Sydney Daines & Flame
The CFR has wrapped up and Miss Sydney Daines at just 18 years old, took home THREE Go-Round buckles, is headed to the Calgary Stampede in 2015 and ended up third overall in the CPRA respectfully! Sydney and her steed ‘Flame’ also ran the fast time of the week with a 14.37, the record being 14.214!
Honor Before Fame is a 2004 gelding out of Dash To Fame and their mare Reba/LeHigh Pepper Red. Sydney’s Mom Cheryl trained him and he had extremely successful futurity and derby years, both in Canada and United States. Sierra Booth competed on Flame in his derby years and when he was 6 at 7 pro rodeos. Of the 7 rodeos she made enough money on him to make a trip to the CFR.
Sydney picked up her permit when she was just eight years old. At ten, she could have taken her full card, but decided to take her semi-pro as she was entering in the Jr. Rodeos. When she was fifteen she started riding Flame, and they have grown to be an outstanding pair! In the 2014 season, they ran at 29 rodeos, and had season earnings of $14,805.13. This past week at the CFR they brought in a whopping $44,209.70 for a Grand Total of $59,014.83!!
What was your favourite rodeo you attended this year and why?
Innisfail because it’s my hometown rodeo and my Grandpas last year of working the rodeo.
Can you describe how you felt coming down the alley way into Rexall making your first run?
A sense of excitement and a bit of nerves, but overall we were pretty focused down the alleyway.
How did you handle the pressure and the emotions of your first Canadian Finals Rodeo?
I think pressure is always a good thing it makes you ride better. I tried to treat it just like any other rodeo and whatever happens happens.
What kinds of alternate therapies like Back On Track etc. did you use to keep Flame feeling his best on the road all season, and during the CFR?
Ice vibe boots, Back on Track. We massage him lots and we visit Coulee Equine on a regular basis where he is swam, enjoys cold water therapy and red light therapy.
Have you been able to let all of this sink in? You won THREE Go-Round Buckles, and you had the fastest time of the week!
On the Thursday night I actually took Flame out of Rexall after our run to cool him out. As I was watching the rest of the girls run on TV in the warm up arena, I realized that I might have a chance of winning the round so I had to sprint back quickly to do my victory lap. After that night I knew Flame had the horse power to be tough, but I am still in shock that we won 3 Go-Rounds and won the fastest time of the week!
How does it feel knowing you’re headed to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth aka Calgary Stampede and have a shot to win the $100,000!?
That was one of my main goals coming into the CFR was to make Calgary and I am super excited! We will forsure have Flame ready to run there!
Do you have any future plans of trying to qualify for THE AMERICAN whether its for 2015 or 2016?
I would like to go down to the States, but we will see how Calgary goes and how he is feeling at the time.
Flame is a ROCKSTAR! What kind of quirks does he have and how would you describe his style?
Most of his quirks are in his warm up but none once your coming down the alley. He is a spooky horse (only outside of the arena) and loves any horse who will be his buddy. His style is fast and powerful! He likes to drop on his front end because of his Jet of Honor breeding. I’ve had to learn to sit up, get my hand up and learn to ride more of the back end so I don’t lean as much. He is one of the more difficult horses to ride.
What are your must haves when you’re going down the road?
My Mom, my cell phone *haha* and good music!
Sydney would like to thank her sponsor Jedco for getting ‘Team Flame’ down the road this season!!
Big thank you to Sydney for taking the time to chat with me coming off a successful week at CFR!! All the best to them in their bright future!!
Cassie✿
