Image: Paul Austin and Bloomfield Amparo, supplied by Kelato/Hoofprintz Photography.
Queenslander Paul Austin knows a thing or two about show horses. Throughout a lengthy and illustrious career in the show ring, Paul has been a rider, handler, coach, trainer and judge. He’s seen many good horses, so when he says his latest show hunter is pretty special, you know he’s not making that assessment lightly.
The journey with Bloomfield Amparo all started three years ago at Bloomfield Farm. “We looked at six horses, and he was the very last one that we looked at,” recalls Paul of how he found his latest protégé. “He just stood there; he had a really well-set front, and he caught my attention. He had a lot of presence.”
Paul was smitten and knew he had to have the 18-month-old Warmblood – by the stallion Amarouk (Ampere / Jazz) out of St.Pr.St. Madonia (Don Davidoff) – in his stable. As someone who largely produces horses for clients and only ever has two of his own among a team of 16, the purchase was not taken lightly.
Paul says he has started the chestnut gelding slowly. “My partner Mark and I, we’ve had Amparo now for three years. We’ve just taken him slowly; we haven’t rushed him. He’s a long-term horse. I want to go make sure we set him up correctly.”
Amparo – who’s affectionately known as Curtis at home – has now been to a handful of shows and is already catching the eye of judges and spectators alike, with wins on each occasion.
His most recent outing was Toowoomba Royal, where Paul says he was inundated with feedback from onlookers saying what a lovely horse he was – and he of course agrees. “I’ve seen some beautiful horses that are really pretty, but they just don’t have that killer instinct… they don’t go out there and give you that ‘look at me’ presence. Amparo does.”
Now five years old, Amparo is one big show hunter. “His wither is at 17.1 ½ hands, but his ears are up at 20 hands,” explains Paul. “He just comes out of the shoulder really well and always has his ears pricked.”
Paul and Amparo have had plenty of success in the show ring. Image: Kelato/Hoofprintz Photography.
Building Amparo
As a big, gangly young horse, it has taken Amparo a while to fill out – and it’s of course a work still in progress. Steady, consistent training has done wonders, however Paul has also enlisted the help of Kelato’s recently-released product, MuscleBUILDA®.
A unique, double-action muscle building supplement, MuscleBUILDA® not only focuses on the quick development of lean muscle to improve the muscle-to-fat ratio but also contains key amino acids that help with muscle recovery.
“Curtis is a big, gangly hose and has still got to mature further, but I started him on the MuscleBUILDA® and he has really blossomed. He’s filling out and has pretty well doubled in size,” says Paul, adding that the product has changed the way the horse is built and the way he’s muscled for the better.
“He’s building up in all the right places: he’s starting to get a bit of muscle behind the saddle, he’s getting more of a bum. He’s getting rid of his ‘poverty lines’, and his neck is coming out of the wither better. He already had some topline, but now it’s more continuous. MuscleBUILDA® has helped big time.”
Malcolm the Thoroughbred
Paul says he’s also had excellent results using the supplement with Amparo’s stablemate, Malcolm.
“Malcolm is a four-year-old off the track Thoroughbred. He was a $600,000 yearling by stallion Zouster, and raced as Metallicity,” explains Paul. The gelding had five starts for a third and failed to impress on the track, but Paul certainly thinks he has a bright future as a show hack. “He’s light across the ground and a very nice mover, but he also has a good brain. He feels like a blank canvas; he’s had a good start and hasn’t been spoiled.
“Thoroughbreds, when you get them off the track, you have to let them down. It takes time to build their shape; consistent work does wonders, but I also have Malcolm on MuscleBUILDA®.
“I’ve taken before and after photos and he’s a different horse. When we bought him, he was quite lean and had an upside-down ewe neck. We started him on MuscleBUILDA® in March, and he’s just changed shape so much. He’s a beautiful horse.” Paul explains that Malcolm is yet to compete but may be ready for a few outings at agricultural shows later this year.
Paul is no stranger to Kelato products, having been part of TeamKELATO for several years. “Kelato ZanoBOLIC® has been a very, very good product for a long time. I’ve seen great results with it… but MuscleBUILDA® has gone to the next level.
“ZanoBOLIC® is a great long-term maintenance supplement, but MuscleBUILDA® is excellent when you need that bit more of a boost in the short term. It’s been a game changer and has made a big difference to my two horses.”
The season ahead
As a Queenslander, Paul’s show season is just starting as the dry season kicks in – and he’s excited about what lays ahead for show hunter Amparo after a promising start at Toowoomba.
“Our show season has just gotten underway. We have our agricultural show run, and then we’ll do Brisbane Royal, Equestrian Queensland Horse of the Year, EA Australian Show Horse Championships and then in March next year, the SHCA Grand National Saddle Horse & Rider Championships,” he explains.
And while the ribbons and accolades are exciting to think about, Paul says at the moment he’s just enjoying the ride with a special horse.
“Amparo, he’s just a nice person. He’s not a horse that needs lots of work… he’s just a horse that needs confidence. I’ve had plenty of horses that have been a little difficult over the years, but he’s actually been quite easy and quite cruisy. You go to the stable and he wants to play with you and lick you; he wants to be in your face. He just wants some love and attention.”
MuscleBUILDA® is a unique, double-action muscle building supplement with Gamma Oryzanol and Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). The only product of its kind on the Australian market, it is the perfect kick-start for show campaigns, yearling prep, and more. Click here to learn more.
This article was written in conjunction with Kelato.
