Young dressage riders Jake Parbery and Romy Sanna. Image supplied.
Having parents who are highly suucessful equestrians can put undue pressure and expectations on the offspring, but dressage riders Romy Sanna and Jake Parbery are two shining examples of the next generation following their own cues.
Tall and talented, Romy and Jake are the children of equestrian internationals. Twenty-two-year-old Romy is the daughter of show jumping and dressage Olympians George Sanna and Rachel Downs, while Jake is the 15-year-old son of Brett and Melinda Parbery.
They also have something else in common – both were born on 30 April. Apart from that and the fact they both live in NSW, they have no direct connection apart from eagerly pursuing equestrian careers, like their parents.
Jake Parbery riding Cooramin Despacito, aka Darcy, who is currently competing at Medium/Advanced level. Darcy is owned in partnership with Boambolo Pastoral and Parbery Performance Horses. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
ROMY’S RUGGED INITIATION
Romy runs her own business in northwest Sydney. Erudite and articulate, she did well at school and today is navigating the commercial world of performance horses.
“I was a high achiever, not so much creative as analytical,” she explains. “I might have explored law or psychology at uni, but when I left school I was lucky enough to have horses to ride.”
Even as a toddler she was crazy about them, doubling up in the saddle with mum or dad and hooning on her old hairy pony. As an eight-year-old she just loved show jumping.
“I was very gung-ho,” recalls Romy who, during this time, suffered several accidents resulting in broken bones, bruises and a stirrup drag. “I had to go to school on crutches for a while and I think the teachers might have thought I was being abused at home!
“Later Mum got me ‘Smack the Pony’, a Grand Prix dressage Connemarra to help rebuild my confidence. He taught me the ropes and so many tricks. And he was very strong in the hand teaching me to ride through contact.”
Smack the Pony, Romy Sanna’s first dressage pony who taught her how to ride all the Grand Prix movements. Image supplied.
She took on project ponies, deciphered their idiosyncrasies, improved her riding and training skills and attended dressage clinics. And as she developed, she rode and competed other people’s horses as well as her own, entered young rider events and open classes, even freestyles. “I’m way more nervous doing those than straight dressage!” she confesses.
Romy was again sidelined when she broke her back two years ago. Today she is almost 100 per cent fit. She took a team of nine horses to a recent festival riding 39 tests over several days – you need to be in good shape and know what you’re doing.
“I bounce ideas off everyone here at the stables,” says Romy, who works out of Emma Weinert’s Glenorie facility, the headquarters of Kristen Lyons, Denise Rogan, and Olympian Jayden Brown who recently moved from Willinga Park.
RIDING 15 HORSES A DAY
She rides as many as 15 horses a day, so fitness is a priority. “Treat your body as an athlete and eat the right foods,” emphasises Romy, who has recently taken up marathon running. Only occasionally does she have a change away from horses.
“To break the cycle, I’ll go out to dinner or to a music festival with my boyfriend, Riley, who’s normal!”
And has the approval of both parents!
When her daughter does get away, mother offers to help.
“I’m happy to do her stables and lighten the load but she likes to do it all herself. She’s very switched on and committed,” says Rachael. “I don’t want her to work harder, but smarter. Fifteen horses to get through each day is a lot but if you’re smarter, and learn techniques to manage them, it’s still mentally tough but not as physically draining.”
Romy’s “heart horse” Floriade: “I’ve had for over eight years and trained her from breaker through to Small Tour, now training Grand Prix. Mum allowed me to take her over at the start and produce her myself, despite the horse supposed to be for her!” Image supplied.
“She rides as many as
15 horses a day, so
fitness is a priority.”
In the dressage arena she is often Romy’s “eyes on the ground” and assists with training but admits it can be hard for parents to teach their children. “They often accuse them of nitpicking and take things too personally – having a third party usually works best.”
Rachael, who became a professional equestrian at 19, competed internationally and at the Sydney Olympics. Currently the Dressage NSW Performance Squad Chair, she stresses that horsemanship is of paramount importance.
“Overall I’ve noticed these skills have lessened over the years – how to feed, to transport, when to make changes, veterinary options, management alternatives, cross training etc. How to think outside the square. It’s important to learn all of it.”
‘TOOLBOX OF SKILLS’
Romy is doing just that. Her toolbox of skills is filling fast; and her ambitions are being realised. “For quite a while now she’s wanted to be an international equestrian,” says her father, George. “Going about all that requires a lot of business acumen. You need to be realistic and assess costs.”
Some riders training overseas are fortunate to come from wealthy backgrounds and don’t need to worry about making a living. “Romy isn’t one of them, but I help a bit”, says George. He recently bought her Maradona VDT, a nine-year-old gelding from the US.
George admits his daughter is far more hardheaded about dressage as a business than he was at her age about show jumping. “It was my passion but I really struggled to see how it could be a successful business.” He worked it out as the years went on!
“Romy’s very clear eyed, committed and has successfully navigated some challenging family problems,” he says. “She’s making it all work.”
MP Dantes Diamond (Dante Weltino x Fuerst Heinrich), a five-year-old mare owned by Rachael Downs. Romy has had success with her up to Elementary level and scored up to 73% in Preliminary and Novice. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
JAKE’S ‘ALWAYS BEEN AROUND DRESSAGE RIDERS’
If he could, he would ride all day – but he must go to school. Fifteen-year-old Jake is based at Cedar Lodge, Penrose, in the NSW Southern Highlands. The son of Brett and Melinda Parbery, he began riding dressage as a child – it was inevitable. Brett is an international competitor with a raft of stellar awards, his mother an FEI rider, coach and trainer.
“I’ve always been around dressage riders and have kind of idolised them,” admits Jake, who must have seen them on their best behaviour!
In recent times he has successfully competed in Junior and Open classes. “At some of these comps I’ve seen Romy and in a few events we’ve been neck and neck on the result sheets.”
Mainly he rides after school. “I go to Oxley College at Burradoo and have to catch the school bus early.”
With the retirement of Just Dance (owned by Katina Smith), who has given Jake some great opportunities, he is currently competing Cooramin Despacito and the duo did well at a recent championship.
“And I’ve now made my first business arrangement,” he announces proudly. “Zanna Northam from Glenorie has hired me to ride and sell her horse Tyger, by Totilas.”
Taught mainly by his parents, Jake is occasionally reprimanded by Brett. “Dad gets angry ’cause he says I’m not listening and doing the wrong thing. He told me recently to formally book lessons with him. The good thing is I don’t have to pay – yet!” he laughs.
Jake and Just Dance, aka JD, who previously competed Grand Prix with owner Katina Smith. Jake competed him at FEI Junior level and he’s now retired living at Katina’s Coopernook property (Bangalow Creek Warmbloods). Image by Amy-Sue Alston.
“He told me recently
to formally book
lessons with him.”
PROFESSIONAL AMBITIONS – BUT SCHOOL FIRST
It is his aim to one day make a living from horses, but the Parberys are adamant he continues his schooling, focuses on university and pursues a commercial occupation. “But nothing really appeals to me,” says Jake.
“We will find you one that does,” quickly interjects his mother, who is a graphic artist combining her equestrian work with running a freelance design business from Cedar Lodge.
She says her son’s other sporting interests are skiing, and basketball – a game which befits a young man who is 180cm (Romy Sanna’s height is the same).
“He adds to his knowledge by studying footage of the athletes. How they use their bodies to achieve the best results. And, of course, he watches countless dressage tests and training films.
“He’s good at detail,” adds Melinda, who also admires his empathy with the animals. “I believe this helps his riding; and he rarely loses his temper.”
Jake says he is a little nervous before competing “but I think I’m getting better”, and he doesn’t get involved with how the judges score his performances.
“He’s a harsher critic of himself than any judge could be,” remarks mother.
Jake and Cooramin Despacito. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
THE COLOGNE RITUAL
Before a test he undertakes a ritual where he sprays Ralph Lauren’s Polo cologne on both sides of his horse, “and then on to me. I saw Dad do it, so I do it too!”
Although still young he has opinions about many of the FEI tests he has watched in Australia.
“With the exception of a few top riders most are ‘disconnected’. And often their legs are on at the wrong times. Even when doing the passage and piaffe they’re putting on leg pressure.” At this level he also notices problems with changes.
Jake at just 15 is inevitably making mistakes, such as forgetting where he is going in a test, “but I think I’m getting better”.
Today he is schooling as often as possible and competing in a sport which he so clearly loves.
“He’s very very keen, just as I was about rodeo,” says Brett, who spent his early years working stockhorses and riding saddle broncs on the international rodeo circuit. He also went to university, is a property valuer and the creator of an online education program called Performance Riders.
Jake and Just Dance. Image by Amy-Sue Alston.
“He’s a harsher critic
of himself than any
judge could be.”
“He’s fascinated about dressage and he genuinely enjoys the training, which gives me confidence. It’s not just a fad – he really loves the horses.
“When he finishes his time at Oxley College, we’re considering he takes a gap year before university. We’ll take him to a top dressage training yard in Europe and Melinda and I will have a holiday. He’ll learn how everything is done and after a few weeks we’ll pick him up. He can then work hard at Penrose.
“We’ll help Jake along but will be careful to ensure he’s aware of the privileges he has. We will set him up so he knows what the highs and lows of the sport really are. And that it’s not all about rosettes and trophy rugs.” EQ
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