FIVE-YEAR-OLD Meander Valley horse Cavallo Park Carousel and his owner Danielle Whatley were last week donned in regalia after mainland equestrian success.
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Whatley and Cavallo Park Carousel were overall champions at Werribee Park's Australian Showjumping Championships' 95-centimetre final.
Whatley said the future was promising for the young horse, which she trained herself, after his first mainland competition.
"It was a surprise, he also won two classes the weekend before at Boneo, the Boneo Cup," she said.
"I wasn't expecting that because there were so many really well-bred horses there from all the classes.
"He's never done anything that big before."
Whatley said she had been riding her whole life and broke her first pony in when she was 11 years old. "I've been doing it for 10 years," she said.
"I bought him (Cavallo Park Carousel) as a two-year-old and broke him in myself. I've had him for nearly four years.
"It's very rewarding, so much more than buying them 'pre-made'." Whatley said 16 other Tasmanian riders, with 25 horses, also competed at the September 18 to 21 weekend. Among them were Jo Geard, who placed eighth on Ambervale Smudge, and Courtney Swain, who won two classes at Boneo and placed fourth in the Emerald Consolation.
