Beyond Expectations

An Extraordinary Equestrian Journey from Deadly Diagnosis to the Paralympic Games

by Sydney Collier and Heather Wallace

Wow. I guess I’ve been pretty quiet on the blog over here. Sometimes I joke that I thrive in chaos. Perhaps, the busier I am the less I have to face the problems in my life. Of course, you probably won’t identify with that- wink wink.

I’ve been working on a HUGE project behind the scenes and it’s finally coming to completion. My first traditionally-published book is now available for sale and I couldn’t be more proud!

By Sydney Collier with Heather Wallace

Shortly after Sydney Collier began riding at age seven, she was diagnosed with the rare Wyburn-Mason Syndrome, a life-threatening condition that causes arteries and veins to grow together causing vascular malformations (AVMs) in the brain. Years of experimental treatment and a resulting massive stroke took a toll on her body, but she never relinquished the dream of returning to the saddle and the sport that she loved. Her belief and perseverance earned her a spot on the US Para Dressage Team at age 16, and Sydney was the youngest competitor at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France. At age 18, she won the 2016 US Para Dressage National Championships and became the youngest member in the 2016 Equestrian Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro as a part of Team USA, placing seventh overall in her division. In addition to her Paralympic goals, Sydney has dedicated her life to service and maintains a busy schedule that includes athletic training, equestrian training, guest speaking, volunteering, babysitting, and giving riding demonstrations at a variety of events. She graduated DeVry University on an Olympic scholarship, majoring in communications and is currently working to finish her MBA, specializing in marketing, thanks to a scholarship from the United States Olympic Committee. Sydney has been awarded the FEI Against All Odds Award, USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year, and The Captain Andrew B. De Szinay Memorial Sportsman Trophy. She was featured in the 2022 feature documentaryParaGold, directed by Ron Davis, which follows the lives of four Paralympic equestrian hopefuls as they vie for a spot on the US Paralympic Dressage Team. Sydney is based in Wellington, Florida, where she is working to earn a place on the next team and help the USA stand on the medal podium. Buy now.

How I Wrote a Paralympic Memoir

Many people ask me about this project. I say it started back in October of 2019 at Equitana USA in Kentucky. I was in attendance to moderate a panel on Authenticity in Social Media. While there I saw a lot of friends, and while spending time with Connie and Allison from Redingote Equestrian– met one of their then, sponsored riders, Sydney Collier.

Now, Syd is a force of nature. Sweet, charming and can talk the ear off a politician- she is the very epitome of a good soul. I didn’t know much about her except that she was wearing Paralympic gear and riding in around in a cool scooter with her service dog, Logan. She loved that I wrote Confessions of a Timid Rider and wanted to read it- the first book she’d read in 8 years due to blindness in one eye. Later, she went on to become the keynote speaker at the event.

After reading the book she reached out on Instagram and told me how she loved it and it made her want to use the adaptive technology to start reading again. I can’t describe the sheer emotion that I felt that my personal story of struggle and inspiration had made any impact on someone who had clearly overcome so many things in life.

But it wasn’t until Equine Affaire, Massachusetts after Covid that we met in person again. She came to the Taborton Equine Books booth where I was signing books to say hello. We practically closed down the store due to excessive chatting and well, her wheelchair blocking the entrance.

That is the moment our book was born. She told me how much she loved my narrative-style writing and wanted me to her HER STORY. What???

Obviously I said no. I mean, hello imposter syndrome. I’ve never ghost written before. It was completely out of my wheelhouse. Syd wouldn’t let me and I’ll tell you, she is extremely convincing. So, I told her to pitch it to Trafalgar Square Books because I knew just how important her story would be and they would be the best way to spread the message.

By February we had a book contract and we were off writing. Because Sydney Collier had five strokes and lived with Wyburn-Mason Syndrome, an incredibly rare disorder that reduces blood flow in the brain, I thought it best to record our interviews. We had so much fun over the next year and a half: Syd sharing her story and laughing and crying along with her.

I’ve never had a bigger challenge when it came to writing. How do I capture her sweetness and energy? More, how could I ever do justice for her voice so that she can motivate others in the saddle and out? It felt impossible but I pushed through. I’m so incredibly proud of us both.

Now, Beyond Expectations is released and I know this will make a difference in people’s lives. This is not a story about dressage or the Paralympics. This is the journey of a woman who lives every day to the fullest because it might be her last. A woman who lives without fear, without regret and focuses on how she can help others do the same. Syd has become a dear friend to me and I cherish being a part of her story in my small way.