Delaney Lee may have just gotten her start showing three years ago but the 16-year-old El Dorado Hills, California native has had a love of horses for the better part of her life.

The daughter of Cathy and Aaron Lee first caught the horse bug as a toddler at a preschool carnival where the kids where she instantly fell in love with being on and around horses. However, wasn’t until 2020 that she began showing locally at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and other small local shows, but she didn’t waste any time. That year she was named the English All Around High Point with Invite The Best  and she hasn’t slowed down since.

The Lee family enlisted the help of Brad Jewett and Joe Blair in San Antonio, Texas, to help take Delaney to the next level of showing American Quarter Horses.  

Her first show partner was Invy My Hot Chips, a 2007 mare she showed in all around events.

After that she teamed with Invite The Best, a 2015 gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of RR Only One Invited for Hunter Under Saddle, Horsemanship, Trail, Equitation and Halter.

In 2023 Delaney found a new show partner in Betcha Want This (Lewis), a 2016 bay gelding by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Always Invite Megan for Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail and Showmanship. The team clicked immediately and were crowned the Level 1 Horsemanship Champion of Champions at the AQHA Youth World.

They followed that up with an National Snaffle Bit Association World Championship in Novice Youth Horsemanship in Tulsa.

“I enjoy showing because I love challenging myself and accomplishing the goals I set for myself,” Lee said. “I also love that my show partner is an animal and I get to form a special connection with them.”

In addition to her trainer, Delaney gets help from collegiate consult and and mentor Mary Meneely and her fitness coach Ellie Stiller, Lopendowntherail Fitness.

Lee says her favorite show to attend is the EMO Celebration in Las Vegas, Nevada and her favorite class is Horsemanship.

“I really enjoy watching how riders handle the difficult patterns and all the skills it takes to accomplish a great one,” Lee said.

Lee is also an avid FFA Horse Judge and has placed in the top 25 of California competitors for horse judging, in what she describes as her greatest accomplishment outside the show arena.

When she is not at a horse show or in the barn the Pacific Crest Academy Sophomore enjoys going on the lake with her friends and baking. She also enjoys spending time with her family, including her parents; brother, Tanner; and many grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Most people would be surprised to learn she once played softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball.  Her favorite movie is Outside The Wire and she’s a fan of country music. But her music collection is varied and  includes Religiously by Bailey Zimmerman and West Coast by One Republic.

Delany’s favorite music to listen to while in the barn is country and she dreams of vacationing on the beach in the Bahamas.

She credits her mom and dad with giving her the opportunity to show horses and enjoy her many hobbies.

“I am grateful to have them as my parents,” 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.