Boland happy to swap bulls for more stable life

After spending 14 years on the professional bull riding circuit, Matt Boland knew it was time to try and find a more conventional career path.

RACING : After spending 14 years on the professional bull riding circuit, Matt Boland knew it was time to try and find a more conventional career path.

Eighteen months later that decision is reaping dividends as his Toowoomba thoroughbred stable continues to grow.

Boland is one of the latest additions to Clifford Park's training ranks and his blue and red colours are becoming a more familiar sight to race followers on the back of recent track success with Buzzer Beater and Mister Ward.

Boland - a Goondiwindi product - has been around horses all his life but only found his way to working with them full time after pulling the plug on his successful PBR career.

"I started competing in the PBR when I was 18 and I was lucky enough to compete against some of the world's best," Boland said this week.

"I had a great time but after 14 years I'd had enough and decided to concentrate on horses.

"I had been doing a bit of trackwork for trainers like Matt Kropp and Ben Currie to help keep fit for the PBR.

"From there I started to do a few breakers and after a while it was suggested I move into a bit of pre-training.

"I decided to take on a couple of horses and things kept snowballing from there."

Boland has around 20 horses in his barn and another 10-15 on his books including two-year-olds.

His stable also includes 3kg apprentice Montanna Savva who he shares the majority of his own track riding with.

"Things are gradually building for us and I keep getting phone calls from potential new owners," Boland said.

"We've had some provincial success and now we'd like to start aiming for the city.

"We've got some better bred horses also coming through now which really addes to our stable."