Adrienne Lyle Partnering Helix in First Event Since Paris Olympics, Winner of Ocala World Cup Grand Prix

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Adrienne Lyle on Helix in Ocala World Cup Grand Prix. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

OCALA, Florida, Dec. 12, 2024–Adrienne Lyle partnering Helix in the first event since the Paris Olympics, was the clear winner of the World Equestrian Center World Cup Grand Prix Thursday and showing off future form as the top American dressage rider and horse combination.

Adrienne who had not sat on the KWPN gelding before his 12th birthday in January was awarded 72.478%, close to the same result at historic Versailles and the highest placed of the three U.S. team riders at the summer Olympics.

Thursday’s ride, the first since then, was in one of the giant indoor arenas at the sprawling WEC complex, an environment, Adrienne joked, that was “a lot different than a gigantic outdoor arena that he was in last time. I think he’s still a little bit looking for all the thousands of spectators to come pouring out of a corner somewhere. So about halfway through the test, he took a big breath and relaxed into it. He’s a horse that has so much energy anyways, it doesn’t seem to matter the venue, he’s always ready to go.”

All five judges placed the pair first, over runner-up Jennifer Williams of Olympia, Washington on Joppe K, 10-year-old KWPN gelding, who scored 70.084%.

Anna Marek of nearby Dunnellon on her Olympic team reserve horse Fire Fly placed third on 69.891%.
Jennifer Williams on Joppe K at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. © 2024 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

With three Olympics on three different horses in her career, the Wellington, Florida-based Adrienne has had the ride on Helix–already confirmed at Grand Prix with a Swedish rider–for well under a year when bought by Zen Elite Equestrian. He was one of several horses bought by the owner based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida before this year’s Games in Paris. Another was the well-known Bohemian for rider Endel Ots of Wellington that became the traveling reserve.

The duo competed in four shows in Florida to qualify for final selection in Europe that was made after two events there.

“I always just commend his character so much because there’s just not many horses who I think would be that game to handle so many changes and he’s always willing to work and try something different and he’s just a great partner to work with,” Adrienne said.

Much of the focus has been working with her long-time coach, Debbie McDonald, on the balance and self-carriage, lengthening the frame.

“That’s something that we work on a lot and it takes time in this sport,”  she said, “it just takes a lot of time for them to build the understanding and the strength. I’m really happy with the work we’ve been able to get at home. I think we’re starting to show some of that in the ring, but I still think there’s a lot more to come in there and, you know, it’s hard to really believe it’s been even less than a year that we’ve done all this. And so I’m looking forward to having some time to really focus and train at home and go compete but not have such a lofty goal on the horizon this year.”

She plans on seeking to qualify for European competitions this year, but the big goal is the World Championships in Aachen, Germany om 2026. She will, however, keep open an option to go to the World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland in April, if the qualifying schedule works out.

Results:

CDI-W Grand Prix
RankCompetitorScoreEHCMB
1.
Adrienne Lyle (USA)
Helix
72.478%73.80473.69670.76172.28371.848
2.
Jennifer Williams (USA)
Joppe K
70.804%72.93571.30469.78369.23970.761
3.
Anna Marek (USA)
Fire Fly
69.891%71.84868.26169.13070.65269.565
4.
Kevin Kohmann (USA)
Duenensee
69.848%70.10970.65268.37070.65269.457
5.
Pablo Gómez Molina (ESP)
Ulises de Ymas
68.696%69.67469.34866.95768.80468.696
6.
Camille Carier Bergeron (CAN)
Finnländerin
67.370%68.58767.50066.19667.82666.739
7.
Charlotte Jorst (USA)
Atterupgaards Botticelli
66.717%66.73967.28365.54367.39166.630
8.
Devon Kane (USA)
Vamos
66.478%65.97867.60966.08766.41366.304
9.
Allison Carmichael (USA)
Figaro
66.109%67.39164.78365.10967.28365.978
10.
Sarah Tubman (USA)
RS Damon
65.869%66.30466.84865.21764.89166.087
11.
Anna Merritt (USA)
Fox Creek’s Censational
61.978%62.82661.73961.63060.87062.826
12.
Mathilde Blais Tétreault (CAN)
Fedor
61.826%63.47860.54361.63063.69659.783
13.
Ivo Jührend (NED)
Black Diamond
59.130%61.63059.23956.19658.37060.217
EL
Meagan Davis (USA)
Toronto Lightfoot
eliminated
EL
Jan Ebeling (USA)
Jubi’s Tenacity
eliminated
Find details on Equestrian Hub