Adrienne Lyle Works Lars van de Hoenderheide & Helix at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center–Photos by Lily Forado
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Feb.15, 2024
Adrienne Lyle, America’s Olympic and World Equestrian Games silver medalist, worked her two new mounts, Helix and Lars van de Hoenderheide, at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center Thursday.
Helix, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding, and Lars van de Hoenderheide, 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, were bought at the beginning of the year for Adrienne, who is based in Wellington, Florida. Heidi Humphries of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bought the horses as she did Bohemian for Endel Ots to compete.
“I am learning a lot every day with them,” Adrienne told dressage-news.com. “They both have such great characters and try so hard.
“My first job has been to learn to speak their language before I can start expecting them to learn my language.
“Now bit by bit I am working on little things like adjusting their balance and frame to make them a bit more ‘my ride’. It is definitely a process and it will take time, and we cannot rush them.
“I am really happy with how they are both doing and excited for the future, and thankful for Heidi for making this journey possible.”
Debbie McDonald, the former U.S. team coach who has mentored Adrienne through her equestrian career, was in Ocala to help–“she’s always our best supporter and I am thankful for her guidance!”
Lars van de Hoenderheide was most recently competed by Great Britain’s Charlotte “Lottie” Fry, the reigning dressage world champion. Under Lottie, the horse made its international debut in October, 2022. In 13 starts, the duo placed first on five occasions and three second places, including two in the CDI4* at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
Adrienne competed Wizard at the 2012 London Olympics and Salvino, a Hanoverian stallion now 17 years old, at the 2018 World Games in Tryon, the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Championships to earn a start for the United States at the Paris Olympics at the end of July. Salvino is owned by Betsy Juliano.
