If horse in a million had a place in the dictionary, Victory Salute would be a strong contender for the definition. Australian owned and bred, and known simply as “Sam”, he earned his place in the history books through consistency, talent, and the partnership he built with rider Brett Parbery.
Victory Salute is widely considered a leading figure in shaping Australian dressage, and no one felt that more than Parbery.
Photo credit Tony Sheffield
Raised from a foal by owner and breeder Carolyn Lieutenant, Sam developed into a horse capable of performances no other Australian‑based horse has been able to match.
Together, Parbery and Sam produced results that remain benchmarks in the country’s dressage history.
The forging of their partnership is well known. When fellow rider Matthew Dowsley relocated to Europe to aim to qualify for the World Equestrian Games, Lieutenant needed someone to take over the ride. Parbery was in Germany at the time, but after receiving a call from Lieutenant, he returned to Australia - and the partnership began.
“I’d seen him in squad schools and at competitions, but only ever at the lower levels,” Parbery recalls.
“I remember thinking there was something about that horse. I liked the shape he made; he always used his body well. He looked like a real worker - he tried hard, he worked hard - and that’s why I thought there was something there.”
It wasn’t until 2009 that the full picture became clear.
“I’d already been to Europe with him in 2008, and when I came back in 2009, I went pretty much undefeated all year. I won everything, set a few Australian records, and on my way back to Europe in 2010, I won the (Australian League) World Cup Final. That’s when I realised I was on a pretty special horse.”
With that realisation came refinement.
“I made a couple of changes to the training for 2010, based on what I’d learned. Just small tweaks - adjusting the system, adjusting the training regime - and it turned out to be a real winner. That’s what took him from being a top‑30 or top‑40 horse in the world to being one of the top horses in the world.”
Sam’s work ethic, combined with his temperament and the genuine connection he shared with Parbery, was central to the pair’s success.
“His temperament was fantastic - it was a gold‑medal temperament,” Parbery says.
“He was such a hard worker, and whatever you asked, he’d give you the maximum. The way he used his body, especially the way he articulated the joints in his hind legs in collection, was exceptional. That part of him was outstanding.”
Parbery recalls their time in Holland in 2010, preparing for the World Equestrian Games - where they would ultimately finish ninth - as a period that cemented their bond.
“We spent seven days a week together, and I was his only contact,” he says.
“I’d hand‑pick him, lead him out, feed him myself, muck out his stable. I did everything for him. Wherever I had to be, I’d organise it around being there for him. I never wanted him to feel like he was being handed off to anyone.”
Photo credit Leanjo De Koster
It was during this European campaign that Sam was fed exclusively on Pryde’s for the entire nine‑month stint. The Pryde’s family backed the pair wholeheartedly, shipping over enough feed to last the whole stay.
That loyalty - and the belief Pryde’s showed in Parbery and Sam - is something he still remembers with real appreciation.
“I convinced Peter (Pryde) to send feed over for nine months to feed Sam, that’s how much I believed in it,” Parbery says. “And then we shipped all that feed to Kentucky for the World Games. That’s why we’re still with Pryde’s today.
“My horses always look fabulous, and it’s something I’ve never had to worry about. You know the horses are going to look good and develop well, as long as the training and management are right. The nutrition side is taken care of with great feed.”
Photo credit Tomas Holcbecher
For Parbery, the confidence came from consistency.
“I always knew that when I was feeding Pryde’s, I was feeding quality-grown material. And then there are the specific formulations we’ve used over the years, along with the extrusion method. But really, it was the formulations… for developing them. We’ve just never deviated.”
Even now, years later, the impact of Sam’s partnership remains clear.
“I just haven’t been able to replace him,” Parbery says. “I’ve had plenty of top horses, but nothing to that calibre.”
For an Australian‑bred, Australian‑based horse and rider to break into the top ten in the world is a rare achievement. “It’s so hard to do,” he says. “It’s just a fairy tale really.”
Parbery credits Lieutenant’s unwavering belief as a defining element. “I always say there’s one common ingredient every Grand Prix horse has around the world, and that’s someone who believed in them. Carolyn Lieutenant, as breeder and owner, believed in that horse right through his whole career. She raised him from a foal, which doesn’t always happen, and she always knew there was something there.”
Even in 2026, European and American riders still remember Parbery for the famous mount Sam - a testament to a partnership that left a lasting mark on the sport.