Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

PARIS, July 29, 2024–The United States launches defense of its Tokyo Games performance with a partnership less than four months old, a successful rider on a new horse in her third Olympics and a teammate from the historic silver medal squad beginning his sixth Olympics that equals the most of any American rider

Marcus Orlob, a migrant from Germany who chose to ride for America will be the first of the three-member team into the spectacular Chateau Versailles on the 10-year-old mare Jane, developed by owner Alice Tarjan over the past seven years into a world class competitor.

Marcus, based in Loxahatchee, Florida, has Team USA experience that began after he was already selected for Paris, a place on his first Nations Cup team at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Garmany that appeared to be a move to bring the pair into the top fold before the combination provided itself worthy of a place in the biggest of the Big Tour.

Adrienne Lyle, breaking in two new Grand Prix horses, Helix and Lars van de Hoenderheide, that owner Heidi Humphries and her Zen Equestrian Center bought at the end of 2023 to meet international requirements, brings to the arena the Tokyo silver medal result as well as a 2012 London Olympic ride with Wizard. Her success comes with the extraordinary mentorship of Debbie McDonald for the past two decades. A successful rider with two Olympics, a World Equestrian Games silver medal and the first American ever to become World Cup champion on the revered Brentina, Debbie’s height of about five feet (152cm), so much different than Adrienne’s six feet (183cm), developed into a standard of a generation of American riders such as Laura Graves on Verdades and Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet to become among the best in the world with a softness in style coupled with intelligent training.

Adrienne’s successes alongside Laura Graves on Verdades becoming the only American ever to be rated No. 1 in the world was on Salvino, the stallion that was bought for her as a prospect with a background as a young horse whose future prospects were questioned by the European cognoscenti. But the American rider patiently developed Salvino to Grand Prix to produce team silver medals at the 2018 World Equestrian Games at Tryon and then the Tokyo Olympics.

As she did with Salvino, Adrienne embraced the new opportunity with Helix and Lars, though the challenges were new–horses that were already competing at Grand Prix with other riders–something that required her to understand the language the two horses developed with other riders and then begin educating them in her own language and style.

It was enough to qualify Adrienne and Helix for the U.S. team in just months.

“The horses are all doing great and team spirit is high,” she told dressage-news.come. “The venue is absolutely beautiful, very picturesque!”

A heat wave is expected for Tuesday when she and Marcus will ride, after a summer in Europe of mostly cold and rainy weather.

“But we are prepared and making sure our horses are prepared and well rested as well,” she said. “I am really proud of Helix so far and how he is handling all the activity at his first games.”

A boost to her confidence was the arrival of owner Heidi Humphries and her family–“and I am so excited for them to experience the magic of their first Olympics!”

Steffen Peters is the oldest and longest competing athlete on the entire U.S. Olympic team of almost 600 athletes. His first Games was at Atlanta in 1996, one of his bronze medal teams.

“I can’t believe we’re having an absolutely amazing time here in France, especially in Paris with this amazing venue,” he said of his preparation on Suppenkasper, the horse he rode at the both the 2018 World Games and the Tokyo Olympics for silver medals.

“The footing is incredible,” he told dressage-news.com. “There are four really, really good warm-up arenas. For the previous days, we were able to prepare an evening in the main arena, which Is probably the most incredible arena I’ve seen.’

Previous arena in which he has represented the United States for medals includes bronze in Atlanta in 1996, bronze on Legolas in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and the historic silver with Adrienne and Salvino and Sabine Schut-Kery on Sanceo at Tokyo.

“All the horses are in really good shape and ready to compete,” he said “I personally have to say it is a real honor again to represent the United States, especially with another fun group, that is in Endel, Marcus and Adrienne. The camaraderie has been absolutely fantastic. I’m not used to being with three guys on the team, so the level of humor is absolutely incredible.

“The support I get from Christine (Traurig, chef d’equipe) on a daily basis is very good and very productive.

“And now we are ready to go on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Mopsie (Suppenkasper) has been great throughout the training camp, including the complete dress rehearsal with full show attire.”

Endel Ots who is reserve on Bohemian, another horse bought at the end of 2023 by Heidi Humphries, said “The facilities are stunningly beautiful. Very horse, friendly, and all the countries are supportive of each other.

“The barn has AC (air conditioning) and padded floors. They even have a saddle repair person on the grounds.

“Bohemian feels fantastic. It’s a wonderful experience to be here, and ride around in that competition ring. I’m making sure I am doing my part to be ready for competition if need be, but mainly being the best teammate that I can. This team has a great and relaxed feeling to it.

“The camaraderie among the teammates is so cool. The experience on going to the Opening Ceremony with Steffen Peters was absolutely one of the top experiences of my life. Ninety percent of the boats that went by chanted “USA” toward the American boat, and the American cheered for the other nations.”