Kyle King aims to compete for Canada at Hickstead after gaining citizenship
The 51-year-old show jumper received his Canadian passport last month and plans to represent the national team in Europe within two weeks.
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Kyle King has competed in Canada for most of his riding career, but last month he finally became a citizen — and that changes everything.
The 51-year-old show jumper received his Canadian passport in June, opening the door to represent Canada's national team. King married his Canadian-born wife Emily 10 years ago and has been a permanent resident for eight years. Now, with citizenship secured, he's targeting a spot on the national squad for competition in Europe within two weeks.
"I'm very honoured to finally represent Canada," King said. "I feel like it's been a lifelong goal of mine."
His timing aligns with a new prospect: a horse called Kayenne Z, an 11-year-old mare King says has proven she can compete at the elite level. After a difficult stretch last season, Kayenne delivered a strong performance at Thermal, and King is banking on having her peaked and ready.
King ranks 79th globally among show jumpers. He'll head to Hickstead in two weeks to compete for Canada, and he's listed as a reserve for the World Equestrian Games team. He's also preparing for European tours and five-star level shows — opportunities his new citizenship makes possible.
He trains his horses at Spruce Meadows, the Calgary venue where his previous competitors "grew" and gained confidence before taking on bigger stages. King credits the facility with shaping his career and his horses' development.
