce Duchossois’ Mighty Nice pulled up a little sore from his last gallop before the Burghley Horse Trials, so we have to withdraw him. We’ll get ‘Happy’ back to the U.S. and evaluate him with our vet team, then make a plan from there,” he said.

Dutton will stay in England to compete both Tom Tierney and Annie Jones’ Fernhill Fugitive and Simon Roosevelt’s Fernhill Cubalawn at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials CCI***, Sept. 11-14. He received a Land Rover competition grant earlier in the summer to send both horses.

Four other U.S. pairs will contest Burghley, which started today with the first horse inspection.

Allison Springer and Arthur will make their return to Burghley after finishing sixth in 2012, while three Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team alternates for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will also contest the event.

Hannah Sue Burnett and Harbour Pilot, who completed their first four-star at the Rolex Kentucky CCI**** this spring, will be looking for another good finish, while Meghan O’ Donaghue and Pirate, who have completed Rolex twice, will be making their second trip to Europe after finishing 11th at the Blenheim Palace CCI*** last year.

First alternates for the World Games squad, Marilyn Little and RF Demeter, have plenty of experience at European events and at the four-star level, but have never contested Burghley, so they’ll be looking for a competitive finish.

The trot-up has taken place, and the 64 riders have had their first opportunity to get out on to the cross country course and see what Captain Mark Phillips has in store for them on Saturday.

The good news is that the sun has been shining and the weather forecast for the next few days is set fair—cloudy but dry—perfect eventing weather.

The entry this year is now made up of riders from eight nations, and includes 18 first-timers. There are four past winners; Andrew Nicholson, William Fox-Pitt, Oliver Townend and Andrew Hoy. Not surprisingly the buzz is building. 

Can Andrew Nicholson and Avebury make it three in a row? Or will William Fox-Pitt win a record seventh title? You can never write off Oliver Townend and Armada, the runner up at Badminton this year, while Rutherglen, ridden by Andrew Hoy, looked impressive at the trot up. Tim Price and Ringwood Sky Boy could do well for New Zealand, as could Piggy French, one of only four competitors with two rides, Jakata and Westwood Mariner.

Just one horse failed to get through the first horse inspection, CP Qualified, the ride of Shane Rose. Five, including the defending champion and 2014 favorite Avebury, were sent to the holding box but all passed on re-inspection.

Dressage starts tomorrow at 10 a.m., local time (4 a.m. EST) with Sarah Bullimore and Valentino V first into the arena.

Find all the live results at the Burghley Horse Trials website. Want to watch? Burghley TV makes all the rides available through a free live feed.