Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

MILL SPRING, North Carolina, April 25, 2021–Adrienne Lyle and Salvino won the Tryon CDI4* Grand Prix Special Sunday with a score that puts the partnership at the top of the U.S. Olympic short list with an observation event to come in less than two months to decide on the team for the Games. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz on Lonoir placed second to confirm their fourth place ranking.

Adrienne of Wellington, Florida and the 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion were awarded 77.936% for the win at the Tryon International Equestrian Center with scores for the Special counting for selection. Adrienne was competing Salvino at Tryon for the first time since riding for the U.S. on the team that won silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

Olivia of Haymarket, Virginia and the 17-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding scored 75.149 for runner-up. Katie Johnson, coached by Adrienne, rode Quartett for third place on 71.553%.

With no more CDIs in the United States that can be used for qualifying for the short list of up to about 12 combinations to be invited to what the U.S. federation calls an “observation” event in Wellington in mid-June, the standings as calculated by dressage-news.com are:

1. Adrienne Lyle/Salvino 79.383; 2. Steffen Peters/Suppenkasper 76.745; 3. Sabine Schut-Kery/Sanceo 76.564; 4. Olivia LaGoy Weltz/Lonoir 75.585; 5. Nick Wagman/Don John 75.330; 6. Adrienne Lyle/Harmony’s Duval 74.156; 7. Benjamin Ebeling/Illuster van der Kampert 73.163; 8. Jennifer Williams/Millione 73.075, and 9. Charlotte Jorst/Kastel’s Nintendo.

Current plans are for a team of three combinations with a traveling reserve for Tokyo. The Grand Prix will be used to qualify eight nations for the Grand Prix Special to Music that will decide team medals. Individual medals will be decided by the Freestyle.

“I am happy with his solid performance and clean test,” said Adrienne after the ride on the horse that was imported from Spain five years ago after the 2012 Olympics when her mount, Wizard, was retired. “He’s proven to be very reliable, and never lets me down, which is wonderful. We have our two qualifying shows done now and going forward we will start to focus a bit more on building stronger fitness going into the summer.

“This was good practice to have to travel a long distance and show at a higher altitude. Our goal is to slowly build and peak at the right time. I feel very honored to be able to ride such a special horse and am very thankful to his owner, Betsy Juliano, and my long time coach, Debbie McDonald for all their support.”

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Special