The Virtual Equestrian - Whisper & Brett

Whisper & Brett - Reflecting on 2005

Imported Hanoverian Stallion
Weltmeyer / Feiner Stern

Reflecting on 2005
Story & Pictures Berni Saunders

As 2005 charges towards Christmas and the beginning of new year is just around the corner, the major dressage competitions for this year have been and gone and we have seen a number of outstanding combinations emerge and make their mark.

The experienced and established combinations continue to make their presence felt but we are seeing some new faces at the top. Australian Dressage has never been in such good shape and the 'watchers' agree that we now have some seriously competitive international prospects that will be ready to make a bid for Beijing.

Every dressage enthusiast, particularly those who ride and train horses, will understand the hours of time and dedication that is required to get a horse ready to compete at any level. To have a horse competing successfully at FEI takes the whole equation up 'several notches' and requires many factors to come together and work, as planned!

I wanted to make special mention of what I believe to be a well considered training strategy that has required a clear plan ... and then the commitment, restraint and patience, to put the plan into action.

In February 2005 I first spoke to Brett Parbery about him taking over the ride on the exciting black stallion Whisper lV. He said that he planned to 'get to know' the horse' a little better, before making any predictions about future competitions. A month or so later I spoke with Brett again and he said, "I have taken him back to the 'small tour' work (PSG/Inter l), I want the horse to feel confident in me and I do not want to go out unless I feel confident in him. We are not ready to do Grand Prix yet. I know he started at Grand Prix at Dressage with the Stars (2004) but I don't think we will be ready for that for some time. Mary (Hanna) is a fantastic rider to have achieved what she did and I probably ride differently and get a different feel. I just want to work on the basics and see where we go from there."

Brett promised to let me know when there was any real news to report!

Brett & Whisper IV warming up for competition.

I have received these e-mails as promised.

27/6

Just a quick note to update you on how Whisper IV and I have been getting along.  
I competed him two weeks ago at NSW DC event at Clarendon, where I was 
absolutely thrilled with his performance.  In the first test, the PSG Challenge Qualifier, 
I rode a little cautiously to try and feel out what he would be like in the ring.  
To my surprise, he was very much the same as in normal riding, apart from a little 
apprehension, perhaps flowing on from me. I was delighted with his efforts.  He executed
 every movement, stayed on the aids, to the contact and tried his best to be the 
showman that he is.  At X, after the salute, he lifted his head and marched out of the 
arena as if to say to the very curious crowd of onlookers, how do you like those apples!!  
The score of 62.33% was a little disappointing, but hey that's dressage!  In the Int 1 
about four hours later, we decided to put the foot down and go for
a little more. Well, the more I asked for, the more he gave.  
Once again, he executed every movement, stayed on the lines of the test and was 
lovely from the leg, through the seat and to the contact.  
The score was better reflective of his efforts with a 67%.

The winner was Rachel Sanna on the remarkable Chatham Park Jac.  
This is a combination that you don't mind finishing second behind.

Regards Brett.


Brett & Whisper IV warming up for competition.

20/7

I am happy with the progress of the Grand Prix movements.

The piaffe/passage is getting stronger, as are the pirouettes.  
The one tempis are great, I can thank Mary for those.  
All in all, I think it will be about three to six months  until I have him at Grand Prix.

Regards Brett

15/09

Just another quick update on Whisper and his progress. This week we had the Ulla Salzgeber clinic that put us under the 'pump' to say the least. Ulla stressed that we up the intensity on insisting that we have quicker and more engaged hind legs. Whisper wasn't to keen on this idea at the start of the clinic but by the last lesson he had shown that he was getting the message.

his training paid off for the competition on the weekend where he won the Prix St George and consequently won the NSW State Prix St George Challenge Final.

It was a tough field of amazing horse and rider combinations such as Glennis Barrey with her wonderful gelding Classico II, Lesley Anne Taylor with the ultimate dressage horse, Weltklasse. Matthew Dowsley on Caroline Lieutenant's rising star Victory Salute and Kate Taylor on the ever consistent Oscar B. Not to mention Judy Dierks giving her star of the future HP Frontier, his first Prix St George start.

This week Whisper will have a well earned break and then he will come back into training leading up to his demanding schedule at the Australian National Championships on 20th - 23rd October. Talk to you soon

Regards Brett

Their winning style at the EFA Prix St Georges Challenge 2005

Between my communications with Brett, I have caught up with Whisper's Victorian owner Kerry Mack and she told me that the horse came to Australia with outstanding Dressage performances in Europe and she was 'all for' Brett's approach. "He does not really have to prove himself - we must prove that we can get the best from him!"

The National Dressage Championships in October was my first chance to see Brett and Whisper together and their opening extended trot in the PSG test was spine tingling. They placed 3rd with 68.950. Brett told me later, "My goal this weekend is the EFA Prix St George Challenge. I have set him for this and it would be a great thrill to win this prestigious event as it recognises the talent of young, up and coming horses."

I made a point of watching this class and felt that I could share the satisfaction that Brett must have been feeling as he and Whisper left the ring after their wonderful test . Whisper worked with lightness, harmony and energy. At this point I did not know the result.

Brett and Whisper were the 2005 EFA PSG Challenge winners and go into the sport's history book for this great achievement on a horse under 10 years of age. They scored 68.30.

Whisper and Brett have recently made the trip to Melbourne to be part of Dressage with the Stars. Unfortunately I was not able to cover the Young Horse Championships and be outside at ring 1, for the Prix St Georges class. But I took note of the scoreboard with interest. Another convincing win with a fantastic 'international score' of 70.333%.

I would like to sincerely congratulate Brett and Whisper for being the 'quiet achievers' ... taking a step back ... so that the steps forward will be secure. Well done!

Good luck to Kerry Mack at Mayflield Farm for the stud season. I hope Whisper's great achievements flows through to his popularity at stud. With the best International bloodlines and proven performances in Europe and now in Australia I am sure we will see lots more lovely Whisper youngsters in the years to come. Go to his web site ...