Penola woman Jo O’Connor recently rode to success at the 2022 Mildura Horse Trials as Haeusler’s EvA65 winner with her horse Fourwinds Mr Darcy.

The event was held over a weekend at the Mildura-Alcheringa Pony Club and consisted of dressage and show jumping on the Saturday and cross country on Sunday.

O’Connor said it was a busy series of events.

“We did the dressage part first, so we were winning after dressage, so then we went clear cross-country and clear show jumping,” she said.

The rider noted the event sponsors were very generous and she won a beautiful rug, a weed pressure sprayer valued at around $400, a video of her round, a sash and a bag of horse feed.

O’Connor said Fourwinds Mr Darcy was a Warmblood Thoroughbred cross she bought from Kerrie Bowman, who runs Fourwinds Performance Horses in Millicent.

Being the first time she has attended the event for three years, the Penola rider was thrilled to score a victory at a club she loves to support.

“They have this amazing club that are just so passionate about their club and raising money, so this is their biggest fundraiser for the year,” O’Connor said.

“It’s one of my favourite events because the club is just so friendly.

“I loved it and I cannot wait to do it again and go back next year.

“It’s a social thing for me, I call it my ‘tribe’, I love being with likeminded people that love their horses and enjoy the social aspect and not just the competitive thing.

“Because I’m a member of the Penola Hunt Club and that’s not competitive, we ride every week and jump every week, you just jump within your own limits.

“It’s just about being with likeminded people and enjoying your horse and that’s what I love about riding.”