and his feet were in terrible shape. He was obviously stressed and scared. He hid in the back of his stall and had lost his personality. I shudder to think of what may have happened to him.” Corinne was in no hurry to put any pressure on him.
“It was a wait and see. I wanted him to take all the time necessary to feel comfortable, happy and healthy again. We needed to earn his trust.” It was not very long, however, before they saw his personality start to return. By the fall Capone was getting restless and playful and needed a job again. Corinne put him back into flatwork, and soon Capone was telling her he wanted to jump again. It was time to contact Kyle.
SWEET VICTORIES In October 2010, Kyle, based in California, took him back in training focusing on his basic fitness and hill work. “Wherever we are, I like to cross-train with lots of hills, trails and galloping work. The jumping is so easy for him; I rarely school the jumps. It’s all about keeping him lean and fit,” he says. Despite his recent past,
Capone returned to work with a vengeance. “He’s really become a mature jumper. He’s faster and better than ever. In fact, the higher the jumps the better he performs,” Kyle exclaims. Their first show back was
at HITS Desert Circuit II last February, where they placed third in the Grand Prix. A week later they won the $25,000 Smartpak Grand Prix. It was a very exciting moment for Corinne and Kyle, just the morale and confidence boost they needed after a three year absence. A few months later they competed at Del Mar’s $100,000 Grand Prix to come in fourth, with the fastest time by five seconds. But the best was yet to come. In June, they tackled Spruce Meadows taking the championship in the $125,000 CN Performance World Cup. They bested big names such as Eric LaMaze, Ian Miller, McClain Ward and Richard Spooner. “It’s really impossible to describe how I feel, other than great!” Kyle says of their victory. “After all that we have been through in the last few years, to get the ride back, and now this, against these horses and riders . . . it’s amazing.” Next they were victors at the Rocky Mountain Classic in
Calgary on August 20th in the $50,000 CSI2* Grand Prix. As the first ride in the class, Kyle was a little concerned, but in the end the others were chasing his time, including Kyle himself, who placed second on Valentino, a brand new mount for Kyle.
LASTING REFLECTIONS Considering the difficulties that she and Capone have experienced, Corrine reflects, “I want to express how my deep love, devotion, and desire to facilitate Capone’s need for jumping have been my fuel through this whole journey. I have been and forever will be the voice for a creature with no voice. Capone is a very special horse. He has kindness, patience and wisdom that awe those who know him. It has been my pleasure every day I have known him to be his friend. My biggest pleasure is to watch him doing what he loves with his undying heart every time he canters in the ring. This is his greatest gift to me.” She continues, “It takes
a dedicated team in order to succeed. I cannot say enough about the fantastic team that works together in order to keep Capone in the ring. There are grooms, vets and a special farrier that travel with him continuously. Of course at the head of the team is Kyle King. Not only is Kyle an
incredibly gifted rider, but he and Capone have the type of relationship that it takes for success. Over the years with Capone’s stalls, starts and stops, Kyle has continually shown his dedication by being willing to take Capone back and with patience and great consideration to Capone’s well being, bring him back into fitness. Through this care and dedication he has built a solid relationship of trust with Capone which shines in the ring. He believes in Capone and Capone loves him.” “At this stage in our journey I have learned that I am
not alone,” Corrine adds. “Friends and family are critical support. I also know that Capone is the leader and a fighter. I will carry on as long as he remains content, peaceful, sound and happy. When the day comes that he no longer wants to gallop into the ring, then that’s it, we will be done.”
Warmbloods Today 31
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