Laurie Virkstis Photography - Laurie V Photography : Kyra Kyrklund, Five-time Olympian - USDF Symposium Denver 2008 - 30 Galleries

Kyra Kyrklund, Five-time Olympian - USDF Symposium Denver 2008 - 30 Galleries Galleries

Sat_Otto Koch, Boulder, CO riding Navarella :

Sat_Otto Koch, Boulder, CO riding Navarella

Kyra Kyrklund, Dressage Olympian Fri Lecture : A five-time Olympian, Kyra is honest and positive but realistic in her teaching style and tries to demystify riding for the rider and provide tools for improvement. Kyra works to provide students the whole picture and then identify problems and provide solutions one at a time. She enjoys working with all types of horses and riders and focuses on the rider's balance and seat as the key to success. Kyra's goal is to provide each rider at Symposium with at least one tool to improve their ride and help them reach peak performance. By providing tools, Kyra hopes the attendees will be able to move more easily up and down the ladder of training - up to learn new things and down to improve the basics in the movements the rider and horse can already do. Photo & Symposium information provided by USDF.org

Kyra Kyrklund, Dressage Olympian Fri Lecture

USDF Demo Riders :

USDF Demo Riders

Sunday Gift Presentation & Auditors :

Sunday Gift Presentation & Auditors

Kyra Q&A -Lendon Gray Questions : Kyra K Symposium by Region 9 Member - Donna Meyer

Every year I get to attend the USDF dressage convention it is always an educational and fun time. Horse folks from all over the country you don’t get to see often will turn up there!
This year I will share with you some “pearls” of wisdom I gained from listening and watching Kyra Kyrklund work her magic with horses and riders of all levels as this year being different in that the riders were NOT all top pros on phenomenal horses.
She started by addressing most riders in their positions. She repeatedly used, “keep your hips down” without tension and encouraged all too just stay even on both hips in all work with weight in the middle of your triangle of pelvis and seat bones. Weight should be on hips not seat bones as hips can move with horse, seat bones need to bounce with movement. Riders should sit still in the saddle not pushing towards front of saddle; horses should go forward from leg. She had a rider halt and try to push toward front of saddle, proving nothing happened, and then says see why don’t do it! She also does not want riders over using their legs and squeezing. She prefers to touch the horse up with a double bump of leg as quickens the rhythm and activates without dulling.
She used a “test” with many riders where she stood on the ground in front of the horse and rider and tried to pull them out of the saddle. She wanted them to keep their hips down, stomach engaged. And another she showed was having the riders push their elbows back into her hand when she stood behind them on their horses. This also helps one keep their hips down when pushing elbows back. She also wanted riders to think of their knees as arrowheads always pointing forward. Think the horse is always traveling down a tunnel with you. The horse should feel like a river flowing freely between your legs. Kyra encouraged riders to imagine the reins were attached around the horses neck vs. the bit to think that the horse should be carrying, withers and breast bone lifting up, not pushing out thru the bit, keep the horses chest close to you and contact should be even or you would be spinning the ring.
As for the horses, Kyra rode many of them. She liked the horses reactive and would check this with quick transitions from halt to walk or trot. But she also wants to be sure the horse is with her, if it starts to take over and turn before she asked she would often halt in a corner then show horse when to turn and to turn with outside aids. She wanted the rhythm to remain quick in turns, not to slow down. She emphasized horses needed to be able to move in short but quick strides when asked without running out the front. Although even Kyra admitted herself she rode with long reins she was amazingly effective. She said when horses were strong in your hands to use your elbows first, not fingers or arms. She trained with the philosophy of what is the task I want to accomplish and my job is to train the things needed to get there!
In all transitions one must make sure the horse is first engaging its back, THEN its legs and then we as riders follow it. The horses withers and back should come up to you. When a horse is carrying it is taking us forward. Ride the withers towards the horse’s mouth; they will come up when in collection. And turn the withers, not the head as most overbend the head and neck. If you want higher steps you need to time aid when his leg is on the ground or on the down beat, and ready to leave, not set aid when in the air because then you push him down.
My favorite demonstration was watching Kyra teach an amazing, sweet Friesian the beginnings of Passage. She started on the ground; with the horse at halt she would tap behind back side of leg to teach horse to lift front leg. This carried forward to when rider walking she would tap front of knee with bamboo pole then next day she had rider try from saddle to reach down and tap leg with her own whip.
In the canter she encouraged to slow down canter without leg aids, then set impulse when he slows down but not before. How light can I be before he stops? Only use outside leg when want to send canter forward.
And my favorite from the weekend,
What it takes to train a horse
A Stallion-you ask
A Gelding- You Tell
And a Mare- 3 applications
Next year every one of us can experience the convention and symposium as it will be in our back yard in Austin, Texas! So mark those calendars for next Dec 2nd-6th. Jan Brink will be conducting the symposium.

Donna Meyer

Kyra Q&A -Lendon Gray Questions

Fri_Demo Riders / Photo Testing :

Fri_Demo Riders / Photo Testing

Dr. Hiliary Clayton - Fri Evening :

Dr. Hiliary Clayton - Fri Evening

Robin Moore - Amerigo - Friday Evening :

Robin Moore - Amerigo - Friday Evening

USDF Sponsors / Riders :

USDF Sponsors / Riders

Denver Sites & Parade of Lights :

Denver Sites & Parade of Lights

Colorado GMO Volunteers :

Colorado GMO Volunteers

National Western Complex - Sat Morning Intro :

National Western Complex - Sat Morning Intro

USDF Sponsor - Kyra K, Horse of Course Fashion Show :

USDF Sponsor - Kyra K, Horse of Course Fashion Show

Sat_Kelly Layne & Troy - Kyra Riding :

Sat_Kelly Layne & Troy - Kyra Riding

Sun_Petra Warlimont, Hygiene, CO riding Rohmero - Kyra groundwork :

Sun_Petra Warlimont, Hygiene, CO riding Rohmero - Kyra groundwork

Sun_Kelly Layne & Troy :

Sun_Kelly Layne & Troy

Sat_Evan Hills, Hollady, UT riding Megabucks :

Sat_Evan Hills, Hollady, UT riding Megabucks

Sat_Nicole Glusenkamp, Castle Rock, CO riding Eelstje F - Kyra groundwork :

Sat_Nicole Glusenkamp, Castle Rock, CO riding Eelstje F - Kyra groundwork

Sun_Evan Hills, Hollady, UT riding Megabucks :

Sun_Evan Hills, Hollady, UT riding Megabucks

Sun_Nicole Glusenkamp, Castle Rock, CO riding Eelstje F - Kyra groundwork :

Sun_Nicole Glusenkamp, Castle Rock, CO riding Eelstje F - Kyra groundwork

Sun_Otto Koch, Boulder, CO riding Navarella - Also Kyra Riding : Gallery not complete.

Sun_Otto Koch, Boulder, CO riding Navarella - Also Kyra Riding

Sat_Sarah Martin, Blanca, CO riding Molly :

Sat_Sarah Martin, Blanca, CO riding Molly

Sat_Grant Schneidman, Parker, Co riding Superman also Kyra riding :

Sat_Grant Schneidman, Parker, Co riding Superman also Kyra riding

Sun_Grant Schneidman, Parker, Co riding Superman :

Sun_Grant Schneidman, Parker, Co riding Superman

Sat_Petra Warlimont, Hygiene, CO riding Rohmero :

Sat_Petra Warlimont, Hygiene, CO riding Rohmero

Sat_Lauren Smith, Littleton, CO riding Lamiro also Kyra riding :

Sat_Lauren Smith, Littleton, CO riding Lamiro also Kyra riding

Sun_Sarah Martin, Blanca, CO riding Molly also Kyra riding :

Sun_Sarah Martin, Blanca, CO riding Molly also Kyra riding

Sun_Lauren Smith, Littleton, CO riding Lamiro :

Sun_Lauren Smith, Littleton, CO riding Lamiro

Sat_Kristi Wysocki, Elbert, CO riding Red Adair :

Sat_Kristi Wysocki, Elbert, CO riding Red Adair

Sun_Kristi Wysocki, Elbert, CO riding Red Adair also Kyra riding :

Sun_Kristi Wysocki, Elbert, CO riding Red Adair also Kyra riding

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