Chan stood at Glengarry at Wingen on the Pages River which was between two Haydon places, Bloomfield where they lived and The Gorge, further down the river. They were continually moving stock between the places and had a lot to do with the Croker’s who owned Glengarry and the Callinan’s who worked there. This led to them sharing mares and stallions and this is why so many of the Chan horses were out of Haydon Starlight mares and mares by his son Midnight. The stud retained three Chan mares to breed from Haydon Topaz II, Haydon Wongle and Haydon Winsome.
Glen Ray by Chan
Chan was an excellent horse to ride, being very athletic, as were most of his stock, whom horsemen had to work with and manage to obtain the best results. Jim Callinan recalls his father Leo saying “The Chan horses were horseman’s horses. Don’t try and tell them, ask them and be patient.” He also remembers him adding “there often wasn’t a lot of that about at times.”
Throughout his twenty-six years, Chan produced a number of outstanding progeny with 56 being registered with the Australian Stock Horse Society and had a big influence on the bred. He had two Foundation Stallions and seven Foundation Mares.
Frank Scanlon owned Chan’s mother, Witzy, an extremely good mare to work cattle and she was by influential sire Medlow. Her mother was a part Arab mare. In 1944, Frank decided to breed the mare to the greatest son of Cecil, Radium. As a result, a brown colt was born in 1945, named Chan, the year WW II ended. Chan developed into an attractive horse, standing just under 15 hands with two white socks, half moons of white on the outside of both fore coronets and a star on his forehead.
Leo by Chan a sire used successfully by first ASHS President Bryant Gavin
Jim Callinan, a noted horseman, was given Chan, then a youngster, and started him when he had reached 18 months of age. After spending a lot of time and patience on the horse, Jim was duly rewarded. He said that this was the type of horse that he had spent his whole life trying to breed.
Chan had limited opportunity for competition in the show ring. As a three year old, he drove a piece of rotten wood into the coronet of his near hind leg. This never completely healed, and every now and then, the injury would break out again. Chan started in three campdrafts, winning the Maiden Campdraft and placing second in the Novice Campdraft on the first occasion. Before being barred as a stallion, Chan also competed in three hack classes, winning two classes and placed second in the other class. Leo Callinan, son of Jim Callinan, said that Chan was one of the smartest horses he has seen in a cattle camp.
In the bush, Leo saw Chan jump a wire fence, then turn around and jump back over again. When Jim Callinan led Chan close to a gate or fence, on an extended rein, he had to be careful that Chan did not jump the gate or fence. Chan possessed an exceptional ability to pick up his feet and move backwards, as fast as he could walk forward. One of his regular feats was to quickly back along a straight line of rope laid on the ground, straddling it without stepping on the rope. On occasions, Chan did this whilst ridden bareback with only a stock whip around his neck.
Outstanding all round mare Dina by Chan ridden by Leo Callinan
The Chan horses were renowned for their beautiful heads, headset, throat latch and swan necks. They were very good fronted horses with light shoulders.
His progeny included Glengarry Dina, an outstanding mare, winner of campdrafts, working classes and many led classes. She campdrafted at the Sydney RAS ridden by Jack Palmer. She was out of the Haydon Starlight mare Zella as were her successful sire full brothers Glen Ray and Red Ray.
Haydon Beranghi Lass Supreme Led Scone ASHS Show
Haydon Wongle was a quality type, winning Led Broodmare at Scone and produced Haydon Beranghi Lass who went on to win Supreme Led at Scone ASH Show. Haydon Topaz II produced Boss Cocky who campdrafted at Sydney RAS and Haydon Chandeleir who played polo overseas.
Haydon Winsome 11 at Scotts Creek displayed the Chan front
Haydon Winsome produced Champion polo mare Haydon Without Doubt, Haydon Fidget 11 successful in the showring and several sires.
Terry Blake’s foundation mare Rosebrook Cedar out of the Haydon Starlight mare Melody produced his sires Rosebrook Cedarwood and Rosebrook Abou. The list goes on….. Colony Kathleen, Glory, Chans Son, Chans Last, Coopla Ming, Glengarry Anne, Glengarry Matlock, Glengarry Lady Chan, Chan Sue, Leo, Roxanne, Charlie Chan, Stanton Stud Jan, Turanville Diane, Yarrawa Chanelle, etc.
