Rider Sydney Hamlin, 2023 winner in 4H in the junior division at State, gave an interview. She told how she first started riding. “I begged my parents to let me have a horse and start riding. My dad told me that if I could take care of the animals that I could have a horse one day.”

She didn’t hold back in expressing her appreciation for horses. “I love everything about horses. They are such big majestic creatures. It is amazing how smart they are but at the same time how the smallest thing can scare them half to death.”

In addition to winning the State Championship in 4H junior division stock seat and ranch horse, Sydney Hamlin has also won novice youth ranchmanship world title, ARHA novice youth rookie of the world, and was in youth team the Georgia Icons that made world champion.

She told of the preparation involved ahead of competitions. “When getting ready for a show I always practice the patterns and get them perfect.” She told how it was a challenge to keep the horse paying attention to the rider, and not the pattern. “I can only practice different parts of the pattern to try and keep Dallas guessing. He memorizes the patterns then thinks he knows what to do! When preparing for the American Ranch Horse Association world show we practice the actual pattern twice. Then did all the same things in different order and directions to keep Dallas guessing. I ended up winning the world championship in novice youth ranchmanship under all judges.”

Sydney told two skills that were especially challenging. “My first skill I had to learn was the run down and slide. This is where the horse runs down really fast in a straight line and then you ask the horse to stop with several cues and by saying whoa! The second skill is a roll back which comes after the slide. To do a roll back you use the reins to lift and turn the horses front end. You do a 180 and in a step pick up a lope.”

Sydney Hamlin also talked about what made it most rewarding. “I would say the most rewarding part of learning how to ride is being able to know enough about riding to the point that you can help others. It is great to be able to give tips and advice to someone that could possibly help them win a class.”

She also talked about what was most challenging. “I would say the most challenging thing for me so far is going from western pleasure were you have to have good posture and ride slow to ranch stuff were you are going fast. I also have found it is hard to get out of the habit of having good posture on the horse.”

Sydney Hamlin also expressed gratitude for her mentors. “I have met lots of kind, helpful, and honest mentors that have helped me as a rider. Most people say they are willing to work with me because I will listen and always do my best.”