Bryony Pimm is about to fulfil a life-long dream of competing at the Randwick Summer Classic - and she has Dubbo to thank.
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On Saturday she and her horse Mickey Blue will take part in the "triathlon of horse sports" - eventing - at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
Its something the competitive dressage, show jumping and cross country rider would have thought impossible two years ago.
Bryony was living in Western Australia five years ago when her horse caught its foot on a jump, fell and rolled, crushing her.
She escaped without a single broken bone, but had endured chronic pain and debilitating fear ever since.
After returning to her home town of Canberra and seeking help from several trainers, Bryony had "completely given up" on ever riding a horse again.
Until she came to Dubbo.
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"I was visiting a friend [one weekend] and she wanted a riding lesson," Bryony said.
"I took a lesson at the Western Plains Riding Centre with instructor Emma Ward and straight away I knew: this was the town for me, and this was the instructor that was going to get me riding again.
Bryony returned to Canberra, packed her car and moved to Dubbo.
That was two years ago.
"I was at the point where I'd be at the mounting block and I'd just cry," she remembers.
"Emma worked with me through all that and got me back to where I am today.
"Everyday I ride, I'm so god damn thankful for her."
Eventing sees riders and their horses contest three separate disciplines: dressage, show jumping and cross country.
But there's nothing quite like competing at the SIEC, according to Byrony.
"For me it's got a lot of emotional significance: that's where I groomed as a stable hand at my first event ever," she said.
"Any event held at [there] is usually national or international. A lot of people do make it their yearly goal."
After finally getting back in the saddle - literally - costs looked set to prevent Bryony from achieving her dream.
A Facebook post drew help from across Dubbo, with Central West Horse Transport making a run to Sydney just for Bryony at an "extremely affordable price".
But fate intervened again when Bryony was involved in a car crash.
"All the money I'd saved up myself to go - because these events run at about $2500 - I had to use to buy myself a new car," she said.
But in typical Dubbo fashion, the community rose to the challenge.
"I put another post on Facebook to say 'guys, I'm not going to be able to go' and the community, people I didn't even know, just started throwing money at me," Bryony said.
"They must have raised about $2000. It was huge. Absolutely huge.
"I never would have thought that so many people would believe in me and they did."
She's not the only one who has overcome the odds - Mickey Blue was almost euthanised after coming to Bryony with multiple broken ribs and muscle tears.
"I just changed my heart at the last minute," she said.
"With the help of local vets and chiropractors, we got him back into shape.
"I would never have thought he would have the physical ability to go to this event … [or for people to] put their faith in him and have as much hope for him as I did."
Bryony wanted to thank the Dubbo community, acknowledging "there's no way I could have done this by myself".
"Right from the start I felt right at home here and as time went on my plans of leaving again just disappeared," she said.
"Especially after this, I have absolutely no intention of calling anywhere else home."
She urged those struggling - with a fear of riding or any other issue - to "put your hand up".
"There's definitely help out there," she said.
"Put your hand up and say you need the help. I'm sure after what the community has done for me, we're all pretty willing to chip in and have a go."
