EQUESTRIAN: Australian Chris Burton has won the Burghley Horse Trials in Lincolnshire after a dramatic final day.

Burton, a member of Australia's bronze medal-winning team at the Rio Olympics last month, held a commanding lead with Nobilis 18 following Saturday's cross-country phase.

And by the time he entered the arena as last to go in the showjumping finale, he could afford to have four fences down and still win the STG63,000 ($A110,000) top prize.

But it proved just as well for Burton, as he collected 16 faults to finish on a score of 49.4 penalties and become Australia's first Burghley champion since Lucinda Fredericks 10 years ago.

Wiltshire-based New Zealander Andrew Nicholson guided Nereo to a third runners-up finish at Burghley, ending on 53.2, while two more New Zealanders - Jonelle Price and her husband Tim - were third and fourth, respectively.

Yorkshireman Oliver Townend, who won Burghley in 2009, was the highest-placed British finisher in seventh on Samuel Thomas II, and Tina Cook - travelling reserve for the British team in Rio - was 10th aboard Star Witness.

AAP