This article is from the August 2020 Horse Deals magazine.
Brett & Melinda Parbery. Magnus Agren Photography
Cedar Lodge, the home of Parbery Performance Horses, is nestled in the little village of Penrose in the Southern Highlands of NSW. It was the location, just ten minutes off the Hume Highway, and the feel of this 15-acre property that led dressage riders, Brett and Melinda (Mel) Parbery to move here some 13 years ago after relocating from their Sydney yard.
“We didn’t have the space we needed in Sydney and started looking for an alternative base between Sydney and Melbourne, so we could be close enough to the big competitions. This property came up for sale in Horse Deals,” explained Brett, “and we loved it from the first viewing. It was important to us that the horses could be outside in a paddock every day and this property offered that sort of space.”
Every horse at Cedar Lodge has access to an outdoor area whilst also having a stable or shelter, although even on a rainy day most seem happy to be outside.
Cedar Lodge, formally known as Penrose Stud and Training Stables, was owned by Bev and Ernie Walker. But, as the couple grew older, the property moved away from horses to cattle and Brett and Mel remember cows wandering around the stables when they first looked at what would become their home.
“We ignored the cows and just loved the feel of this place as soon as we walked around. The property was pretty basic with a few stables and sheds, but it did have an indoor arena. We didn’t even look at the house before we decided to buy the property,” laughs Mel. “We just thought, we’ve got a roof on an arena, we can make the rest of it work.”
The first two projects were to put in new safe paddocks and yard fencing and upgrade the very basic accommodation for the grooms. “Our lovely staff moved with us in the middle of winter and there was a bit of temperature change between Sydney and the Southern Highlands, so upgrading their accommodation was a priority. The quick addition of a double undercover washbay and a roof on the tie-up area between the stables certainly made life a little easier as well,” Mel admits.
Along with being a dressage coach and trainer, Mel also runs a successful Graphic Design company and her flair for design is evident with ironwork blending together with timber and stone walls. “You can’t go wrong with steel, stone and timber, and we have tried to keep that flowing throughout the property. We began with our first horseshoe sculpture and circular stone wall in the middle of the yard, and everything has literally grown out from that starting point.”
The red letter box outside Cedar Loge gives a blast of colour to the sandstone wall and is a useful marker for new visitors.
Nestled in amongst the shrubs sits a protective gargoyle brought to Cedar Lodge from Mel Parbery’s Sydney base. Despite keeping the property safe during last season’s bushfires, it did suffer some wing damage when Brett ran over it in his tractor!
The driveway is edged with hedges, post and rail fencing and agapanthus.
The Parbery hay barn with beautiful wooden doors constructed by local carpenter and builder Chris Ingmire, who built many of the Cedar Lodge structures, is both functional and beautiful at the same time.
The entrance to the stables and tack up area. A horseshoe sculpture by Melinda Knowles, surrounded by a stone wall was the inspiration for many other features around Cedar Lodge. Magnus Agren Photography.
The cross tie tack up area is the hub of the yard. Large skylights fill this area with light.
The practicality of Cedar Lodge, with the tack room and the all-important carrot supply, works as well for the Parberys as it did for former owners Bev and Ernie Walker.
Each horse has its own Schockemoehle bridle that is cleaned every day after use.
From boots to wraps and bandages – there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.
Sprenger have made sure the Parberys will never be short of choice in bits.
Located just outside the stables is a practical washbay with crossties and lighting.
Wrought iron work adorns many of the sheds.
Horseshoes and bells, against the backdrop of corrugated stables.
The next project is the removal of the old groom’s accommodation. In its place will be a shed for the Parbery truck and a two bedroom apartment for the grooms.
The 60 x 20m indoor arena was one of the things that first attracted the dressage couple to this Penrose property. The arena is a hybrid, originally resurfaced with Soiltex from Capricorn mixed with a local sand and recently the addition of Martin Collins waxed surface has been added to reduce dust and watering. The arena was also enclosed on one open side with a half wall and an angled kickboard all round.
The sun sets over the Penrose State Forest, which lies at the back of the indoor arena.
The door leading to the two bedroom apartment at the end of the indoor arena.
One of the two bedrooms built adjoining the indoor arena to provide clients with comfortable accommodation.
The comfortable meeting space, attached to the indoor arena, where clients can relax or make a coffee whilst watching horses being worked. Along the back wall is a kitchenette.
Two beautiful walls made from local sandstone guide you down to the arena paddock.
The top 60 x 20 outdoor arena is currently being upgraded to a waxed outdoor surface by Martin Collins. Magnus Agren Photography
Thanks to the determination of Mel Parbery, who replanted hundreds of kikuyu shoots, the once heavy woodchip lower arena has been transformed into a lush green showjumping arena.
Building a chicken shed was a good COVID-19 project for Brett and his son Jake.
The turnout paddocks are sheltered by huge pine trees.
Ettienne is happy to be in the sunshine but there is always access to a shelter. Magnus Agren Photography
Ferdi enjoying his afternoon lucerne. The horses come into stables or sheltered yards overnight. These yards have a plastic grid by Galahad under woodchip to drain and keep horses out of mud through winter.
Keeping an eye on things the Parbery dogs, Rikki, Slim and Charli.
Article: Alison Duthie. Photos: Parbery Design, Alison Duthie & Magnus Agren Photography.
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