05/01/2003
USA Equestrian Cover: Lauren Hogan
December 31, 1990
Trainer Bill Schaub says he knows when Lyrik is going to win. "She's a really funny horse. You've got to get her happy for her to win," said Schaub. "This is really crazy, but whenever I go to the in-gate, if I rub her braids and her head goes down onto my lap, I know she's relaxed and comfortable and is going to win."
In 1985 the Kennedy family of Orlando, FLa., bought Lyrik, a 16.2-hand Hanoverian-Thoroughbred cross, from Joe Darby, who had been showing her as a first year green horse. Schaub was looking for a show horse for the Kennedys' older daughter, Ashley, and saw immediately that Lyrik was Ashley's type.
"Ashley rode really still and quiet," said Schaub, who was looking for something that was a little aggressive. He wanted something that would not be lulled to sleep by Ashley's quiet style, and he wanted a horse that would give him and his clients some recognition. "We were kind of new [in the business], so I wanted a horse with a big, bold stride. I wanted a horse to carry her around," said Schaub. "I wanted to take the big shot, and win."
The Kennedys have trained with Schaub out of Over The Hill Farm in Sanford, Fla., for about 10 years and were confident in his ability to make a match. Ashley's younger sister Courtney, who took over the reins after the 1987 season, got along with Lyrik right away and earned reserve championships at the Washington (D.C.) International and National (N.Y.) horse shows in their first season. This year they were large and grand junior champion at the National to top off an impressive season of showing.
Lyrik, 14, began her jumping career as a field hunter, which is perhaps what has made her so successful. "she was a field hunter in North Carolina for two seasons before she was a show hunter," said mother Beverly Kennedy. "That hunting got her brave. She's a reliable and beautiful jumper, an athletic jumper. She can make up for not having the right distance."
Both Schaub and Beverly Kennedy agreed that the horse was strong, the down side of her hunting background. "She can bear down and pull," said Kennedy. "You need to prepare her so she's not so strong to show. Bill rides her to get her more flexible." "I used to ride her hours to get her right," noted Schaub. At first, "we had to work hard to get her to shorten, but now she's a lot better."
Lyrik, despite her eagerness to get to the jumps, is really a rather laid-back animal. "She's a pet," said Schaub. "She's a really loving animal."
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Show Hunter Horse of the Year - Lyrik
Trainer Bill Schaub says he knows when Lyrik is going to win. "She's a really funny horse. You've got to get her happy for her to win," said Schaub. "This is really crazy, but whenever I go to the in-gate, if I rub her braids and her head goes down onto my lap, I know she's relaxed and comfortable and is going to win."In 1985 the Kennedy family of Orlando, FLa., bought Lyrik, a 16.2-hand Hanoverian-Thoroughbred cross, from Joe Darby, who had been showing her as a first year green horse. Schaub was looking for a show horse for the Kennedys' older daughter, Ashley, and saw immediately that Lyrik was Ashley's type.
"Ashley rode really still and quiet," said Schaub, who was looking for something that was a little aggressive. He wanted something that would not be lulled to sleep by Ashley's quiet style, and he wanted a horse that would give him and his clients some recognition. "We were kind of new [in the business], so I wanted a horse with a big, bold stride. I wanted a horse to carry her around," said Schaub. "I wanted to take the big shot, and win."
The Kennedys have trained with Schaub out of Over The Hill Farm in Sanford, Fla., for about 10 years and were confident in his ability to make a match. Ashley's younger sister Courtney, who took over the reins after the 1987 season, got along with Lyrik right away and earned reserve championships at the Washington (D.C.) International and National (N.Y.) horse shows in their first season. This year they were large and grand junior champion at the National to top off an impressive season of showing.
Lyrik, 14, began her jumping career as a field hunter, which is perhaps what has made her so successful. "she was a field hunter in North Carolina for two seasons before she was a show hunter," said mother Beverly Kennedy. "That hunting got her brave. She's a reliable and beautiful jumper, an athletic jumper. She can make up for not having the right distance."
Both Schaub and Beverly Kennedy agreed that the horse was strong, the down side of her hunting background. "She can bear down and pull," said Kennedy. "You need to prepare her so she's not so strong to show. Bill rides her to get her more flexible." "I used to ride her hours to get her right," noted Schaub. At first, "we had to work hard to get her to shorten, but now she's a lot better."
Lyrik, despite her eagerness to get to the jumps, is really a rather laid-back animal. "She's a pet," said Schaub. "She's a really loving animal."
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