GARY’S HORSES
Gary’s current competition horse is Durk Fan Oostenberg, “Durk”.
Durk Fan Oostenberg “durk”
Gary is excited to welcome “Durk Fan Oostenberg” to the Windhill family. “Durk” is a 6-year-old Friesian stallion (Sire – Alwin 469) with an incredible modern movement and the sweetest temperament.
Kate Wescombe (Durk’s co-owner) and Gary searched high and low for their next superstar. With the help of Nadeen Davis, they found this gem in the Netherlands at Joey Lem’s beautiful and ultra-modern stud and stable yard called “Stud Galloper”.
Durk was awarded his “Ster” or “Star” title at the tender age of 4 and last year he started his dressage training with one of Netherlands’s talented International Grand Prix riders and trainer, Danielle Heijkoop. At the end of the year they competed in the 5-year-old at the K&PP European Championship in Harich where they achieved a top score of 75% which put them in the lead of a field of talented horses.
After Gary’s short and successful partnership with the amazing and beloved “Wester Fan T’Lakerveld” (aka “Wes”), he was sure there would never be another Friesian stallion that could replace him. But that was not the case.
Gary is overwhelmed by Durk’s work ethic, never saying “No” but always saying “How much more?”. He has a beautiful and adorable nature and a very majestic presence.
“I feel truly blessed to have Durk here at Windhill and even more blessed to enjoy working, riding and having him in my life every day.
“I thank Nadeen for the introduction, Joey for producing such an amazing sport horse, Danielle for training and campaigning him and last but not least, Kate for making this happen (I’m eternally grateful).”
Let this journey begin…
GB Winchester – “Chester”
GB Winchester (aka Chester) is Gary’s Grand Prix horse that he purchased when he was 6 month old from Glennis Barrey who bred him. He is by the famous movement maker Weltmeyer out of Glennis’s successful FEI mare GB Saffron (by the imported Trakehner stallion, Elfenglanz).
At the ripe old age of 9 months old Chester moved up to sunny Queensland and from the day he stepped off the truck, nothing was a problem for him. He took everything in his stride and after he was “started”, he went on to place and win at numerous State and National major dressage events including making it on to the Queensland State Dressage Squads numerous times.
Chester’s paces are excellent but his walk is phenomenal. In the first round of the 6 Year Old Young Horse class at DRESSAGE WITH THE STARS 2010, Chester scored a 10 for his walk. International judges, Dr Ulf Moeller (Germany), Ricky MacMillian (Australia) and Alison King (Hong Kong) all agreed that Chester’s walk warranted this and he is the only horse to this day to score a perfect 10 for his walk in Australia.
Chester and Gary were lucky to be invited to travel to San Diego (USA) in 2012 to train with Steffen Peters. They were based there for over 12 months and this time training at Arroyo Del Mar, assisted their move towards Grand Prix.
Gary told us that he enjoys each day with Chester; he is a dream to handle and loves riding him. Gary loves the trainability that Chester possesses who never forgets what he has been taught.
You will often hear Gary saying “this horse has been here before – he takes everything in his stride and nothing phases him”. Chester’s assets would have to be his trainable mind closely followed by his pure and breath-taking paces.
Today, Chester is retired and spends his day making sure everyone at Windhill stays on schedule. He comes into his stable each evening and loves to venture out into his paddock during the day. With everything he has given to Gary including younger riders who rode him as a school master, he has deserved his retirement.
windhill WISDOM, “wisdom”
“Wisdom” is by Chester (“GB Winchester”) out of “Belcam Dove”. “Belcam Dove” is a warmblood mare by Herr Dominator and her bloodlines are related to other successful horses such as Aachimedes, Heyder Domezar and Dom Perigonon.
“Wisdom” was given this name because during his entry into this world, there was a beautiful owl perched up on a fence overseeing this lovely moment. After many discussions, it was decided that a name associated with owls should be given to him, and so “Wisdom” was chosen.
“Wisdom” was not only a successful dressage horse who competed up to Intermediate 1 and training all the Grand Prix movements but he also loved jumping and in 2017 at the Queensland State Eventing Championship, we won the EVQ 60 State Champion.
duel chutzpah, “SHULTZ”
Duel Chutzpah (“Schultz”) is a horse that Gary found most challenging to train and campaign. He is by the imported warmblood stallion, Duell Schultz and even with his modern and amazing paces that filled the arena, “Schultz” was not a brave horse.
A lot of time was spent gaining his confidence to compete at large events with large crowds and atmospheres.
“Schultz” was training all the FEI movements at home and was out campaigning, winning and placing at Advanced level and was a member of the 2007 Queensland State Dressage Squad.
