When Sydney Swallom was just 8 years old, her grandmother gave her the opportunity to show her Quarter Horse show mare, A Certain Melody, in Walk-Trot classes and the Washington native says she never looked back.

“Nothing makes me happier than my horses,” she said. “The barn is my happy place and I can’t imagine my life without showing.”

Now, at age 16, Sydney and her show partner, Almost Invited, a 2015 bay gelding by Invitation Only and out of Fistfulla Goodness, are having what can only be described as a dream come true.

At the American Quarter Horse Associations (AQHA) Youth World Show in July they won the Level 2 Showmanship; were Reserve Champions in Level 2 Horsemanship; and collected bronze trophies in Level 3 Horsemanship and Level 2 Equitation.

Last month, at the Quarter Horse Congress they won the Level 1 Youth Equitation. They also placed third in Youth Trail 15-18 with a score of 233 and won the National Youth Association Team Tournament (NYATT) Horsemanship.

Sydney also owns Pawn Star, a 2010 chestnut gelding by Hot N Blazing and out of Sophisticated Invite. He helped her achieve what she calls her first notable prizes in AQHA and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) competition. In 2018 Sydney and Pawn Star were Reserve Champions at the NSBA World Show in both Youth Horsemanship 13 & Under and Youth Western Pleasure 13 & Under.

“He (Pawn Star) is the most talented and patient horse,” she explained. “I’ve owned him for four years and it’s safe to say he’s my heart horse.”

Swallom, who shows under the guidance of Mike and May Edwards, Monroe, Washington, says she most enjoys showing in Horsemanship and Showmanship because both require such a wide variety of skills. But her favorite classes to watch are Trail and Horsemanship.

“I love watching Trail because I think it’s very interesting since there are so many different elements in each pattern,” Swallom said. “I enjoy watching Horsemanship because I love seeing how everyone executes the pattern with their own style of execution.”

Sydney attends Lake Washington High School in Kirkland and will graduate in 2023. Last month she made her verbal commitment to Auburn University’s D1 Equestrian Team.

Up until last year, Sydney played outside and right-side hitter for her high school varsity volleyball team and club volleyball team as team captain.

“Being able to take on such an important leadership role (captain) on my club volleyball team meant a lot to me,” she said. “I loved being a leader of such a talented group of girls while also getting to play a sport I love.”

When she is not at a horse show, Sydney enjoys spending time with her family, including dad, Chris Swallom; mom, Angie Johnson; and grandparents, Lorie Johnson and Mike Johnson. She also enjoys skiing in the winter and spending time with her friends.

But her first love is showing horses and she credits her mother for much of her success.

“She has done so much to provide me with the strongest support system I could ask for,” Sydney said. “My mom inspires me to work hard and believe in myself. She always encourages me to accomplish my goals in life and has taught me how to work through the setbacks.”

But as anyone knows, you have to have that internal drive to succeed.

“I’m so passionate about the sport and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing with my time,” she said.

Youth Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for a youth profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.