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Will Mathews & Sara Ryan
Profile
How did you get started in the industry and who inspired you?
My partner and I Sara Ryan started our business Bellaroo Equestrian about 6 years ago. My side of the business is mainly show jumping - producing horses, teaching lessons, breeding horses etc. Sara also showjumps but is mainly involved with thoroughbreds , Pre training racehorses and starting to get into training also. Before this I spent about 7 years working as a working pupil for various riders where I was really fortunate to get a lot of good experience and opportunities.
What are some of the memories you look back on and smile about?
I really cherish the early days of riding as a child, most of the early years of my riding were bush bashing, pony club, a bit of eventing but mostly just having fun and realising the love and passion I have for horses. Competitively, there’s no particular result that stands out, but cantering through the finish flags of my first Grand Prix’s and world cups on horses I have produced myself is something that makes me really happy and is what motivates me to keep pushing myself to be better.
Who supported you in the early days? When I first finished school and was a working student my late mother was particularly supportive. It’s a big commitment doing horses full time, you work incredibly long hours with very minimal time or energy left for much else, so it was great having her to lean on for support.
Who do you look up to in the equestrian world and why?
I think being a professional rider in Australia, it’s important to look up to 2 different types of people in the industry, the top level competitor’s in your discipline, and the successful business people in the sport. Riding is obviously a crucial part of being successful but a strong business model is what will give you longevity in the sport. I really admire and look up to Dave And Tallara Cameron - they are successful top level competitors in Australia and successful commercially.
What Barastoc feeds are you currently using? We currently use Stud and Spell, competitor and Groom.
What are some approaches to troubleshooting some common training and horse problems within your chosen Equine Discipline?
I think no matter what issue you are having with a horse it is important to look at things holistically. Horses are very complex animals and a lot of how they perform comes down to how well they are managed day to day. Having a good relationship with vets/Farrier’s/Physio’s etc is crucial but one big thing that has helped us immensely is having a great relationship with your feed rep. The team at Barastoc have been so helpful with customising feeds to suit a particular horse's needs and accommodating a range of horses. We have foals, growing horses, broodmares, performance horses, pre trainers and race horses so making sure their nutrition is 100% is probably one of the most important ingredients to having a happy healthy horse!
What do you look back on and wish you had done differently – what advice do you have for other riders?
I wish that I had spent a bit more time working and learning from riders overseas and here in Australia before starting my own business. I was 21 when my Mum passed away, and I think while you are young, and have the support network to allow it, it is so important to maximise your knowledge intake and learn from the best people you can surround yourself with. As for advice for other riders, work hard, work smart and ask yourself often what your future self will think of the decisions you are making now.