INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Wendi Williamson & Don Amour MH with Bruce Farrar, CEO Equestrian NSW and Jane Ventura FEI 4* Judge (AUS)
DON AMOUR MH BOUNCES BACK FOR A RECORD HIGH SCORE Article by Wendy Hamerton Photos by © Stephen Mowbray
If Wendi Williamson had any doubts about a low-key preparation following Donny’s below par performance at Boneo in September and his subsequent recovery from a low-grade infection, these doubts were put to one side when her stable star came out firing in Sydney.
10 | DRESSAGENZ BULLETIN | NOVEMBER 2019
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fter Boneo, Donny travelled back back to Brett Parbery’s stable where he was nursed back to full strength just in the nick of time. “We only got the final bloods on the morning of the trot up, so it was right down to the wire. Brett was so positive we would get there but I wasn’t so sure. When you have a bad run at a show you lose a bit of confidence.” They scored 69.03% in the CDIW Grand Prix for second place, denied the win by Lone Jorgensen and Corrina by just 0.26%. But Wendi’s indomitable spirit came to the fore in the Freestyle the following day when she knew the horse felt so well that she could ask for more. And what more could she ask for … a win on 76.18% setting a new freestyle record on Australian soil and giving Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten’s Australasian record of 76.3% a serious nudge. New Zealand fans were incredibly proud and rightly so, celebrating and sharing the personal best score for both horse and rider. “I have worked hard with Donny over the winter to improve his shape and other things.