At just 15-years-of-age, Dalby young gun Darby Ryan has won the coveted national Australian Stock Horse young judges title at the Sydney Royal Show.
Darby has grown up around horses all his life and has been campdrafting since he was eight.
And while he has won many juvenile drafts and has been placed in some open-age events, he describes his latest win as the biggest thrill so far.
To compete at national level, Darby was the winner of the Queensland ASH Young judges competition, and it was announced at the Dalby ASH sale last December, that he would represent his state at the nationals.
The contestants must be aged between 15 to 21 years, and Darby scrapped in by turning 15 years with just two days before the cut-off period of March 1.
Darby’s father, Jim Ryan, has been president of the Dalby Stock Horse sale committee for the past six years, and a committee member for 15 years.
He said Darby always had a natural talent when dealing with horses.
“We have been involved with the running of the sale since he was born, and since he was old enough, he has helped out a lot,” Jim said.
At the national level, Darby competed with 10 other contestants representing, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.
“I was really nervous to start with,” Darby said.
“But as I had come this far I tried to give it my all and justified my placings while looking at temperament, bone structure and all the other tributes that make a good stock horse.
“It really didn’t sink in that I had won until I got back to the motel room with my ribbon and trophy.”
Jim said attending the Sydney Royal was a family affair, and they are all pretty proud to see their son come home with the national award.