Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photos by Susan J. Stickle.
Wellington, FL – May 3, 2013 – U.S. Olympic athletes Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, owned by Peggy and Parry Thomas, are among 10 dressage athlete/horse combinations awarded training and competition grants for 2013 from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
The grants were awarded so that the horse and rider combinations could compete in CDI shows throughout Europe in preparation for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Criteria for the grants included international competition experience and the athletes’ prospects of contributing to a Team or Individual medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
“We are planning a winter tour in Europe with Wizard, basing out of (and training with) Klaus Balkenhol and competing in three CDI competitions while there,” Lyle said. She added that plans are not finalized and invitations are not yet issued, so she could not be specific at this time.
“This USEF grant, in addition to the amazing Carol Lavell grant we received earlier this year, has made my goal of getting back to Europe possible,” Lyle continued. “Without this kind of support it would be nearly impossible for many of us riders to pursue our dreams of international competition, and I am so thankful to all the donors and amazing people who make these things possible!”
Lyle and Wizard, a 14-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding, recently received a $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize from The Dressage Foundation to continue their training. The team trains with Olympic athlete Debbie McDonald and Lyle is based out of Ketchum, Idaho.
The pair represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics and competed in the 2013 World Dressage Masters CDI5* Palm Beach in Wellington, FL. where they placed sixth in the Grand Prix and seventh in the Grand Prix Freestyle. In January, they placed second in the Grand Prix Freestyle in the Gold Coast Opener CDI-W in South Florida.
To learn more about Adrienne Lyle, go to www.adriennelyle.com. To learn more about the USEF grants for Lyle and Wizard as well as the other nine recipients, go to www.usefnetwork.com/news/9885/2013/4/22/usef_awards_grants_to_ten_dressage.aspx. To learn more about the Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize, check out www.dressagefoundation.org/The_Carol_Lavell_Advanced_Dressage_Prize.htm.
Sue Weakley for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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