Friday December 1, 2006

Kyra Kyrklund, An Innovative Rider and Trainer

The Competitor and Teacher

Classifying herself as a competitive person, Kyra has had a series of 14 mounts over the many years on the international circuit.

Notably, the potent sire, Flyinge Admiral (by Napoleon out of Flamkelia), a Swedish warmblood stallion that took her to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and Matador (May Sherif out of Susan Bakkely). But on any given day, she will get on horses of all levels and abilities, whether it be her Grand Prix mounts or her set of her up and coming youngsters.

“I am a competitor, and I ride the best when I have a goal,” she states.

But for all the success, she is quick to credit her partner Richard, whom she met while training years ago, and her students who have supported her through the years. With pride, she states that she has never had a corporate sponsor backing her, it has always been her students and herself promoting and competing. Allowing her actions and methods to speak louder than words.

Because her parents weren't supportive, Kyra found herself turning to teaching as a way of supporting her career as a rider.

“For me, I always wanted to ride and compete, the more I taught, the more I found out.”

Soon, she found that the more she taught the more she learned about herself.

When she and Richard, moved to England in 1998, the student and horses in training expanded exponentially.

Most students are from all corners of the globe, as near as around the corner and as far as away as Australia like the Warwick McLean, a son of Equine Behaviorist Andrew McLean, who just spoke at the Global Dressage Forum.

However, unlike traditional stables, students are invited to ride. They come for a month to two months at a time, and come back in six months time for a refresher.

“It's important to be in an environment to get the mental image of what correct is,” she says “Being around it you develop more by watching and learning from others, and you can continue and grow from that."