Kyra Kyrklund has made a significant donation to para dressage rider Jonna Aaltonen and the Finnish para dressage team.
Paying it Forward
Earlier in her career, Kyrklund received financial support at the very beginning of her competitive journey—support that helped her become the country’s most successful rider and coach. Now she wants to return a favor.
“Back when I was at Ruskeasuo stables there was an elderly lady there, Marjatta Myrberg. She was what you would call a sponsor even in those days. For example, she paid the Central Riding School´s lessons for students who couldn’t afford to pay for them themselves,” Kyra Kyrklund begins.
“I rode a horse called Dingo. His owners wanted to sell him, so Marjatta bought him and let me use him. She paid all his livery and competition expenses. That was at the time when I also had Piccolo. I never would have been able to afford two competition horses, but thanks to Marjatta’s help, I was able to keep Dingo as well.”
The pair went on to win the Finnish Championship, and Kyrklund later loaned the horse to for example Jenny Eriksson, who won the junior Finnish Championships with him.
“Then when I read about Jonna [Aaltonen], that she has two horses whose upkeep she couldn’t pay for. And that she didn’t receive support from the Finnish Olympic Committee this year. So, I thought I should help.”
“It’s a dream come true to receive this kind of support from my own idol. Words fail me. I’m immensely grateful for her help, it is truly needed,” Jonna Aaltonen says gratefully.
Donation
Kyra is donating the proceeds from a coaching and teaching clinic she held in Ypäjä, Finland a few weeks ago to para dressage riders. Group V rider Jonna Aaltonen, who is 10th in the FEI Rankings, will receive 10,000 euros and 5,000 euros go to the para dressage team.
“It’s also truly wonderful that we’re receiving this kind of support and recognition from Kyra to the parariders. My own motivation has always been high, and now it’s—if possible—even a little higher,” Aaltonen says.
“We are extremely proud that Kyra, highly respected around the world, has been involved in developing our coaching system, core riding skills, and our coaches and riding instructors. On top of that, Kyra’s wonderful support for paradressage riders is hugely significant for the team aiming for Los Angeles paralympics,” says Marjukka Manninen, Chair of the Equestrian Federation of Finland’s Board.
Aiming for Aachen
The Para Dressage World Championships will be held 19–23 August in Aachen, Germany. In addition to Aaltonen, Finland’s Laura Kangasniemi (Grade IV) has achieved the qualifying results. The team coach is Janne Bergh, who has had a long career in paradressage, and Tiina Tarkkala who has joined as team manager as her predecessor Tanja Takkula focuses on dressage. Kyrklund also wants her support to be a thank-you to Bergh.
“She has developed Finnish paraequestrian sport for a long time, and hopefully this will also help her to reach her goal,” Kyra Kyrklund concludes.
-- Text by Kati Hume - Photo © Silke Rottermann