Kilbarchan's Nicola Malcolm admitted both horse and rider will be taking a well-earned break after bringing the curtain down on her season at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.

The 21-year-old and horse McFly let the occasion get the better of them in the dressage finishing 79th before jumping an impressive 30 places after the cross country stage.

However debutant Malcolm’s improvements didn’t stop there and after picking up just nine penalty points in the show jumping claimed 45th overall with a score of 129.7

And after riding around the challenging Burghley course – the penultimate event in the HSBC FEI Classics series – Malcolm has vowed to put her feet up until further notice.

“This is my last event of the season and I think he deserves a good holiday after the way he performed out there,” said Malcolm.

“I won’t be doing too much now – if anything – and to do so well was very pleasing and great way for me to finish the season.

“The show jumping went fantastic and I was so close to going around clear but I think I got a bit excited over the last few jumps and maybe tensed up a bit.

“That’s why I knocked a few fences – the horse was fantastic and I never expected him to perform so well and jump like he did.