Austin O’Connor 51 y/o

Ireland

CCI5* -L Starts (total since 2008): 27

23 - Colorado Blue

Biography

British-based Irishman Austin, who has been placed three times at Badminton on Colorado Blue, brings a new ride this time, Sixmilewater, thus fulfilling the dream of owner Nicky Bennell to have a Badminton horse.

Austin took over the ride in 2023 from Ginny Howe and completed Burghley on him last year. The 12-year-old, an Irish Sport Horse by OBOS Quality, was originally started off in international competition in Ireland by Nicky Roncoroni.

Austin sprang to prominence at a very wet Badminton in 1999 when he finished fourth on Simply Rhett and made his senior team debut for Ireland later that year. He has since represented Ireland 10 times, finishing in the top 20 at all four Olympic Games (2000, 2008, 2021 and 2024).

With Colorado Blue, the highest ranked Irish horse of all time, he has twice finished third at Badminton, in 2025 and in 2023, and was eighth in 2022. Last year the combination was runners-up at Burghley and in 2024 they were 14th there. In 2023, Austin won his first CCI5*-L, at Elkton/Maryland, USA, on Colorado Blue.

Austin is from Mallow, Co Cork, where his family ran a horse-breaking business. He represented Ireland in Juniors and moved to England at the age of 19, where he was based with the Wiegersma family in Cornwall.

He is currently the highest ranked Irish rider on the world rankings, at number 15.

He is married to Amy, who also competes on young horses; they have two young sons, Alfie and Wilf, and run a yard at Chilton, Oxfordshire.

Austin is trained by Tracie Robinson.

Entries

Colorado Blue

SHBGB, Ireland, 2009
16.3hh , grey , gelding

Sire Jaguar Mail

Dam Rock me Baby (Rock King)

Breeder Kate Jarvey

Owned The Salty Syndicate

Stats & Insights from

PB – Dressage(CCI5*-L)

27.8 - Burghley 2025

PB – Finish(CCI5*-L)

31.2 - Badminton 2025 - 3rd

Dressage(Last 6 tests avg.)

31.6

XCJ – Clear Rate(Last 10 runs)

90%

SJ Faults(Last 6 avg.)

4

Insights

Colorado Blue is the highest-rated Irish horse in history with an EquiRatings Elo of 808. He is the only Irish horse to break past the 800 barrier.
With 10 faultless cross-country rounds at CCI5*, Colorado Blue has more clear rounds than any other horse in the field at this level.

Badminton Record

2025 – Colorado Blue 3rd
2023 – Colorado Blue 3rd
2022 – Colorado Blue 8th
2017 – Kilpatrick Knight 26th
2014 – Ringwood Mississippi 15th
2010 – Pocket Rocket 42nd
2008 – Hobby Du Mée WD
1999 – Simply Rhett 4th

Notable Results

2025 Bramham CCI4*-L – Sixmilewater 21st
2025 Burghley CCI5*-L – Colorado Blue 2nd
2025 Burghley CCI5*-L – Sixmilewater 27th
2025 Scone Palace CCI4*-L – Ventura Rock 7th
2024 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Sixmilewater 12th
2024 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Isazsa 63rd
2024 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Ventura Rock 57th
2024 Burghley CCI5*-L – Colorado Blue 14th
2024 Paris Olympics – Colorado Blue 17th
2023 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Billy Beaufort 30th
2023 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Isazsa 32nd
2023 Maryland CCI5*-L – Colorado Blue 1st
2023 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Isazsa 20th
2022 Pratoni del Vivaro World Championships – Colorado Blue 18th
2021 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Colorado Blue 4th
2021 Tokyo Olympics – Colorado Blue 13th
2020 Barroca d’Alva CCI4*-L – Colorado Blue 12th
2019 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Kinnordy Rhondo 46th
2018 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Colorado Blue 18th
2018 Bramham CCI4*-L – Lucky Contender 17th
2018 Burghley CCI5*-L – Lucky Contender 29th
2018 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 11th
2017 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 25th
2017 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Lucky Contender 67th
2016 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 2nd
2015 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 27th
2015 Burghley CCI5*-L – Morning Venture 42nd
2015 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Balham Houdini 16th
2015 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 6th
2014 Blair Castle CCI4*-L – Fernhill Rockstar 9th
2014 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Balham Houdini 20th
2014 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Kilpatrick Knight 33rd
2014 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Morning Venture 41st
2014 Bramham CCI4*-L – Balham Houdini 26th
2014 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – GFG Rambo Man 15th
2013 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Balham Houdini 60th
2013 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Fernhill Rockstar 58th
2013 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Ringwood Mississippi 13th
2013 Malmö Europeans – Ringwood Mississippi 41st
2013 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – GFG Rambo Man 15th
2012 Blenheim CCI4*-L – Ringwood Mississippi 38th
2012 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Ringwood Mississippi 6th
2011 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Ringwood Mississippi 72nd
2009 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Pocket Rocket 9th
2008 Beijing Olympics – Hobby Du Mée 21st
2008 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Lily Of The West 76th
2008 Pau CCI5*-L – Pocket Rocket 12th
2008 Saumur CCI4*-L – Lily Of The West 35th