British rider Ben Maher says he can't remember the exact incident in the Pony Club as an under -16 when he slept on the top of a lorry because he was so upset at a performance. But he conceded the possibility.
"When we're kids we do whatever we can to ride," he reminisced just after collecting a gold medal in the jumping team event at the Paris Olympics.
"We come all kinds of backgrounds as riders and I did those kind of things when we were in the Pony Club ... I've always been pretty hard on myself."
Fast forward neary three decades and the 41-year-old's reaction to his latest ride will be somewhat less histrionic, more poised.
"I'll be spending the evening with my family as I haven't seen much of them recently," he added.
The reunion will cap a perfect day out at the arena set among the sprawling woodlands of the Château de Versailles.
True, a horse would be a useful asset to reach the secluded spot to watch the shiny steeds and their ever so accomplished riders.
As sun beat down on the fans in the three stands around the 18 fences, Israel's Robin Muhr on Galaxy HM started the final.
With 79 seconds to go over the 165cm obstacles, the 29-year-old, who used to compete for France, finished in 79.89 seconds with 13 penalty points. One for his tardiness and the other 12 for knocking down three fences.
The partisans roared when Simon Delestre on I Amelusina R 51 completed the course without mangling up a fence but he was hit with three penalty points for his time of 81.59 seconds.
Maher, the first out for Britain was docked a point for a slow finish.
Harry Charles was flawless for Britiain's second run and Brash was also hit with a point penalty for emulating Maher.
Not a catastrophe. It was good enough to notch up Britain's ninth gold medal of the 2024 Games.
The United States, who won the title at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, claimed the silver with four penalty points and France took the bronze after clocking up seven penalties.
Twelve years ago at the London Olympics, Maher and Brash won the jumping team event with Charles' father, Peter.
"Harry's better looking," quipped Brash. "Ben and I are starting to feel like veterans, which isn't a nice feeling.
"Even though Harry's only 25, he's got a lot of experience - he rode in Tokyo and delivered today.
"It's great to have good young riders like him coming up in our country and the future looks bright."
French president Emmanuel Macron - who was back in the capital from his Mediterranean holiday residence - joined the thousands of partisans in the sunshine hoping to witness a French victory.
But that was never going to happen due to the presence of two British taliswomen.
"We were there in London when they won gold," said Gemma Dickens who had travelled over for the final from England with her mother, Lesley.
"We didn't make it to Rio or Tokyo and they didn't win," said Gemma, an accountant who lives in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in central England.
"They were brilliant."
Herself a keen rider who competed internationally for Britain until her early 20s, she added: "Ben was competing on the circuit the same time as me. Even at the age of 12 he was cool as a cucumber."
The perfect way to be on a sweltering day at the chateau.
