The American, 20, is the youngest rider in the field and made her Burghley House debut this year off the back of time spent under the guidance of Olympic gold medallist and reigning Defender Burghley champion Canter this summer over in Louth.
Canter’s pedigree is second to none and Sanger believes her experience under her guidance has already started to pay dividends after scoring a respectable 37.4 in the dressage on day one of the famed 5* event.
“It was awesome,” said Sanger. “My horse isn’t a dressage horse by any means and Saturday’s really hi day to shine but I’m really happy with him and the effort he put in. He really stayed with me and it’s one of our better tests to date.
“Burghley’s beautiful. There’s nothing quite like Burghley. I did my first 5* at Kentucky and I feel that’s going to set me up well but Burghley is that much bigger than everyone else.
“It’s so special and it finally hit me when I woke up this morning. I was super nervous but it’s so special and to be here with this horse that I’ve had since I was 15, I’m already proud of him and it’s a big accomplishment.
“Ros is an amazing coach. This is our first time being at a big show together so I was kind of like ‘Just tell me what to do’. I’m better when someone’s just talking to me so we made a very strict plan and stuck to it.”
Back home in the States, Sanger is a journalism student at the University of Richmond and while riding remains her number one passion, the 20-year-old admitted journalism is not too far behind.
“I’ve been over with Ros since May, right after Badminton, and I’ve decided to extend my stay for as long as she’ll have me around but I’m going to go back and do a couple of months of school and then work it out with them to let me come back at March,” added Sanger.
“Last winter I was back and forth missing stuff so hopefully that’ll work.
“I’m going to see how far eventing will take me but I’ve always wanted to do school and see it through. With riding being my main focus I wasn’t sure what major I wanted to do going into college but I’m not a numbers girl.
“I prefer to write and journalism’s fun.”
Defender Burghley Horse Trials (4-7 September 2025) has been a major international sporting and social event for over 50 years. It attracts the world’s top equestrians and is attended by vast and enthusiastic crowds. For more information visit www.burghley-horse.co.uk
