Sydney CDI: It Takes a Village

By: Krystyna Pollard

Brett Parbery competing in the 2015 Sydney CDI*** (photo: Franz Venhaus)

If Brett Parbery’s successes are anything to go by, it would appear that the sleepy Southern Highlands village of Penrose is the perfect place to nurture a thriving dressage career. 

Cedar Lodge is the village base where Brett and his wife Melinda, train and coach their successful Parbery Performance Horses dressage team.

Brett cites the love of the local countryside, the thriving dressage club and the Southern Highlands tight-knit equestrian community of as the contributing factors in his family’s commitment to the area.

“We are very blessed to have a good group of people and fellow professionals in the area and we interact a lot. We all socialise with each other and we are able to enjoy the sport together.”

The Wingacarribee Shire boasts some formidable dressage talent, with elite riders such as Matthew Dowsley, Rodney Martin, Michelle Baker, Robbie Soster, David McKinnon and Sue Hearn all calling the Southern Highlands home.

Fresh from competing in Riding with the Stars in New Zealand, Parbery is planning on “being at his best” for Australia’s premier dressage event, The Sydney CDI.

Parbery will have a full schedule and there will be plenty of opportunities for dressage enthusiasts to see Parbery perform this April. You can expect to see Parbery compete on DP Weltmieser (owned By Susan & Richard Duddy) in the Grand Prix, on Lorenso (owned by Mulawa Arabian Stud) in the Small Tour, on Furstin Friendship (owned by Mulawa Arabian Stud) in the CDN National Prix St George and in the 6 YO classes, on MI Certainly Sir (owned by Mulawa Arabian Stud).

The Sydney CDI is one of Parbery’s favourite competitions. Parbery believes the CDI has “always been the premier event on the calendar” and Parbery is buoyed on by the CDI’s enthusiastic crowds, “I love riding on the Saturday night in the Freestyle, when the stands are full”. Parbery looks to the ‘greater village’ of Australia’s leading dressage riders to help inspire him in his continuing progression in the sport.

“I draw a lot from my fellow competitors. I like to think that we all have a sense of camaraderie and friendship. I look to them to try to get inspiration, to ride better and perform at my best.”

Aside from being an inspiring competitor himself, Parbery is a passionate advocate for promoting the sport of dressage. The Sydney CDI is of special significance in 2016. It will be the last opportunity for Australian based riders to qualify for the Rio Olympics on home soil. In speaking about the Australian team’s chances at Rio, Parbery had this to say;

“Looking at Rio, a realistic goal for Australia would be to get an average score for the Australian riders of above 70% and I think that’s achievable.”

CLICK HERE to listen to the full interview on Brett Parbery’s preparation for the Sydney CDI. For more information, go to www.sydneycdi.equestrian.org.au.

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