Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Feb 23, 2022–Adrienne Lyle made a triumphant return to competition for the first time since Olympic silver medal performance to post the highest CDI5* Grand Prix score at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Wednesday night. Germany’s Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD captured one of the two Grand Prix with a personal best score.

Adrienne, based in Wellington, and the 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion scored 76.500% in the Grand Prix for the Special, higher than the 74.876% Grand Prix result in Tokyo on the American team that won silver, as the pair did with the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

“Honestly,” said Adrienne of her five-year partnership with Salvino, “I think that’s one of his better tests we’ve ever done. I was really happy with it. It may not have been our best score posted, but I just went back and watched the video and I thought I’m thrilled with him and the feeling.”

Adrienne plans two more competitions on Salvino, owned by Betsy Juliano, seeking to be on an American squad to Europe for selection of the U.S. team for the world championships in Herning, Denmark in August that if successful would be the second for the duo.

Frederic and the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding were awarded 74.631% in the Grand Prix for the Freestyle, beating the pair’s previous best of 74.158% posted in Wellington five weeks ago. This is Frederic’s second winter competing in Florida and the first time at the Palm Beach jumper venue.

“I’m very happy,” he said of his ride on the horse that he has ridden in his campaign to become top of the World Cup Western European standings. “I had no mistakes at all, and he gave me a super feeling. It was our personal best and then at a five star, that is really what I’m looking for. We have been building him up at the season here. Now delivering that score is what I’m looking for daily.

“The stadium is fantastic. It was almost a full crowd and the Americans are always creating a super atmosphere. We love to be here.”

Frederic’s plans after the Global Dressage Festival at the end of March are up in the air as a result of a last-minute, unannounced change by the International Equestrian Federation to qualifying requirements for the World Cup Final in April, the first since 2019 after coronavirus cancellations the past two years.

He is scheduled to compete at the German selection trials for the world championships.

Benjamin Ebeling of Moorpark, California on Illuster van de Kampert, 1 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, placed second on 72.478% in the Grand Prix for the Freestyle, the third highest score for the night. Ben, now 22 years old, was successful in youth competitions on Illuster and moved up to Big Tour last year competing on American Nations Cup teams in Wellington, Rotterdam and Aachen, Germany.

The CDI5* was the first international competition at the Palm Beach center since the Global Dressage Festival was founded more than a decade ago. The dressage was held in the centerpiece International arena which was also set up alongside obstacles ready for the resumption of jumping competition, not unusual in Europe but a rarity in America.

The Grand Prix Freestyle and the Grand Prix Special are scheduled for the Friday Night Stars also to be staged at the Palm Beach center.

Results:

CDI5* Grand Prix for Special

CDI5* Grand Prix for Freestyle