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Cara Lavigna

Achievements

About Cara Lavigna

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2028, er, 2038 Olympic Talent Watch: Magdalena Bridges

The 2028 (and 2038) U.S. Eventing Team is already out there somewhere, and it’s up to us all to nurture their talent and their big dreams. “2028 Olympic Talent Watch” is an (adorable) series in which we identify junior eventers who are already exhibiting the heart and the guts to lead American eventing to glory in the (distant) future. Today’s featured kiddo is of the extra-short-stirrup variety, but we know top talent when we see it! Many thanks to Cara Lavigna for this sweet submission. 

The Moment When

Every rider has two things in common. 1) We love our four legged friends more than anything, and 2) we somehow feel we were meant to become equestrians. Regardless if we remember the exact moment when we fell in love with these magical creatures, or if we only remember the joyous feeling of buying our first pony (or horse if you are that 13-year-old girl who jumped from school ponies to the kind 18-hand dinosaur), both of these memories hold a special place in our hearts.

So when Canadian turned Californian mother and Preliminary level rider Sarah Bridges began bringing her newly born baby daughter to the horse trials, it was only a matter of time before we would capture that moment of equestrian destiny on film.

And here it is everyone!

Maggie and Carrick Diamond Duke (“Duke”) at the Galway Downs H.T., held February 2-4. Photo courtesy of Cara Lavigna.

A warm beautiful snapshot, that will grasp every rider’s heartstrings, of 16-month-old Magdalena Bridges, reaching out and petting her future. Tiny fingers connecting with the soft nose of a gentle giant. Perhaps here in this photo, is the moment when we can say that “Maggie” was born to become a rider.

Sara and Maggie braiding. Photo courtesy of Cara Lavigna.

Sara, Maggie and Bella. Photo courtesy of Cara Lavigna.

Thanks for sharing, Cara! Any short-stirrup riders you know come to mind for this series? Email us their story at [email protected].