EC Photo of the Day – The Will To Prepare To Win

“It’s not the will to win that matters-everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” — Paul’ Bear’ Bryant.

 

At the 2023 AQHYA World Championship Show, Sydney Swallom won the 14-18 Horsemanship for the second year in a row with another stunning pattern with Almost Invited.

Both her patterns went viral after their appearance on YouTube from AQHA, and we talked to Sydney in January while she was waiting for her 2022 Year End division win to be finalized to ask what’s behind her success.

Sydney says she tries her best to feel out her horse to determine how hard she should push her pattern and when she should soften up.  She also rides 3-5 times a week. “My trainers always have something new for me to work on which allows me to add so many more skills to my repertoire. Anything from patterns to horse training skills. I think the knowledge that Mike and May (Edwards) have instilled in me since I was 8 years old has made a huge impact on my ability to bring my skills from the practice pen into the show pen.”

 

Watch her winning 2023 finals pattern here:  https://youtu.be/tTJyA1jRj7E?si=w2JrxDemIxn_sZwC

 

Watch her winning 2022 finals pattern here: https://youtu.be/tWNXhSqb5Fg?si=xFe19NhUkK5VWQpC