Kyra the Perfect Model.

Kyra the Perfect Model.

“BPH Ismalia” OR “Kyra”
Five Year Old earns the HRCAV 100-point Dressage Award
(Artical written for Equestrian magazine in 2004)
If you are very lucky during your equestrian life a horse will cross your path that will teach you lessons in discipline, courage, persistence and above all humility. BPH Ismalia or Kyra as she is known at home has taught me these and many other lessons.
Kyra is a 15.2hh Clydie Cross mare who was bought near Ballarat in late 2000. She was a just broken 2-year old filly breed by local horseman Bill Rinaldi. She took my eye late one evening while looking at another horse Bill had for sale. With her four white stockings and broad blaze I was immediately smitten. Kyra matured quickly travelling to most of the major competition venues with my wife’s EFA horses. So after joining Ballarat Riding Club and the HRCAV we were assessed at level 4 with half points. We where ready to compete in early February 2001. Kyra was 4th and 5th on her first outing, just a hint of what was to come…..........She did not better these placing’s in her first season but at three and half we where extremely satisfied. 2002-2003 proved to be very exciting. A win in Level 4 and Level 3 in her first competition saw our combination reassessed to Level 3. With 9 wins and the level 3 Golden Spurs Championship by one point. We continued to consolidate our basic skills and looked forward to Level 1 in 2004. We pointed up to Level 1 and her ability and success continue to amaze. Her career record has been remarkable, 90 dressage tests and only unplaced 11 times.
EFA Elementary/Medium is our goal in 2005; her lateral work continues to improve, as does her ability to collect. My own skills will also have to improve; again our combination will look to, Charlotta Pederson and Lisa Stevens to guide us both on our journey of discovery and understanding. These two extraordinary women have my deepest thanks and gratitude, they are much more than my instructors/coaches they are my friends. Good instruction is the corner stone of all competitive sport, especially the equestrian pursuits. However it is us that bring fairy tales, myth and agendas to the arena. We should seek out the best instruction that we can afford and always look at our own performance before we blame our horses for shortcomings.
HRCAV has given my whole family an opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of some great people. The HRCAV competitions are so positive and supportive. It is easy to be motivated and improve our skills and abilities. The judges have all been fantastic in particular Tricia Wanklyn who has adjudicated our performances from Level 4 to Level 1, her excellent comments and advise have always been valuable.

...........AND THEN!!!!!!

Kyra’s Recovery…………(Artical written just after her accident)

It seems a long time since the 22nd November 2005 when “Kyra” (BPH Ismalia) had her accident in the paddock that broke her knee and my heart. The emotions have ebbed and flowed with each passing week and piles of manure (……………….there is not a tree, bush or weed that has not been mulched here at Barssel). Kyra spent 16 weeks in the stable, eonough to drive most horses over the edge….......................
The fear of losing my best mate soon gave way to anger then fear again as the reality of the job in front of us became apparent.
Three weeks into “Kyra’s” treatment she had a small rub sore at the base of her caste. Our Vet cut away the offending plaster and we hoped nothing sinister was occurring inside the caste. A week later the first caste came of to reveal the tiniest of sores on the inside of her knee. Our vet was extremely happy at this point as it had been his experience that most horses had massive sores that often degenerated into life threatening infection long before this time. Another caste was placed on the leg with extra padding around the knee. Our Vet passed on the revelation that he had only seen three horses recover from the injury that “Kyra” had suffered. Fear again crept into my thoughts, fear and sadness………………… “The sadness was that my mate may not yet survive and sad with the realization that she could never be ridden again”. Three weeks later at about 5.30 pm I went to dress the top and bottom of the caste and up she went…..very nearly kicked me! ( Kyra would never do this if she was feeling well) obviously not happy! Straight to the phone and in less than 20 minutes the Vet was in attendance. After some heavy duty sedative the second caste was removed and a nasty rub sore on the inside of the knee was revealed. A course on antibiotics twice a day (poor horse had become a pin cushion by this stage) and more BTZ’s. On the plus side she was placing more weight on the leg and even showing some flexion. The Vet X-rayed the leg for the third time to reveal the healing was progressing well and she could now spend time in the day yard and box. And now a further four weeks down the track she is trotting a little and even trying to canter. She will be X-rayed again on Thursday the 30th March 2006 and if all is well she will go back to the paddock over the weekend. Four months of nursing, feeding, shoveling manure, amusing with toys and treats, grooming and carefully observing at every hour of the day and night will end. This is brief summary of our last four months some of the things like her being “Caste” in the box in that first week that terrified us all, or the cuts on her legs as she discovered new ways to lay down and then rise. The hundreds of dollars worth on elastoplast and the mountains of wood shavings that have been shoveled are difficult to recall….........................

...............AND TODAY!!!

...................if you have looked at my folio you will know that “Kyra” had a filly foal by “Boere Jazz” in September of 2007, but the really big news is that I rode her today and she was sound. Two years and four months after that awful night she was back in the arena and she owned it, she has not fogotten a thing, she even did two Flying Changes and I am crying as I write this….......my best mate is BACK!!!!!

Kyra the Perfect Model. belongs to the following groups:

Equine Art and Photography