PaintHorseJournal-2010-December V2:Layout 1

Jans Boy, The Horse Who W
Jans Boy, PHAA 1520, (Ox Bow Chisum, 467 -
Nutmeg Child NSB TB) was born on New Years
Eve 1977. And after a halter career beginning
in 1978 and starting under saddle in 1979, little
was it imagined that at the amazing old age of
33 years (or more uniquely in his fifth show calendar
decade) he would still be saddled up and
competing, albeit on a greatly reduced scale
when compared with earlier days.
Photos: Steve O'Connor, Astrebla Photography
Originally purchased by Steve O’Connor to use as a working
station horse, he has combined this with a varied and successful
show career as well as being an integral part of the O’Connor
families’ life. He has been used as a stock horse in the main and
at times has returned to active showing after numerous retirements!
Mustering, scrubber running, droving, weaner tailing, campdrafting,
pony club, hacking, dressage, all sorts of western (just
don’t mention Trail Classes!) and plain old boundary riding have
ensured Boy has enjoyed a varied and long life.
Since 2005 the pace has greatly lessened and he is currently back
on “Toorak” a 36,000 ha property that ran upwards of 2000
breeders (cattle) and 5000 sheep in NW Queensland and which
has been his home base on and off since 1996. Prior to that it
was on a 40,000 ha cattle and sheep station near Winton and another
few years from 2004 was spent on the 36,000 ha of “Swans
Lagoon” on the mighty Burdekin River, where the O’Connor
kids had to refrain from swimming their horses in the lagoons
because of the numbers of laughing logs (crocs) around!
There are not too many ridden events this PHAA Superior All
Round Horse has not competed in, with several PHAA High
Point Horse awards, National and State Championships. Most
importantly is the affection and trust in which he is held by his
“family”. All the O’Connor children, numerous cousins, visitors
and nervous first timers have learnt the fundamentals of horsemanship
on this easygoing gentleman.
Steve O’Connor, his owner since purchasing him from Jack and
the late Agnes Stewart of Highview Paints as a yearling in 1978,
stated, “I told Jack I was after a big strong boned horse that
would go the distance, and has he ever! Four generations of my
family have ridden Boy, from my then 83 yo grandfather in the
1980’s, my father, wife and children through to my nieces and
nephews! In all truth it’s the horse that deserves any accolades,
all I’ve had is the pleasure of riding him (I cannot say I own him,
I reckon its the other way about!) and having arrived on the
infant western riding scene very much a typical ringer, then by
any measure the accolades for his later achievements should
go to those who mentored both he and I at that time.”
“Being trained and ridden by horsemen of the calibre of Vic
Gough, the late Marv Kildey, Rhonda McCallum to name a few,
has made him the horse he is. This is not forgetting all those
against whom I competed and who deserve recognition for their
efforts in helping Boy achieve what he has done. However it is to
my wife Carol, children Matt, Jomi, Teagan and Leah who have at
times, no doubt, often wondered who came first, Boy or them,
that all my thanks are directed”, says Steve. Never a model halter
type (it took 15 years to earn his Superior in Halter) Boy none
the less has given his all regardless of the event or job at hand.
At the 1982 Nationals the American judge Ernest Wilson remarked,
“He may be ugly, but boy can he ride!”
A formidable competitor in Western Riding and Rope Races
in the past, he has won numerous State and National Titles in
these events, at both Open and Youth level, and was willingly
loaned to others when required, to compete in any event, winning
several National Titles along the way. In between all this fun
he has had to earn his keep in the (station) plant as do all the
O’Connor horses.
“In the mid 80’s to the 90’s it was not uncommon to get huge
numbers in a class requiring go rounds and this intense compe-
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PAINT HORSE JOURNAL | December 2010 - February 2011