 With his early years spent in the Victorian high country near Mansfield it was Julien Welsh's destiny from an early age to devote his life to horses. Fortunate to have his own pony and the encouragement of his parents, Julien gained his initial experience in Pony Club activities and owning his own ponies. He becoming a leading Victorian mountain race rider for some 13 years and played his part as a 'crack rider' in The Man From Snowy River II. Eventually he relocated back to Melbourne and spent some four years as a successful jumps jockey until weight problems got the better of him. Subsequent to this, Julien decided to put the experience and knowledge he had gained into his own horse breaking and training business, and was granted a Victorian Trainers License in 1996. He began slowly with just two or three horses and his plumbing business supported this for a while but it was not long before his early work with handling horses was recognised and soon his stables were filled with young thoroughbreds and Julien Welsh Racing Stables came into being.From those early days Julien has never looked back and has gained a well-earned reputation as an accomplished and professional operator in the horse business. His successes have included the breaking in of such horses as Cut Up Rough, Elvstroem and Haradasun. His clientele includes well known trainers such as Tony Vasil, John Moloney, Peter Moody, Colin & Cindy Alderson, Andrew Noblet and Nigel Blackiston. Needless to say, these days Julien's plumbing activities are now confined to replacing tap washers at his home, when he can get around to it! Julien is still involved deeply with Mansfield Hunt Club, being a member of the committee and regular participant at hunt meets. He is also a member of the Pakenham Trainers Association and keeps his hand in as a Clerk of the Course at various racetracks when required.  Julien's operation is situated at two sites, his stables adjacent to Pakenham Racecourse and Booralite Park, located in Ellett Road, Pakenham South. Booralite Park comprises a picturesque 50 acres of large, well-fenced paddocks with shelter boxes and open plan stables which allow young horses to view the day to day activities around the farm and each other. Before they ever set sight on a race track they are ridden out freely along open, grassy tracks which prepares them well for their first racetrack outing. A steady increase in the number of horses cared for has necessitated a third block of stables and a private track to be developed.Julien Welsh offers the complete breaking in experience for young thoroughbreds. His standards in care and education are second to none and this shows in the quality of the final product ? all his horses are educated to a level where they are ready to go into training ? comfortable with trackwork, standing in the barriers, and the day to day business of being taken to the track, worked, hosed and rugged. Booralite Park - It makes all the difference!  |