Since we last spoke with Kyle Timm, there have been some big changes on the home front and in the show ring. A longtime resident of France (he settled overseas in 2017), in 2022 he began construction on his own 25-horse stable, Haras de Fourches, in Fontainbleu, France. He decided long ago to base himself overseas, as the European model of showjumping allowed him to develop himself and young horses in a way that made it financially feasible.
Timm’s program continues to be based on developing young horses to the top level of sport, and in just a few short years it already has an impressive record of success. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, his team had produced three horses that qualified for the Games, and several horses that competed at the last World Championships and European Championships were originally in their care. “This success has created a lot of motivation for us,” Timm says. “We work a lot with breeders and with investors to try and have horses that we are very proud to produce, ride, and eventually sell.”
The 2025 season was a banner year for Timm in the ring as well. The 36-year-old originally from Calgary, who grew up competing in western Canada, was named Canadian Show Jumping Champion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair aboard Atomica des Sequoias Z, competed as a member of the Prague Lions on the Global Champions League, and found himself in the big rings at CSIO5* shows around the world.
The Championship at The Royal was especially sweet, as it was the first time competing in front of the home crowd at the iconic venue for Timm. “The atmosphere was amazing all the way through the ten days and it was really great to meet a lot of new Canadians, see the talent from the Canadian riders and feel the Canadian support,” he says. “The show is so well run and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was a privilege to jump at the show and I hope to have the chance to do it again.”
Timm has been working with the support of the Rein family, who are owners of Atomica des Sequoias Z and Casino Calvin, since 2022. It is a partnership Timm is hugely thankful for, not only for the support of his competitive pursuits, but as a relationship he values outside of the ring.
Timm with Casino Calvin at the LGCT Grand Prix of London in 2024. (Sportfot)
“It is a privilege and pleasure to have horses with them and to be able to enjoy this together as great friends, not only as a rider,” he says. “They are passionate and patient with their horses and always want the best for their horses and for me, and I really cannot say enough to express my gratitude to them.
“Jumping at this level is only possible because of my horses, my team, and the Rein family. I would not have arrived here and would not stay here without them, and I am very grateful for the chances we get to jump some weekends against the best in the world and see where we stand. With their support, I am able to keep some of our horses that we produce into the big sport, which is the ultimate goal and reward for being a producer of horses from a young age – to see them reach their potential and see if my instincts are right is really an amazing opportunity.”
Timm has a good group of horses poised for a big year in 2026, and started the year strong at the Winter Equestrian Festival with a top-ten finish in the CSIO5* $116,100 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup and a spot on the CSIO4* Nations Cup team. At the moment, his top horses include Casino Calvin, Atomica des Sequoias Z, Candar Mail, and Glamour du Chanu.
Despite good results in the biggest competitions against the toughest competitors, Timm prioritizes the development of his younger horses, which influences his decision-making when balancing the schedule. It is not easy to choose between smaller shows to develop the young talent and the larger ranking classes that allow him the opportunity to test his mettle against the best in the sport, but Timm’s priorities are clear – he can be found just as often in the national and CSI2* developing tour classes as in a CSI5* grand prix under the lights.
“The young horses are never secondary to the big shows,” he explains. “In our stable this is a very firmly held belief. Our ability to arrive at, and stay at, the highest level of sport is directly connected to our commitment to the young horses.
“When you can give horses the time they need with a program and people that believe in them, it’s incredible how they can grow in the sport.”
“I still ride the four-, five-, and six-year-olds, even though I have super people who help me manage and ride the young horses. It’s very important to stay 100 per cent involved for their health, their confidence, and to help them have appropriate experiences and reach the goals they need in order to become the best horses they can be.
“The most valuable part of access to the highest level of sport, in my opinion, is the education it provides for helping me produce our young horses at home and at regular shows. The patience I have, to give horses the time they need, has evolved greatly over the last five years with these experiences. When you can give horses the time they need with a program and people that believe in them, it’s incredible how they can grow in the sport.”
Timm’s plans for the year are simple: to do the best he can by his horses, owners, and the team that supports him. And of course, to represent Canada at the elite level is also at the forefront of his mind.
“Aachen 2026 is a great goal for us, but the most important thing to me is making sure we give every horse in our group the absolute best chance to show themselves to the best of their ability, building every horse for the future and not just for the day. That requires good planning, necessary experiences, and making sure we listen to our horses when we make decisions.”
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