Kate Kyros and 11-year-old KWPN stallion Intro K (Apache x Harmony’s Rousseau) contested the CDI-Y Young Rider classes at Peelbergen CDI (29 November – 1 December) in Kronenberg, The Netherlands – their first competition since CHIO Aachen in July.
Kate and Intro finished fourth among a strong field of 17 combinations in the CDI-Y Team Test with consistent marks throughout and a great score of 68.627%.
In the CDI-Y Individual test, they scored 65.735% for 12th; another consistent performance, just unfortunately a mistake in the four tempi changes and then a miscommunication with a flying change near the end of the test lowered the score.
The CDI-Y Individual test was interesting in terms of scoring, with the judges not quite in agreeance on quite a few of the combinations; the winning Dutch combination ranked first with two judges, and 11th with the other.
You can re-watch all the action from Peelbergen CDI via ClipMyHorse.TV here.
Kate Kyros and Intro K competing in the CDI-Y at Peelbergen CDI. Image by Leanjo de Koster/Digishots.
“This competition was a great learning experience, giving us lots of feedback for training this week leading up to Aachen Youngstars,” says Kate. “There is so much to learn about international competition and the only way to do so is to be over here. A clean test is not enough, but adding more expression can come with mistakes; it is all about finding the balance. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be in this environment which is really pushing me to grow.”
Aachen Youngstars
Kate’s next start with Intro K will be Aachen Youngstars, held in Aachen, Germany from 5-8 December where they will be the first Australian combination to compete at the prestigious Christmas show.
You can watch all the action from Aachen Youngstars via ClipMyHorse.TV.
The duo is once again based at the De Ridder barn, Gestüt Moosbend, in Belgium – just over the border from Germany and only a short drive from Aachen
Last month, Intro K was named the 2024 Equestrian Queensland Horse of the Year, while Kate was named Bond University 2024 Sports Person of the Year for the second consecutive year. Part of the university’s Elite Athlete Program, Kate is able to train and compete abroad while studying a double degree in Business and Law.
