Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Barnett.
Paige, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and from a young age, horses were my world. I started riding and competing in hunter-jumper shows early on, and when I left for the University of Arizona, my parents actually sent my horse with me so I could keep riding and competing while I was in school. By 21, I had turned professional, working as a trainer for a private family in Tucson.
After graduation, I moved to Austin, Texas, with no real plans to build a career around horses—I thought I was closing that chapter. But the universe had other ideas. One request to help with a horse turned into another, and before I knew it, I was right back in it.
In 2006, I started Coraggio Equestrian. For years, I leased barns around Austin until I were able to build my own facility in southwest Austin. What began as 10 acres and one barn has grown into 20 acres, three barns, an Airbnb, and is home to Ranch Fit, a functional fitness gym.
What I love most is that it’s not just about working with horses—it’s about building something that people are excited to be a part of. For so many of my clients their horses are the best part of their day and I get to help facilitate that. I have loved growing this as a business as well, the challenges, the changes all of it. I get just as much satisfaction from managing growth, and creating opportunities as I do from being in the saddle. For me, it’s the perfect blend of passion and entrepreneurship, and it’s grown into something bigger than I ever imagined.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been easy. I didn’t know how to run an equestrian center, or handle employees or be self employed, I just started and figured it out as I went.
It has definitely been a learning experience. One of the biggest things I have learned is that change is inevitable and I were I used to fear it I now embrace it. Changes in business, in clients in the horses all of it leads somewhere new and for me that is exciting. I have reinvented the business more times than I can count and I love that about it. Every time it has lead somewhere better and new. Its not a linear path however, sometimes things get worse before getting better but along the way I’v learned that’s part of the journey and tried to move through it with the same professionalism and philosophy’s that I have based the business on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Coraggio Equestrian?
Coraggio is an equestrian center that offers show horse quality care for every horse. We specializer in Hunter/Jumper training and whether you have a horse you want full training with or a special retiree we offer all of it. We have a full staff that cares for every aspect of your horse and makes horse ownership easier, we will handle as much or as little as you would like.
I think what sets us apart is we try to always keep the reason we do this at the forfront of the business and the training, its for the horses and our relation ship with. It’s for the opportunity they give us to become more, to become better, to get out of our head and be reminded how special the small things are.
Our goal at Coraggio is for each client to feel like they and their horse matter. Each customer has a different set of goals, strengths and weakness. It is our job as trainers to bring out the best in each of them, not just physically but mentally as well. Our sport is tough, we want all our clients to know what we have their back and are in their corner in every aspect of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coraggio.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coraggio_equestrian/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coraggiohj
