Eight year-old Justin Ochs may just be a second grader but this week he is roping with the big boys in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ochs made his debut in the heading at the Tulsa Holiday Circuit on Friday. Justin is following in the footsteps of his sister, Sydnie and cousin, AQHA World and Congress Champion Travis Sancken who also compete on the AQHA show circuit with horses including Zippo Lightair and Zippos Hot Jet. Justin is also the grandson of Sue Sancken who is very supportive of her grandchildrens’ love of showing horses.
“Justin did great for his first time. He caught the neck, which is legal, but at home we don’t dally on a neck catch so he let the steer go. Oh well, now he knows,” says his proud mother, Jacquie Ochs of Milton, Wisconsin.
His mother said that Justin started roping live cattle in April. During his heading class in Tulsa, roper Zane Bruce heeled for him.
“I like to ride and I want to rope them fast so I can go to NFR when I’m big,” Justin told us about why he likes roping. Jacquie told us that he has roped the dummy since he was about four years-old and became interested in roping because his father, Dan, also ropes.
“Justin had a hard time deciding whether to ask Bobby Lewis or Zane, but he went with Zane. He said if Zane missed he’d use Bobby tomorrow,” says Justin’s mother laughing. “Jim Bound is a huge help to Justin at home in Wisconsin, and he gives him a ton of confidence. This was his first show, and he is pumped for the rest of the weekend.”
Justin wanted us to know that he was going to try a different rope tomorrow so he can have a longer rope to dally.
We wish Justin the best of luck the rest of the show!
