Friday December 1, 2006

Kyra Kyrklund, An Innovative Rider and Trainer

By Kelly Gage

Deep within the lush English town of Billingshurst, Kyra and her troupe gather each day to pay homage to long-held classical principles that are often neglected in modern competition.

In a sport that is seeing unprecedented growth, and change around the world, it is rare and refreshing to see an individual who, with passion and zeal, follows classical principles but blends innovation that benefits horse and rider alike.

Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1951, Kyra grew up as a horse crazy little girl. After she swung her leg over the first horse, her fate was sealed.

Riding relatives' horses, she developed a passion for the sport, and a little over a decade later, she participated for the first time in the National Show Jumping Championships for Junior riders with Dragon, a polish gelding.

Eventually, she moved to Stromsholm, leaving behind her home and began pursuing her equestrian career over being a veterinarian.

While in Stromsholm she gained a thorough understanding of military principles that dominated the European scene. She jettisoned her career when her late mentor Herbert Rehbein, trainer of legendary, Pik Bube and Donnerhall, took her on as a student, giving her much of the theory that she still adheres to today.

“Even if there was a problem he would never get a horse upset, he knew what he wanted and could make any horse understand. He gave great confidence as a trainer because he could get on and do it, there was never any doubt, you believed it 100% because he could get on and do it...you believed 100%.” (quote from Dressage Clinic Magazine).

In 1980 she made her first Olympic appearance with Piccolo (Pilar), and has participated or nominated for every Olympic Games since then.