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Sunday April 20, 2008

The United States Dressage Federation is excited to announce that world-class trainer and rider, Kyra Kyrklund, is returning to conduct her third Adequan/USDF National Symposium. This year's symposium will be held December 6-7 in Denver, CO.

Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Kyra won the Finnish Championships ten times from 1972 to 1989 and competed in every Olympic Games from 1980 to 1996, placing fifth three times. In addition, Kyra has participated in the 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2006 World Equestrian Games placing second, fourth, ninth, and seventh respectively.

Beyond Kyra's extensive resume in the ring, she has also developed a system of training horses that combines the core elements of the German and Swedish systems with her own, unique techniques.

Upon returning to Finland from her time in Sweden and Germany, Kyra started her own business, Helsingin Kilpatalli, which she ran from 1976 until 1991. Here, she was able to take the most important elements of the systems she had learned abroad and translate these into her own approach with outstanding results.

For many years, Kyra was responsible for the training of the Finnish junior and young rider teams. Since 1985, they have won medals both individually and as a team at Scandinavian and European championships. Also, the first ever Finnish Olympic dressage team consisted of only her students and they placed sixth in Seoul in 1988. In 1991, Kyra moved to Sweden and became the chief dressage trainer at Flyinge stud, which transformed it into an international mecca for dressage. In 1998, following many successful years in Sweden, Kyra moved to the United Kingdom where she now lives on a farm in West Sussex.

Kathie Robertson, Senior Programs & Education Coordinator, stated "We are very pleased to be able to bring Kyra and her wealth of knowledge and training techniques to the attendees at this year's symposium.

It is sure to be an unforgettable experience for riders, auditors and horses alike." For more information on the 2008 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium, please visit www.usdf.org or contact the USDF office at (859) 971-2277.

Related Links
2003 National Dressage Symposium with Kyra Kyrklund at the Kentucky Horse Park
Kyra Kyrklund, An Innovative Rider and Trainer