Kyle King, a 51-year-old show jumper who recently became a Canadian citizen, is set to compete for Canada on the international stage. After receiving his citizenship last month, King is now eligible for the national show jumping team and will head to Europe in two weeks for the Hickstead event, with an eye on the World Equestrian Games.
Longtime Connection to Canada
King, originally from California, has deep ties to Canada. His father had a business partner in Canada, and King spent most of his summers there. He noted, "Most of my horses came from Canada. My dad had two long-time girlfriends that raised me that were Canadian women. I had a Canadian accent. Everyone thought I was from Canada."
King married his Canadian-born wife Emily 10 years ago and has been a permanent resident for eight years before obtaining dual citizenship.
A Lifelong Goal Realized
King expressed his pride in finally representing Canada. "I'm very honoured to finally represent Canada. I feel like it's been a lifelong goal of mine," he said. He credited his horse Kayenne Z, an 11-year-old mare, for showing potential at the highest level, prompting him to accelerate his citizenship process. "We put our pedal to the metal and got it all going and it came together at the perfect time."
His new passport opens opportunities to compete in five-star events and European tours, leading up to the Olympics. King is particularly excited to work with chef d'equipe Ian Millar, whom he calls a legend and idol.
Horses and Future Plans
King's top horse is Kayenne Z, who has proven herself at the top level despite some struggles. He also counts on Odysseus (15), Ninja (8), and Relay (9). While in Europe, he plans to acquire another elite horse to strengthen his stable. "My whole career, my horses have come to Spruce Meadows and it's the biggest thing they've ever done," King said. "Most of my horses tend to grow here. After you've been here in the summer, the rest of the shows seem easy."
King is currently competing at the North American event at Spruce Meadows, preparing for the upcoming challenges.
