Close
Our Products
All Products
Pleasure
Performance
Conditioning
Fibre
Breeding & Stud
Racing
Specialty
Supplements
Quick Feed finder
Free Diet Analysis
The Complete Range
Nutrition Centre
Articles
All About Fibre
Feeding for Condition
Competition Season
Laminitis
Breeding
Foal care
Building Topline
Gut Health
Senior horses
Racing & Breeding
Tools & Calculators
Competitions / Offers
Our Riders
Brand ambassadors
Junior squad
About Barastoc
Why Barastoc
Our commitment
Barastoc's People
Our communities
Partnering with KER
Partnering with BHF
Sustainability
Contact Us
Paul Austin
Profile
Getting Started in the Industry
Pony Club, Jumping, Trail Rides the lot!
When I was 9 years old (only a few years ago) I watched a movie called Ride a wild Pony by Walt Disney and I said to my parents, I want a horse. Well the next week my first ever pony arrived at our house. Jesse was 12.3hh and 8yo, she was a bay and not sure on the breed. My parents paid $350 for her and she came with a bridle, hessian rug and saddle that had a broken tree, so I learnt to ride bareback a lot as my parents were not horsey at all.
I attended the Melton Pony Club and all I knew was fast, I represented PC at State level winning Novelties and also ODE, I did think flat work was a tad boring then.
I was a keen and enthusiastic rider that would make anything work to get to an event or to get someone to pick me up and take me to the show.
I started doing hacking in my mid teens and qualified for the Good Hands at Melbourne Royal, so that was my way into the hacking scene and I never looked back.
I had a great eventer who I did pre novice on, he was a lovely horse with too much energy, my dressage scores would be mid field and I would always go clear in the show jumping and cross country which would bring me up to the higher placings.
I used to Hunt in which I loved and enjoyed the social aspect of it and didn’t mind the stirrup cup in hand, but the long long days of chasing a fox in the miserable Melbourne weather I wasn’t a lover of.
These days I look back at what I used to jump with the height and the barb wire etc and I am lucky to get over a cavaletti.
Career Highlights
To pick just some is not fair. A stable favourite would have to be Dicavalli Rory owned by long time friends and clients, the Lovell Family. He has been Champion at Canberra and Adelaide Royals with me, won Nationals and countless HOTY’s. I think he is up to maybe 18 Blues at Royals in his Open classes. A hugely successful horse with quite a few different riders. He is a great house mate!
Inspiration
The love of the horse. Each horse is unique in it’s needs, want’s, ability and day to day life. Getting that difficult horse, that green broken horse, the rough diamond up to Royal Show Level is always a buzz. We have had quite a few horses that have come from nowhere that have won.
Inspiring the many children I coach is also a thrill. Seeing them achieve their personal goals after the hours of work is always rewarding. To compete at top level in any sport equates to huge sacrifice.
Let’s not forget the kids and their first up down’s or their first canter’s. Smile’s from ear to ear.
Barastoc Products
We have used Barastoc feeds for many years now. Tried, tested and backed up with the proof. Our horses are always looking a million bucks. The feeds are palatable and a quality you would expect to help the horses literally shine.
We feed Calm Performer, Low GI, Equi Jewel and Supreme. The ratio and type of feed given to the horses depends on the individual and what it needs. This is literally all we feed other than chaff and hay food wise.
Tips and Tricks
Don’t be in a rush
Have regular lessons
Go to that clinic with a different instructor
Don’t set the horse up to fail
Buy a horse, don’t get sold one, there is a difference
Don’t be afraid to accept that it is not the right horse and sell it on
Your best accessory should be your horse
Horses like routine, be routine like in feeding, rugging and stabling
If you are looking for a jumper, they will need a rug too
Research for yourself, if it is working for you, why are you changing
Fads are just that
Always ask questions
And relax and enjoy the show. Find a way so that nerves do not get the better of you.
At a big show, if your horse is working how you want, go for another 10 minutes, then pack it up.
The Journey
I am never afraid to ask for help, advice and assistance. Our industry has so many talented and gifted riders and trainers that do want to help. You just have to ask. Over the years I have had quite a lot of conversations with the late great Vince Corvi. I don’t think there was ever a situation or problem I asked him about that he had not encountered and conquered. I guess what I am saying is, never be afraid to ask for help and opinions, it may just work!