TOP Australian dressage rider Brett Parbery secured third place in the grand prix freestyle at the Rotterdam International Five Star Show in Holland over the weekend.
He was riding the Australian Warmblood Victory Salute and had a super score of 75.07 per cent, just behind the winner, Dutch rider Edward Gal, on 77.42 per cent.
Parbery, from Sydney, is preparing for selection in the Australian dressage team to compete at the world championships in October.
Australian showjumper Chris Chugg was 11th in the 1.60m $400,000 grand prix, riding his talented stallion Vivant.
Chugg, from Glossodia, is also campaigning in Europe to gain selection in the Australian team at the world equestrian games.
The grand prix is ranked as one of the world's best and the talent on show was evident, with four double clear rounds from the 49 qualified riders.
Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson won the class riding La Silla Casall.
English rider John Whitaker was ninth on one time penalty, German Ludger Beerbaum was 10th on four penalties in a time of 75.76 seconds, with Chugg a fraction slower for 11th in 77.24 seconds.
Chris and Vivant qualified for the grand prix by jumping sensational clear rounds in the two 1.55m qualifying classes.
After the grand prix, Chugg said: "We are delighted with Vivant, he has done everything right. He will now have a few weeks rest prior to the Australian team selection series."
The Australian jumping team will be selected following two selection events to be held in Germany, one next month and one in August.
Meanwhile, at the Pforzheim International Three Star Show in Germany, Victoria's World Equestrian Games team contender Matt Williams from Tonimbuk was placed 16th in the 1.55m Grand Prix.
Riding Bolero Van 'T Heike, he scored four penalties for one rail down.
The grand prix saw just seven clear rounds from the 36 qualified riders. German riders Christian Ahlmann and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum placing first and second.
Riding Gran Carthago Williams placed fifth in the 1.50m jump-off class on Saturday, the class won by German Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum.
Geelong's James Paterson-Robinson also competed at Pforzheim to place third in the Young Horse final, riding Vincente, with this lovely young horse jumping clear in all three young horse classes.
Australian dressage riders Hayley Beresford and Chantal Wigan competed at the Achleiten International Three Star Dressage Show in Austria on the weekend for more excellent international results.
Hayley was fourth in the grand prix freestyle on 70.85 per cent and ninth in the grand prix on 64.64 per cent, riding her Olympic horse, Relampago Do Retiro.
Wigan was seventh in the grand prix freestyle, riding Ferero on 69.6 per cent and fifth in the grand prix, scoring 65.4 per cent.
