Hiya again Moleski. I'm really at the tail end of jumping of any description, being 55 and having lost my nerve with jumping higher after a long break. But we did place at our last little event a few years ago, and that was more than enough for me. I am enjoying having a break from all the seriousness of competing and training. Heading into winter here is a good time to be free of the commitments of horses that is for sure, and gives me more time and money for skiing. Yes I am looking half heartedly for the next horse. He will have to be young, around 15 hands, and quiet. I won't settle for anything else. I figure if I get one around 5 years old, he might last another 25 years and if I make it that long also, I'll be 80. It's enough. And I hope he can grow old with my daughter's pony, who is only about 10, so may well have another 30+ years left.
I most certainly do know a bit about Andrew McLean. I had an initially very difficult anglo arab 20 years ago who really tested me as a young horse. I had to research all sorts of options to get him sorted out and some of Andrew McLean's methods really helped. I have his book somewhere. He is very well known and respected here in Australia, and rightly so. I managed to totally sort out my anglo and he is now a very well adjusted and well educated 22 year old, retired with the TB
Where do we ski in Australia? We have only a small area to play with! I ski at Perisher, the largest resort in Australia, which is near the capital city of Canberra. We have a number of other resorts nearby in New South Wales, and then also in the high country in Victoria. Not too far from Andrew McLean ;)
Skiing in NZ is very hit and miss these days, thanks to global warming. Australia is also affected but continues to chug along a little better so far, surprisingly...