How I Prepare for Showmanship With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Sydney Scheckel

By: Brittany Bevis

Only a few days remain until the 2016 AQHA Youth World Championship Show kicks off in Oklahoma City. After months of preparation, the moment has almost arrived when each horse and rider team will enter through the Gateway of Champions in hopes of becoming the 2016 World Champion and snagging a coveted golden globe.

What better way to get some last minute advice on how to excel in the World Show arena than from riders who’ve done just that?! EquineChronicle.com is proud to present a new web series entitled How I Prepare For ______ With 2015 AQHYA World Champion _____. Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com each day leading up to the Youth World for interviews with last year’s World Champions as they share tips on how they prepare physically and mentally for their respective disciplines, specific exercises they use to hone their skills, and their top three tips for those hoping to win a golden globe this year.

Stay tuned for How I Prepare For Working Hunter with 2015 AQHYA World Champion Emma Graf, How I Prepare For Equitation With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Natalie Vargo, and more this week!

2015 AQHYA World Champion Showmanship- Sydney Scheckel and A Perfect Pleasure

1. How did you go about preparing physically and mentally for your event last year?

“Physically, I practiced every day. I would just make laps around the arena practicing my endurance and run, with or without a horse. You have to be in good shape. It’s important that you have endurance, so you don’t lose your breath while showing. Mentally, I zoned myself in. The only thing I had on my mind was my horse and performing my best. Everyone needs to keep in mind that whether you win or lose, no one is going to die. We get so concerned about winning and losing that we think of it as a life or death situation. That doesn’t need to be the case at all, folks. The journey to the top is so amazing, so enjoy every moment, win, and loss.”

2. Give some specific exercises and routines you used to hone both you and your horse’s skills.

“I know my horse like the back of my hand, and I know when she’s focused and not focused. To get us both into the groove, I would just casually go longe her, only jogging her, not even letting her lope. I would do that for however long it took to get her mind in the right frame. Also, we would go on walks together around the fairgrounds. It was so good for both of us. It gave us a chance to clear our minds and think about why we were here and what we wanted to accomplish together. To get myself honed in I get my horses ready to show, and that honestly hones me in. I get focused while I’m grooming and getting them ready. I focus on my goals. When my horses are ready, I sit down, close my eyes, breathe deep, and envision myself being successful.”

 3. What are the top three most important things to remember in this class if an exhibitor is hoping to take home a golden globe?

#1. You have to bring it all to the finals. You can’t have any regrets as you’re walking out.

#2. Winning is great, but don’t make that the goal. Remember your journey; that’s the best part.

#3. Have confidence in yourself. Always, always, always give yourself credit where credit is due. We’re all guilty of selling ourselves short.

4. If you could give one piece of specific advice to help competitors looking to come out on top in this event at the Youth World, what would it be?

“One piece of specific advice is don’t regret anything. Live life with no regrets. There’s nothing worse than having regrets. Best of luck to everyone!”

Check out other articles in this series below:

How I Prepare For Hunter Under Saddle With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Jenna Jacobs

How I Prepare For Horsemanship With 2015 AQHYA World Champion Harley Huff