80 SIDELINES JANUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
Kya Endreson, a quiet spoken working student from
the Outer Banks of North Carolina, showed the dressage
world what she was capable of at the 2011 Collecting Gaits
Farm/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions when she
claimed her frst National Championship title. As a full-time
working student for Scott and Susanne Hassler at Hassler
Dressage in Chesapeake City, Maryland, Kya won the
National Junior Dressage Championship aboard Pik L, an
18 year old Hanoverian stallion owned by Anne Sparks of
Horses Unlimited.
Kya led the country as the top junior throughout the
season before sweeping the junior division at the Festival
of Champions -- the only rider to score above 70% in both
performances. Kya’s successes and talents haven’t gone
unnoticed, and the young star is being hailed as “one to
watch” in the dressage world. She and Pik L recently
appeared on the cover of Dressage Today magazine.
While Kya said she would be a show jumper if she
weren’t a dressage rider, her riding career began when
she tagged along with a friend to a riding lesson. “My best
friend started taking lessons and at the time I loved horses
and knew that’s what I wanted to pursue. I started taking
lessons at a local barn and learned the basics. I then
became involved in Pony Club and eventing. Eventually
dressage became my main interest and I fell in love with it.”
Sidelines:
What was it like winning the Junior Dressage
National Championships?
KE:
Winning the Junior National Championships was such
an awesome experience. I owe so much to Anne Sparks,
Scott Hassler and of course Pik L for making it possible. He
is such an incredible horse and I am so lucky and thankful
to have the ride on him. He has taught me so much and I
continue to learn from him daily. I would say winning the
Junior National Championship and the Team Gold medal at
the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior/Young Rider
Championships, also on Pik L, are defnitely the highlights
of my career so far.
Sidelines:
Do you enjoy being a working student for the
Hasslers?
KE:
It’s great. I have been a working student for the
Hasslers for a little over a year. They are so wonderful
and they are just like my second family. Aside from what
I learn in my lessons, my eyes have been opened to so
many wonderful learning opportunities. Before training
with the Hasslers, I trained with Tristin Hardy Butler, Kathy
Rowse and Patti Pieruchi. I learned many great tools from
all of them.
Sidelines:
What is it like living away from home at such a
young age?
KE:
Being away from home and my family can be
diffcult at times, but I am also used to it. Before working
at the Hasslers, I was a working student for my previous
trainer and would work at the barn four days a week and
go home on the weekends. My family is tremendously
supportive of my riding and they come and visit me often.
Five Questions for Kya Endreson
Kya and Pik L competing at Gladstone
photo by Richard Malmgren
Sidelines:
As a working student, how do you ft in school and
other activities?
KE:
I homeschool, and it has been such a huge help to my
riding. Because the sport takes up so much time, it’s nice
to have a school program that is so fexible and fts your
personal schedule. After high school I defnitely plan on going
to college and will most likely go the route of an online or local
community school. Between school and riding it takes up
most of my time, but I also enjoy running and water sports.
Sidelines:
Who are your equestrian idols?
KE:
There are many riders in the equestrian world who I look up
to and learn a lot from, but I would have to say that Scott Hassler,
Steffen Peters and Courtney King Dye really inspire me.