Adrienne Lyle Rides Salvino to Near Best Score of 85% to Win Wellington World Cup Freestyle Looking for Omaha Final Start

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, Dec.10, 2022–Adrienne Lyle rode Salvino to a near best score to win the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Saturday in their first competition seeking a start at the Final in Omaha. Alice Tarjan on the American-bred Serenade MF posted a personal best score as runner-up to cement her lead in North American qualifiers.

Adrienne and the 15-year-old stallion were awarded 85.015% for the win at the Global Dressage Festival in the first competition since the world championship four months ago. The highest score for the pair is 85.580% set in this same arena nine months ago.

The result earned the partnership of almost six years the maximum of 20 points in their campaign to be invited to Omaha and their first World Cup Freestyle Final before a home crowd.

Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, New Jersey and the nine-year-old mare Serenade in their first year at Big Tour scored 77.950%. With two victories in World Cup competitions so far, Alice now has a total of 57 points in pursuit of one of the three places reserved for North America at Omaha.

Sarah Tubman of Wellington on her Pan American Games gold medal mount, First Apple, placed third on 77.770% and move her up second place in the rankings.

Adrienne, based in Wellington, and Salvino owned by Betsy Juliano said she was thrilled that there were no mistakes in the Grand Prix and the Freestyle at the first event since competing on the U.S. team at the world championships in September that earned America a start at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Although there were only a few spectators at this pre-winter circuit competition, the pair were accompanied by clapping in time with passage and piaffe on the final centerline.

“He really feels incredible,” was the way she described Salvino that she said enabled Salvino to go full power and take some risks.

“The biggest comment I got from various spectators today after bis test was how happy he looked,” she said. “That just makes me thrilled because he’s been doing this for a lot of years and it’s so evident he takes such joy in his work. It makes me so happy.”

Adrienne and Salvino have started 53 times at CDI Grand Prix since beginning their career almost six years ago. The pair were on the two U.S. teams claiming silver medals–the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the Tokyo Olympics.

Results:

World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle