Adrienne Lyle and Salvino ©SusanStickle.
Wellington, FL – April 1, 2021 – The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival continued on Thursday, April 1, marking a top placing for the USA’s Adrienne Lyle and Salvino in the FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI4*, presented by Adequan®.
It was Betsy Juliano LLC’s 2007 Hanoverian stallion by Sandro Hit that concluded the day with the highest honors in the International Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) Equestrian Village, highlighting the stallion’s return to competition for the first time in over a year.
“It felt amazing,” began Lyle. “He just never ceases to amaze me with his heart; that horse has a bigger heart than any animal on this planet, I think. He’s just proven time and time again that he’ll be there when I need him to be there if we listen to him and don’t overdo it. We waited to come out last year until later in the season and it worked, so we decided to wait again this year, and so far, it’s off to a good start. Hopefully, we can put in a few more performances like that leading up to the summer.”
The pair put in an outstanding performance, ending the ride with a personal best score of 80.065%. “He felt really fit and fresh,” explained Lyle, “and was even squealing a little going around the outside of the ring like he was really fired up. I like him to be in that spot where he’s really excited to go in there.”
She continued, “I actually started crying after the ride, which I hardly ever do. He didn’t put a foot out of place, and he’s so amazing. I could tell he was excited and fresh. We haven’t been in there in over a year, and when he went down centerline, he focused and knew it was time to put everything aside. He really knows how to be there for you, and not many horses are like that. You don’t get to sit on many of those in a lifetime.”
The FEI Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, presented by Ashley Holzer of Southgate Farm with longtime friends and co-sponsors P. J. Rizvi and Dr. Diane Fellows, was topped by Susan Dutta (USA) on Figeac DC, Tim and Susan Dutta’s 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Fackeltanz, with a 70.630%. Second place was awarded to Jessica Howington (USA) on her own 2007 KWPN mare, Cavalia, by Sir Donnerhall I, riding to a score of 68.522%. Third place was captured by another USA rider, Alice Tarjan, aboard her own 2010 Hanoverian mare by Christ, receiving a 67.457%.
For more information and results, please visit www.GlobalDressageFestival.com.