February 8, 2023 
Dot your I’s and cross your t’s is an idiom Ireland’s Mark Kinsella takes to heart.
“You must do your homework. Attention to detail is so important,” said the California-based rider. “Stable management is so important. There should be no stone unturned.”
It’s a philosophy rooted in Kinsella’s history. For nearly a decade, the Irish rider worked for countryman and Olympian Cian O’Connor before breaking out on his own to establish MK Equestrian Sales & Training in Thermal, CA. The two continue to work closely together. But it’s in the details that O’Connor’s presence—namely, his penchant for meticulous tracking and organization—is most felt.
“I worked for Cian for nine years. It’s the only job I’ve ever had, so I don’t know anything else,” said 36-year-old Kinsella.
“I just am in awe of his program. So I try to replicate it a little bit with bringing Michael [Williamson] on to my team. I have Amy, who is my main manager, and she helps us with all the logistics. I just feel like there’s no point to cut corners if you want to do the sport at the highest end that you possibly can. And that’s my goal.”
Related reading: Cian O’Connor: There’s No Shortcut to Success
For Kinsella, those details boil down to planning every stride.
“Every course walk is all so plan orientated. We would walk numbers around the bend where a lot of people wouldn’t, so we know the exact numbers we’re doing on rollbacks and unrelated distances.
“It’s a fine line,” he conceded, “without making it, especially for clients, too complicated. Sometimes less is more. But equally for ourselves, just to have [a stride count as] a reference is better than no reference at all.
“So I think a detailed course walk, detailed course plan, a good plan with your grooms and your managers, you’re giving yourself the best opportunity [to succeed]. Granted, it doesn’t always work that way because it’s horses and they’re going to do what they want to do.”
In Wednesday’s opening speed class of Desert Circuit Week V at Desert International Horse Park, Kinsella’s plan went precisely his way. The Irish rider topped a 34-horse field to take first and second in the $10,000 RunAmok 1.35m Welcome Speed.
Fifteenth in the order, Kinsella set the time to beat on La Capitol, stopping the clock at 62.756 seconds. He returned eight rounds later on Florado VS Romano to shave one tenth of a second off in 62.687 to take over the lead. Kaitlin Campbell and Ilan finished third in 63.461.
“[Florado VS Romano] is actually quite new to me. He’s owned by my business partner in Europe, Tal Milstein. We showed him the last couple of weeks, but a little bit soft and didn’t put too much pressure on him just to give him some experience since he since he’s only starting up.”
Wednesday’s class was the first time Kinsella has tested the gas pedal on his new ride.
“He has a phenomenal length to stride. I had La Capitol, owned by Alexis Taylor, in the lead. And, honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch that one. So it just shows that this guy has a big stride and covers the ground easy,” he said.
“He’s a really nice horse. He’s a little bit shy, but I think once he once he has this person, he really excels in the ring. I feel that confidence. And he tries. He feels like he fights for me.”
Kinsella plans to aim the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding at the 1.40m Classic on Sunday.
“Like I said, I’m just trying to get to know him, but he seems like he’s a really cool horse and he wants to win.”
