Austin O’Connor

Austin has been involved in horses since he was a child when his parents ran a riding school and handling yard. At the age of just 13 he started his international career and became the youngest every rider to compete in two-star in Punchestown.

The 33-year-old Irish international was born in Cork. He left Ireland when he was 19 and based himself in England with the Wiegersma family. He went on to set up his own yard with his eventing wife Kathrin in Worcestershire.

The two have now moved their lives to Somerset where they have 20 horses, mostly for eventing. Austin and Kathrin are also keen national hunt followers and have the odd racehorse in their yard for schooling or pre-training.

Austin competed in the Beijing Olympic Games in the summer, coming in the top 25 individually and placed eighth in the team event with Ireland.

Austin's Record
21st and best Irish team member Olympics Honk Kong CCI**** 2008
Irish team member European Championships Pratony 2007
21st CCI**** Badminton (Hobby du Mee)
6th CCI*** Kreuth (Hobby du Mee)
4th Advanced Belton (Hobby du Mee)
12th CCI*** Blair Castle (Pocket Rocket)
2nd CIC** Ballendenisk (Lily of the West)