Inducted 2004

The son of ApHCC founder and first President James Wyatt, and long-term ApHCC  secretary Irene Wyatt, Syd belongs to the generation that had the fun of riding their horses to school.  In 1957, Syd acquired his own Appaloosa, Blaze ApHCC #167 the offspring of a neighbour’s mare bred to the Wyatt’s stallion Speckel’s Junior ApHCC #66. This young gelding matured into the Champion Stock Horse in Zone 3 of the Canadian Horse Shows Association, winning the title for four consecutive years between 1959 and 1962. Growing up on the Wyalta Ranch, Syd absorbed invaluable experience in breeding and training working ranch horses, showing horses, and the procedures, promotion, and team work required to expand a fledgling horse registry and breed society.  He took a great interest in the Animal Pedigree Act, and became involved with the process of getting the Appaloosa recognized as a breed by the Canadian Government. He was also President and Vice President for many years of the South Regional Appaloosa Club (SRAC), and helped implement a youth club for the SRAC, running educational programs and clinics.

 In addition to his coaching duties, Syd was an active judge of Appaloosas and other breeds. His easy and helpful manner towards competitors made him a sought after judge. His familiarity with a variety of equine breeds was a valuable asset in his work for the Breed Identification Committee of the ApHCC. He also served for 2 years on the Racing Committee of the ApHCC, and was elected President of the ApHCC for 1982.

Syd has worked consistently to keep pure bloodlines alive in the breeding herd at Wyalta Ranch, and has been very supportive of ApHCC policies to promote the “F-level” categories.  Herd sires in recent years have included The Organizer ApHCC # 32277, Will’s Doc Wiggy Bar ApHCC #23604 (F-3), Raci Dreams ApHCC #40732, Apache Justice ApHCC #39947 (F-3) and American Classic ApHCC #27584. Syd always welcomes visitors to the ranch, promoting the Appaloosa as the most versatile and best breed a horse lover could acquire. Still active in cattle ranching and raising what is probably the longest established herd of registered Appaloosas in Canada , Syd has spent a lifetime promoting the breed both at home and abroad.