Too many times we can be quick to criticize and slow to celebrate those who take their chances and park their behind in the saddle and are out there doing it in front of the judge. We need to take time to give those who are out there under the microscopic eye of the public, of the judges and of the cameras, laying all that they have out for the world to see, their due. Every wart, every dimple, on display and captured for all posterity. Not necessarily an easy thing to do.
We should celebrate with them those moments when things come together. When the extensions look particularly spectacular, when their horse finally has the strength for the piaffe, when they make the half-pass look easy.
Yes, many would like to see some major changes in the arena, with a return to the head ahead of the vertical and approaching the vertical only in piaffe, a little more collection would probably not hurt as well. But often if we really would like to see change, in reality, change can often be affected more easily from the inside than from the outside. Maybe it could even be argued that change can only come from the inside.
Nothing will make changes faster than one competitor challenging other. Any time that one competitor raises the bar, he effects changes from within. And what better place than to challenge another competitor but in the musical kur? The musical kur allows the riders to take risks, take chances, go a little outside the box.
That is exactly what happened at this year's World Cup Finals held in Las Vegas. It shouldn't be too surprising which competitor went down there, and by her performance would challenge all other competitors entering the arena in the next few years. After all, it is not the first time she has done so, and hopefully it will not be the last.
Nobody can forget the sublime performance of Matador and Kyra previously. Her final finish down the center line with a wonderful passage to piaffe, all with the rein in one hand. For those who say that it was only possible with the very special relationship that was between Kyra and her horse, here she throws down the gauntlet once again. It will be interesting to see where this horse and Kyra will be in a year or two from now, as there is no doubt they still have work to do. But nonetheless, Kyra continues to challenge those around her by her own example.
And isn't that the best way? By putting herself and her horse in front of the judges, in front of the public, in front of the spectators and doing her ultimate best, she raised the bar from the inside. It will be interesting to see the other riders pick up on her challenge. It will also be interesting to see who out there will pick up on that challenge.
Kyra Kyrklund didn't do it only once but twice. And no one could doubt her obvious delight as she let loose at the end of the ride.
It is doubtful that the judges have ever seen anyone as excited and happy as Kyra was as she repeatedly smashed the air with her fists.
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