Bret Willson Scouts Anna Zibrandtsen's Shakira for American Jennifer Huber

Dressage

U.S.A.

British horse scout Bret Willson has made a successful match between Anna Zibrandtsen's Shakira and American Grand Prix rider Jennifer Huber.

Shakira is an 8-year old Oldenburg mare by Sommerlier out of Doreen (by Sir Donnerhall x Londonderry). She is bred by Jan-Hermann Ahuis.

Danish Young Horse Circuit

Owned by Anna Zibrandtsen's Bregnerødgård, the bay mare was first competed in 2018 by then Danish based Portuguese rider Frederico Mexia de Almeida. The pair qualified for the young horse classes at the 2019 CDI Falsterbo via the Danish young horse show circuit and at the end of the season the duo competed at to the 2019 Danish Young Horse Championships for 6-year olds, where they were 13th in the qualification round.

In 2020 Zibrandtsen took over the ride herself and began showing Shakira in the 7-year old tests in the autumn of that year. In 2021 she twice competed the mare at national level in the Advanced Medium level tests.

Jennifer Huber

The 54-year old American Grand Prix rider Jennifer Huber is based in Wellington, Florida, but as of 2017 has been spending summers training and competing in Great Britain with horses Bubbles (by Johnson), Duchesse du Pre (by Dauphin x Weltmeyer), and Madame Noir (by (Nobleman x Sherwood).

Originally from Freeport, Maine, Huber started her professional career as a working student for Kathy Connelly and then trained with Jane Savoie, Sue Blinks, Susan Jaccoma, Tina Konyot, Chris Hickey, and Katherine Bateson. Her first Grand Prix horse was Fleetwood. Her first claims to fame were made aboard Al Pacino (by Achenbach x Azur). In 2006 the pair had their international show debut in Wellington and in 2008 Huber and Al Pacino topped the USDF Grand Prix Adult Amateur ranking.

Huber made her international come back in 2016 in the amateur small tour classes with Madame Noir. In 2017 they moved to Intermediaire II level. In 2019 they were reserve champions in the Intermediate II Adult Amateur Championship at the USDF Finals.

Madame Noir is now 17 and Shakira will be her successor.

Worldwide Network

Horse scout Bret Willson discovered Shakira for Huber at the yard of former Danish team rider Anna Zibrandtsen, one of the many high profile contacts in his worldwide network.

Jennifer on Madame Noir at the 2015 CDN Wellington

Bret is based in the South of England and specialises in locating and selling top International dressage horses and ponies world wide.

"We work very closely with the very best dressage stables and trainers around the world, in order to find a selection of truly outstanding horses," he said.

"Katherine is a very good friend and called us if we knew a horse for Jennifer," Bret added. "I immediately thought of Shakira and the try-out went very well," Willson explained. "It was a good co-operation from all parts. It must be said that Anna has produced Shakira beautifully. It's a wonderful horse and very well ridden."