Carly Kist began riding as a four-year-old in a decidedly unstructured program. First exposed to horses while visiting the barn with her mother, she rode exclusively bareback until the age of seven. When their proximity to Spruce Meadows registered on the youngster, her eyes were opened to the great heights to which tack could carry you, so she saddled up and began riding competitively.

Carly’s recent decision to spend a year abroad stemmed from a desire to experience some international competition and exposure to the European methodology of horse sport. She is currently in Belgium training with and working for Vincent Lambrecht, where she has the opportunity to compete every weekend at either international shows with her own horse, or national shows, bringing a younger string for experience. “I’m at a fantastic stable that gives me a lot of opportunity and functions in a way that I really respect and have greatly enjoyed,” she says of her time in Europe thus far. “In general, people here are a lot more knowledgeable about horses and horse sport. Everyone knows the stables in town and the shows in the area, even if they aren’t directly involved.

“I am a huge believer in continuous learning, so another reason to come to Europe was the opportunity to train in a bit of a different system and to learn more about the business aspect of show jumping that is more prevalent in Europe. This is my first experience riding professionally full time, so I wanted to really immerse myself as a rider, working long days and travelling to lots of shows.”

Carly holds a bachelor of science in kinesiology with a major in mind sciences from the University of Calgary, and is weighing the options of returning to school for her masters or pursuing horses full time. “For me, the biggest factor when deciding to pursue professional riding is the lifestyle,” she explains. “I’m getting a really good sense of what it takes to be a professional rider while I’m over here in Europe and it’s definitely not an easy way to live. I am enjoying the business and the constant activity right now, but I know that I don’t want to run a training or coaching program that would have me so tied down that I couldn’t compete at a high level anymore. There is no question in my mind that I will always ride and compete; I am just in the stages of deciding whether or not I want it to be my full-time career.”

Emiel D’or VD Durmstede, a 12-year-old Belgian warmblood that made the trip to Europe with Carly, is her top horse at the moment. Their partnership began in 2015 after the horse had some good experience jumping bigger classes in Europe with Italy’s Lorenzo De Luca. “He is by far the quirkiest horse I’ve ever had,” she admitted, “but he also has the most quality, unlimited scope, and heart of any horse I’ve previously ridden.” With her sights set on a spot on the senior Canadian team, Carly applauds the many opportunities for young riders to gain experience and exposure through high performance programs such as the Junior and Young Rider Championships and the U25 division. “For sure it is more difficult for riders that do not have a large string of horses or connections with people at the top of our sport to get noticed, but I think that at the end of the day it is not impossible. I am a firm believer in the saying, ‘opportunity looks a lot like hard work.’ A spot on the senior team is not going to be handed to you, nor should it be. I think you really have to go out and search for every opportunity that you can get and give it all of your effort, learn from it, and improve from it. In the end, a rider needs results. No matter how easy or tough it is to get noticed, you have to keep pushing to get the best, most consistent results at the top of the sport.”

While her professional path is unclear at the moment, Carly is certain her future will involve horses and horse sport. “First and foremost I really love horses; it is undeniably the root of my passion for the sport. I love the competitiveness, the people, and the adrenaline, but above all else I have a huge appreciation and admiration for horses and what they do for us. I love the challenge of finding the best way to train, strengthen, and communicate with each different horse, and it’s pretty humbling when it feels like you are really working as a team.”

Carly Kist Quick Facts

  • Age: 23
  • Hometown: DeWinton, AB
  • Favourite Netflix show: Suits
  • Last Book: Atlas Shrugged
  • Favourite Food: French fries
  • Coffee or tea: “Neither, but I’ll never turn down a hot chocolate!”
  • Favourite Band: The Dixie Chicks
  • If I could ride any horse: “Big Star. I love his energy and his drive.”

Highlights of 2015

  • 1st: 1.40m Canadian Utilities Cup, Spruce Meadows
  • 1st: Friends of the Meadows Grand Prix, Spruce Meadows
  • 1st: ACTC Grand Prix, Rocky Mountain Show Jumping
  • 2nd: Interactive Mortgage U25 Grand Prix, The Oaks
  • 3rd: JC Anderson Memorial Grand Prix, Rocky Mountain Show Jumping