Australian Genevieve Kirk is set to ace her last year at Young Riders and has already given a nice demonstration of her determination by winning the Young Riders division at the 2013 CD-W Wroclaw on 13 - 15 September 2013. Based with Hayley Beresford in Germany, Kirk is campaigning the Oldenburg bred First Wish (by Furst Heinrich x Welton) and the Bavarian branded Moosbends Ricardos (by Rodgau x Matador).
In Wroclaw Kirk took out first and second place in the team test, scoring 66.886% with First Wish and 66.886% on Moosbends Ricardos and feels that her results and the entire CDI, were just amazing. "To hear the Aussie national anthem play for me for the first time was so special and something I will never forget," said the 20-year old.
Competing on day two and three with First Wish, Genevieve came home with a second in the Individual with 63.114%, but rose again in the kur to claim victory with 64.917%. "The first day I had a really good feeling with First Wish and we were both really focused on making it an accurate test. We then followed that up with win in the kur and I am quite proud of the improvements that we have made in the past few months!"
Too scared to do jumping seriously, Genevieve loved dressage from the beginning and moving to Europe to follow her dream was a pretty easy decision to make. "I love training in Europe! There are so many opportunities at your doorstep, it is impossible not to love it. I have lived in Europe for the past 10 years but only moved to Germany last October, which is when I started training with Hayley Beresford."
Currently still training with Hayley in Soest, Germany, Genevieve previously spent several years training with the then Vechta based American Catherine Haddad-Staller, who is responsible for putting the youngster in contact with Hayley.
"Hayley has been teaching me all the movements for the Young Riders tests, as well as everything in between," said Kirk. "We have been working on preparing everything and focusing on the details like perfecting the canter down the centerline.
Without meaning to sound like a starstruck child, it's quite inspiring being around and learning from, someone with the experiences that Hayley has had.
That and the awesome environment she has made that is Team HB has made me massively excited about the future of my horses and I here."
Genevieve's number one horse First Wish is a 10-year old Oldenburg gelding, who she has owned for just under 6 months. "He has an absolutely divine character, is always desperate for attention and to play games but when we’re in the arena and it’s work time, he goes into “Yoda mode” and is 1000% focused on the job."
Her other horse, Moosbends Ricardos is "the greatest schoolmaster ever". Previously competed by riders such as Max Wadenspanner, Alexandria Barr and Charlie Hutton, Ricardos is now 15 years old and Grand Prix level trainer. "He has taught me everything in the Prix St Georges so far," Genevieve explained. Knowing that it is difficult to come by a schoolmaster who has scored 70% internationally, Genevieve considers herself very lucky to have him.
"He has helped me make the move to Young Riders much quicker than I probably deserved and also made the step to riding a horse like First Wish much much smoother than it would have otherwise been."
Two very different horses to ride, Genevieve feels that Ricardos and First Wish compliment each other beautifully and while Ricardos teaches her everything about the exercises and gives her the opportunity to practice them, First gives her the feeling of full power. "Ricardos knows his job exactly, which for the most part involves him telling me that I'm not riding well enough. With First Wish I'm learning how to keep everything balanced on a horse with this sort of power. He has been beautifully trained by professionals his entire life, so the feeling he gives is unbelievable. I'm very excited about the next years with him and I have big hopes and dreams for the future of myself and my horses. For right now however, my goal is to ace my last year of Young Riders."
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Katarzyna Broda - Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI-W Wroclaw
Belarusian Varvara Paulenka Breaking Borders at the 2013 CDI-W Wroclaw
Photo Report: Krinke-Susmelj on Form at the 2013 CDI-W Wroclaw