First timer with an impeccable pedigree
Tara Dixon was inspired by two Olympic medallists in her own family when she made a debut appearance at the Defender Burghley Horse Trials.
It was also the 22-year-old's first elite five-star level appearance, tackling one of eventing's 'majors' more than two decades after her mother Karen was Burghley runner-up.
That 1999 podium finish featured among career highlights headlined by an Olympic team silver medal in Seoul 11 years previously, when she featured alongside Great Britain colleagues Mark Phillips, Ian Stark and Ginny Leng.
There were also World and European team gold medal successes and four Olympics in a row during a lengthy career among the sport's higher echelon, but it does not end there.
Tara's grandfather is Robin Dixon, who together with Tony Nash, won two-man bobsleigh gold for Britain at the Innsbruck-hosted 1964 Winter Olympics after being granted leave from the Grenadier Guards to take part.
Now aged 90, Dixon went on to have a lengthy political career. As Lord Glentoran, he sat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords until his retirement from the House in 2018.
And after posting a dressage score of 37.5 aboard Master Smart Tara was able to reflect not only on such a remarkable sporting dynasty, but also a memorable day in her career.
"At school, I remember for the 'show and tell' activity in class I would bring mum in and get her to bring her medals in and my pony," she said.
"She trains me every day and watches me and helps on every horse that we have. We do everything together, and have done all the way through.
"She is a massive support system to me in everything, whether it is a good day or a bad day. It's brilliant having her there every day.
"Mum probably knows every blade of grass at Burghley, so I am not sure I could have a better person stood beside me.
"My grandfather is a very relaxed type of person, and I will be having contact with him after Burghley, telling him all about it.
"He would never let people in certain situations upset him in his mind, he wouldn't give anything like that a second chance.
"He would just focus on himself and do his job. It is a reminder that whatever people might say or whatever is going on around you is often unnecessary and irrelevant to you and the job you are doing. It's about getting in that zone.
"After their bobsleigh run at the Olympics the story goes that they went to the bar because they didn't think they would win, and someone had to go and collect them from the bar to say they were meant to be on the podium with their medals!"
Dixon, who is based in County Down, Northern Ireland, relished the moment on Friday, and there was even a post-test pat of congratulations on the shoulder from early day two leader Tim Price.
"I am absolutely delighted with the horse. He tried very hard, he was very relaxed. It felt amazing," Dixon added.
"My horse is a strong goer of a horse, so I love the fact we are going uphill for the first few minutes in the cross-country and hopefully that will just let him settle in.
"It is a big, bold course, and you have got to be concentrating hard at every step."