Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant winning the 2025 GDP Classic Grand Prix at Boneo Park last month. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
“I hadn’t worked for four months, so I needed some coin in the bank!” said Robert Palm following his second major win in as many weeks with the “unconventional” Jaybee Vibrant. The eventer-turned-show jumper won his first World Cup qualifier at Sale last month before claiming the $60,000 GDP Classic Grand Prix at Boneo Park.
Rob and Jaybee Vibrant jumping clear at Magic Millions in 2024 where they were part of the winning Senior team. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Returning to the competition arena following serious injury is no mean feat, however it’s a scenario most professional riders do face at some point during their career. For Victorian Robert Palm, his comeback couldn’t have gone better.
“It’s kind of unbelievable, really. I’ve had a layoff and come back in and won two big classes in two weekends. You’ve got to sort of pinch yourself to really believe that it’s happened. So, it’s great,” said Rob following his win in the GDP Classic Grand Prix that delivered a $20,000 winner’s cheque as part of the $60,000 prize pool.
“He just keeps stepping up…and
steps up on the big stage as well.”
Robert Palm and Jaybee Vibrant winning the 2025 Sale World Cup. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
Fourteen-year-old Jaybee Vibrant (by Vivant out of Gloria, by Glorieux) actually started out as an event horse for Rob and went to three-star level, who was of course a very successful eventer himself. “I couldn’t get a dressage test out of him,” laughed Rob. “So we went jumping, and since we’ve done that, he just keeps stepping up…and steps up on the big stage as well.
“He jumped clear at Magic Millions two years in a row in 2023 and 2024. He’s run second twice in a World Cup, won a World Cup now at Sale, and then last year was third in this GDP Classic Grand Prix, which is one of the toughest Grand Prix classes in the country. This year, he’s just stepped up again. He’s unconventional, but he just wants to do the right thing by me.”
Rob and Jaybee Vibrant, left, were also part of the winning Senior team at Magic Millions in 2023. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
QUIETLY CONFIDENT
Gavin Chester built quite a tough, challenging course at the GCP Classic, with the first round resulting in quite a few rails. However, Rob says he was quietly confident in his horse’s ability.
“The horse, he wants to the right thing. If I do half a decent job – which I did, but I wouldn’t say I did a great job in either round – he wants to do it. He’s scopey, he’s careful. I was quietly confident, but it was a tough track. What Gavin builds is always something that’s fair and with fair distances. He’s not trying to catch horses out,” said Rob, who was one of only two clear rounds alongside Amber Fuller with Cadenza NZPH.
Coming into the jump-off, the pressure was on. Although Amber was unfortunately eliminated, Amelia Douglass was carrying over just one time fault with Quel Filou 16 and did the same again – meaning there was no room for rails if Rob was to win. Jamie Winning-Kermond, a former GDP Classic Grand Prix winner, was on four faults with Tulara WAT Colblensky, as was Josh Collins with stallion Cornel, meaning even a place on the podium was going to be tight.
“I haven’t worked for four months, so the biggest pressure was that I needed some coin the bank!” laughs Rob, who suffered a fractured leg in September. “So, that makes things happen… I was a bit hungry, and I just trusted my horse. And he’s such a funny little horse; when the chips are down, he just digs in.
Rob and Jaybee Vibrant winning the 2025 GDP Classic Grand Prix at Boneo Park. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
UNCONVENTIONAL, BUT EFFECTIVE
“He’s unconventional. [The day prior to the Grand Prix] I didn’t put a saddle on his back. I trotted him around the carpark off the side of my push bike, and I’m such people thought I was crazy, but I just wanted him nice and fresh and happy. Whereas if I went out and rode him on the flat, I would have had made him grumpy, and I didn’t want to do that. He’s just a unique horse that loves doing his job.”
Following his win, it was evident just how much Rob’s wife Cassie had been integral to his successfully return to competition. “She should be the one standing up here… I would not be here without her. She has been an enormous support to me and this horse, and I am so grateful for her. She has not wavered at all the whole time. She just runs everything at home for us. I wouldn’t be in this situation without her.”
“I’d also like to thank my sponsors Emcee Apparel, Barastoc Feeds… and just my family as well. My family mean the world to me, and if they weren’t enjoying coming up to the shows, I’d probably give up – but they enjoy the shows and they’ve got good friends that come, too!” EQ
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