Tag Archives: Adrienne Lyle

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic Earn Second Win of the Weekend at Gold Coast Opener CDI-W

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Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic

Wellington, FL – January 19, 2013 – Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic added a brilliant victory in today’s Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W to their win in Friday’s Grand Prix CDI-W, both at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. The pair of strong showings establishes them as top contenders in the World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach at Jim Brandon, which will take place January 24-26.

WDM will be far from a walkover, however. Kittel and Watermill Scandic will go up against many of the top-placed pairs from today’s competition, as well as an array of new challengers that includes Steffen Peters, Edward Gal, and Hans Peter Minderhoud. But Kittel and Scandic impressed both the judges and the crowd with their stirring freestyle routine.

They performed to an assortment of upbeat rock tunes, displaying impeccable passage transitions to “Hot in the City.” “I think it’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in the piaffe/passage,” Kittel exclaimed. Although “Dancing with Myself” was also among the musical selections, Kittel and Scandic danced together in complete harmony through rhythmic one-tempis and a striking canter half-pass. The judges awarded them a score of 80.125%.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group, Wellington Classic Dressage

Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W Provides Preview of World Dressage Masters Competitors

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Cesar Parra praises Van The Man

Wellington, FL – January 18, 2013 – Today’s Gold Coast Opener Grand Prix CDI-W showcased horses and riders preparing for next weekend’s World Dressage Masters (WDM) CDI5* Palm Beach, and the WDM competitors certainly displayed their dominance. WDM entrants swept all six ribbons in the Grand Prix, with all but one riding the horses they will compete next weekend.

And if the results from today are a predictor, it seems that Sweden will be a force to be reckoned with. Patrik Kittel and Watermill Scandic posted 72.723% to steal the win at the last moment from fellow Swedish Olympic teammate Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven aboard Divertimento, whose 71.170% was the leading score until the final ride. At WDM, Kittel will try to duplicate today’s success on Watermill Scandic, while Vilhelmson-Silfven will switch to her Olympic mount, Don Auriello.

The chilly weather at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, site of both the Gold Coast Opener and WDM, had a few horses on edge in the warm-up, including Watermill Scandic. But most held it together once they entered the ring. Kittel was full of praise for the venue. “The whole place is lovely!” he exclaimed, adding that he would happily show there every weekend if it were “just a bit closer” to his home in Sweden.

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Dressage, Phelps Media Group

Phelps Media Group International Welcomes Olympian Adrienne Lyle to Client List

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Adrienne Lyle on Wizard

Wellington, FL – January 10, 2013 – Phelps Media Group International is pleased to welcome new client, Adrienne Lyle. Lyle, one of the foremost young dressage riders in the United States, is coming off of a breakthrough year of competition, highlighted by a trip to London to represent her country at the Olympic Games.

Lyle’s Olympic endeavor followed a highly successful winter dressage season. In 2012, Lyle rode Wizard to victories in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI 5* West Palm Beach, the Grand Prix Special at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach, and several other top competitions.

Earlier in their career, Lyle and Wizard won the 2008 Brentina Cup, named in honor of the famous dressage mare ridden by Debbie McDonald, Lyle’s coach. Lyle began riding with McDonald in 2005 as a summertime working student. Her efforts over the summer led to a full-time position at River Grove Farm, where McDonald is based. Lyle picked up the ride on Wizard in 2006. Following their Brentina Cup victory, they competed in their first Grand Prix test in 2009.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, JRPR, Olympic Games

Dressage Rider Adrienne Lyle Lives the American Dream, from Cattle Ranch to the Olympics

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Young American Athlete Is One to Watch

Premier Equestrian is proud to support American riders like Adrienne Lyle. (Photo courtesy of McCool Photos)

Sandy, UT (July 13, 2012) – Adrienne Lyle is living the American dream; from simple beginnings riding western on her parents’ cattle ranch, Lyle is now a top dressage competitor and is headed to the 2012 London Olympics on Parry and Peggy Thomas’ 13-year-old Oldenburg, Wizard.  Under the tutelage of American Olympic dressage icon Debbie McDonald at River Grove Farm in Hailey, Idaho, the duo rose through the ranks of competition over the past three years, paying their dues and perfecting their Grand Prix performance.  After a very impressive ride at the 2012 Festival of Championships at Gladstone, Lyle and Wizard earned themselves a spot as individuals on the US Olympic Dressage Team, and will head to London to represent the United States and reap the benefits of their hard work.

“Adrienne is an inspirational rider and a true American athlete,” said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian, a company that sponsors Lyle.  “We are proud to be supporting Adrienne and Wizard as they exemplify the talent, perseverance, and sheer dedication that our country has been built on, and that continues to make the United States great.  Premier is also based in the United States and supports American suppliers and products, so it was only fitting that we support an American rider.  We know Adrienne and Wizard will represent us and our country well in London.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Capture the Freestyle at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach

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Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 31, 2012 – Adrienne Lyle and Wizard returned to the stadium spotlight and danced away with the win in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle during the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach, presented by Diamante Farms on Friday evening.   Their score of 77.275% placed them well above the competition and earned prize money totaling $25,200.  Ashley Holzer of Canada on Breaking Dawn was second with 74.000% and collectd $15,360.  Anja Plonzke of Germany on Le Mont d’Or received 73.600% and $12,000 for third.

Lyle, 27, an assistant trainer for Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomas’ River Grove Farm,  has the daily riding and training of Wizard (Weltmeyer-Pica, Classiker) and is very pleased with the way her charge is progressing.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events

Adrienne Lyle and Wizard Are Magical at $120,000 5* West Palm Beach

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Adrienne Lyle and Wizard. Photo: www.susanjstickle.com

Wellington, FL – March 29, 2012 – Adrienne Lyle, 27, and Wizard took the top award at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in the FEI Grand Prix at the $120,000 5* West Palm Beach, presented by Diamante Farms.  Their score of 73.021% placed them well above Anja Plonzke of Germany on Le Mont d’Or, who received 71.851% to come in second, and Ashley Holzer of Canada on Breaking Dawn with 70.957% for third place.

Lyle works as an assistant trainer for Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomas’ River Grove Farm.  She and McDonald brought six horses for the Florida winter, among them Wizard (Weltmeyer-Pica, Classiker).  Lyle was given the ride on Wizard because her height was a better fit with the gelding. “Debbie is tiny and Wizard is huge so she said, ‘Why don’t you try him?’ And we just clicked,” Lyle said of the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Awards, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Wellington Classic Dressage

Adrienne Lyle and Accolade Ride Away with World Development Group Award at Wellington Classic Spring Challenge

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Adrienne Lyle and Accolade won the Fourth Level Test of Choice at the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge and also rode away with the World Development Group Award. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 21, 2012) – Dressage rider Adrienne Lyle has had great success with Peggy Thomas’s Oldenburg gelding Wizard, and during the Wellington Classic Spring Challenge Lyle rode into the winner’s circle on her up-and-coming young horse Accolade. A Dutch mare also owned by Thomas, Accolade is poised to make a statement on the national scene as she is not only a talented mare but is the half-sister of the legendary Brentina, owned by Thomas and ridden by Lyle’s trainer Debbie McDonald.

Lyle and Accolade won the USEF Fourth Level Test of Choice with a score of 70.714%, and also took home the World Development Group Award, sponsored by the World Development Group, a premier developer of the Equestrian Lifestyle. “Accolade and Brentina have the same dad, Brentano II. Accolade is a little more of a modern type with a ton of scope and a lot of athletic ability. She and Brentina are very similar in personality and temperament, which is very fun. Accolade is a very special mare,” Lyle said.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, Phelps Media Group

Adrienne Lyle Wins Grand Prix Special in Debut Appearance at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

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Adrienne Lyle and Wizard, winners of the WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix Special. Photos: Sue Stickle and Marie Cobb

Wellington, FL (January 28, 2012) – At the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, Adrienne Lyle of the United States bested the international field to win the Grand Prix Special at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Saturday afternoon. The 26 year old Idaho-based rider scored 73.244% riding Wizard, a 13 year old Oldenburg gelding owned by Peggy and Parry Thomas.

“My horse handled everything beautifully. I’m really excited and happy,” said Lyle, who placed fourth in Friday’s WDM Nürnberger Grand Prix, and was eligible to compete in the Grand Prix Freestyle, though she opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special instead. “As much as I would have liked to ride in the freestyle, I need a Grand Prix Special qualifying score for the Olympic Selection Trials,” she explained.

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