Monte Carlo
We went to Queensland to buy Monte for Julia when she was 14 years old, and decided she wanted to focus at least as much on showjumping as dressage. Monte was no dressage horse, but he certainly had a careful jump.
The pair took time to establish a partnership up at NEGS in Armidale, where Julia was boarding, but ultimately they were successful not just in the jumping ring, but in the hack ring as well, with several blue ribbons and champion girl riders to their credit.
Brazilian, Sandro Melo, then took over the ride while he was working at Copabella, and the pair clocked up several impressive placings, in particular a 2nd in the hotly contested Derby at JK Williams in 2004.
Monte subsequently belonged to Anoushka De Silva, whom he helped teach everything she knows about showjumping. He now belongs to Oakville Equestrian Centre, and continues to help teach novice riders, as well as regularly bringing home ribbons.