Former Hartpury college student Izzy Taylor will arrive at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials next week as proof that British eventing's talent conveyor belt is showing no sign of slowing down.
Taylor has made considerable strides during the past 12 months, including a seventh-place finish on her Burghley debut and third in Bramham's CCI three-star event that effectively doubled up as a final trial for London 2012.
More significantly, though, the 29-year-old rider's performances were sufficient to help gain her selection among the British elite.
Taylor is now rubbing shoulders with star names like William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips, Mary King and Tina Cook after breaking into Britain's 10-strong world class performance squad this year alongside the equally-promising Gemma Tattersall.
The elite programme is geared towards achieving major championship success, allowing riders enhanced training, a support network, performance analysis, medical and veterinary support.
"It is a massive thing to be on it. It is really helping me, just having the support and that recognition," Taylor said.
"As a rider, there is quite a lot of self-doubt sometimes, and just to know that people are backing you and believing in you is great. You get a lot out of it.
"You get very much in your own bubble with your horses, your owners and your aims for the year, so it comes as a pleasant surprise when you get that recognition from outside.
"The ultimate target would be to get on the (senior) team, but I do things one bit at a time.
"I will keep doing my thing, and hopefully that will build a path for me to get there. There is a lot to live up to - the British team has a great reputation."
Taylor's family background is steeped in equine history. Her grandmother Jane Whiteley is a former Badminton runner-up, while her great-aunt Anneli Drummond-Hay won Badminton and Burghley during an outstanding riding career.
Taylor began her equestrian education at the renowned Hartpury, working with breeders Sam and Linda Barr, before spending time training in mainland Europe, where Swiss Olympic showjumper Markus Fuchs was among her mentors.
After a bad fall in 2003 - she fractured two vertebrae and displaced another - her rehabilitation process saw her ride regularly with the Bicester Hunt and a burgeoning eventing career was soon back on track.
She initially set up on her own seven years ago, and in 2008 landed key rides on Briarlands Matilda - her Badminton horse next week - and Briarlands Blackberry after their regular rider Tristram Owers broke his ankle.
Taylor subsequently kept both rides, and she ended last year ranked 11th in Britain, with KBIS Briarlands Matilda rated among the top 15 British eventing horses.
They successfully completed the demanding three-discipline Badminton test of dressage, cross-country and showjumping in 2011, and with another two years' experience now collected, their performance is eagerly-awaited.
"I am really looking forward to it. Matilda is a great mare, and we had a good season last year with third at Bramham and seventh at Burghley. Hopefully, we are ready," added Taylor, who is based near Banbury.
"I was near the end on cross-country day at Badminton two years ago and I kind of let it all get to me and I rode rubbish. I didn't ride her like I normally do, She is a cracking little jumper, but it didn't happen, and I was quite irritated with myself afterwards.
"She has just got the biggest heart. She is only little, and she is not a 'look at me' type, she just does her own thing. She is so consistent and rideable, and a phenomenal jumper.
"I won't change anything for Badminton. She has gone well, and I don't see the need to suddenly start changing things when they appear to be working."
Among her supporters at Badminton will be Matilda's owner Guy Avis - secretary of the Heythrop Hunt - and Guy Prest, managing director of KBIS British Equestrian Insurance, Taylor's main owners and sponsors, who was previously an assistant to national hunt trainer Kim Bailey.
"It makes such a difference to get the backing, and it takes so much stress away when you have got owners that understand horses. It makes your life as a rider so much easier," Taylor said.
"All being well, and life going smoothly, I hope it will be a good Badminton. It is a seriously classy field, an amazing field, but we've had a good build-up and she has felt very good."
