story by Lily Weinacht
Nine years of 11-year-old Dylan Sinclair’s life have been dedicated to rodeoing thus far, and in that time, she’s won 22 buckles and three saddles. “I enjoy the challenge of getting better at my events, and just rodeoing and meeting new friends,” she explains. “Competing in the arena is very enjoyable.” The cowgirl from Lipan, Texas, competes in barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway, and ribbon roping. “Breakaway is my favorite. I love the challenge of reading that calf and knowing I have to get out and really work for it, because it’s different every time. Barrels can be the same, but in breakaway, you have different calves and arenas, and other variables.”
Both Dylan’s parents, Duff and Billy Jo Sinclair, competed in rodeo, inspiring Dylan to do the same. They help her in the practice pen, as well as breakaway roper Cassidy Boggs. “We met through mutual friends, and she’s helped me with roping the last two years,” says Dylan. “She’s a wonderful roper! I practice at least twice a day. Usually I rope the dummy or tie goats in the morning, then run barrels or rope on horseback later in the day.” She rides three horses, all of which were either trained by her parents or Cassidy. “My barrel horse is Payday – he’s 18, and I’ve ridden him four years. I rope on Haddie Bell, who’s 15, and tie goats on Sapo. He’s 13 and I’ve ridden him for seven years. We have lots more horses, roping cattle, a dog and cat, three goats, and one pig. We also raise cattle, and I usually help with feeding and doctoring. Branding is the best, because I help with flanking. Usually the guys do that, but I get in there too, and our families and neighbors help out.”
Dylan has a ten-year-old sister, Dixon, who is involved in dance year round. Dylan goes to all of Dixon’s dance competitions and recitals, and Dixon does the same for her sister’s rodeos. The Sinclairs make their home outside of town, and Dylan loves the basketball opportunities in her area. “We play basketball year-round here – you can find something every weekend, and it’s really fun. I play most of the year, but especially during the school year.” She’s going into sixth grade at Lipan School, where she particularly enjoys American history. “Last year we studied the 1800s, and that was a very interesting time period.” Dylan also participates in UIL (University Interscholastic League). Her first year in it as a third grader, she took first place in the oral reading, while last year she placed second. “You try out for the finals team, and if you make it, you choose a poem to memorize, and read it in front of a panel of three judges at the finals,” she explains. “It’s about reading well and speaking in front of people. Last year I read “Sick” by Shel Silverstein.”
Any of Dylan’s spare time is devoted to reading. “I’m a real book fanatic, and I like to draw and sketch in my notebooks. I love the Harry Potter series, and when my family went London in June, we went to the Warner Brothers Studio, which is dedicated to Harry Potter, and the movies were filmed there. I definitely like the books better – they’re more in depth – but the movies were very well put together.” She owns the entire Harry Potter series, and scarcely leaves the house without a book.
Dylan finished her first season in the AJRA by placing in the top ten in the breakaway, goat tying, and ribbon roping during the AJRA finals, while she’s also competed in the KJRA and Pro Youth Rodeos Association Region III. “I definitely want to be more consistent in my events, and I want to go the Windy Ryon Memorial roping one day and win that,” she finishes. “I’d also like to compete in the WPRA and go to their finals.”
