Two-time Olympian and Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle made her first trip to TerraNova a memorable one. On day one of competition at CDI Myakka City, Lyle and new acquisition Helix won the 4* Grand Prix. Jennifer Williams and Joppe K led the 3* Grand Prix.
First CDI Win for Helix
Lyle's ride, the 12-year old KWPN gelding Helix (by Apache x Jazz), recorded his first international victory out of 14 international starts in his career so far. In 2023 he was shown by Swedish Marina Mattsson before selling to the U.S.A. in December 2023.
Lyle and Helix scored 72.021% for the victory in Friday's 4* Grand Prix class, dominating a field of 9 riders in total. The pair had two bobbles in the test - a break into canter in the passage and a failed transition from canter to trot, but showed highlights in the passage and tempi changes.
"I was really happy with Helix today in the Grand Prix. We are a very new partnership, so we had a few little missed transitions and communication errors- only because he's a horse that tries so hard and maybe a little too hard in the moment- but it's our highest score so far in the grand prix," Lyle said.
The duo is aiming for U.S. Olympic team selection and are sitting in 6th on the ranking list for Team USA.
"I'm in the very fortunate position to have two grand prix horses owned by Zen Elite," Lyle said, referring to both Helix and Lars van de Hoenderheide (by Negro × Layout). "Our goals, as we are getting to know each other, would be to try to complete enough shows to be named to the Olympic selection short list. Just to have this opportunity, I feel extremely grateful."
Though this marks her first visit to TerraNova, Lyle is already making plans to return to the venue. "TerraNova is an amazing facility. This is my first time here and I'm blown away by it. It is absolutely beautiful," she said. "It is so relaxing and horse friendly. The horses are all loving it here. I feel very fortunate to have such a great facility in a place we can just haul to."
3* and PSG Win for Williams
Williams and Joppe K, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding from the Netherlands, have been partners for about 5 years. "He's a smart horse with a huge heart and a lot of try," she said. "He's a horse that comes out very happy to do his work everyday and is just delightful to be around." Williams took the gelding to the 2020 USEF Young Horse Championship when he was 6. The pair completed their first CDI3* in September 2023.
When asked about her goals for today's test, Williams said: "I was really wanting to go in and do a clean test today, so I'm very happy that we achieved that. My horse felt very fresh and fit, and happy to be in the ring today- and that's really important to me.
Williams attended TerraNova Dressage I with her husband and two children, LJ and Lexi. "It's really amazing to watch how [my mom] chases her dreams and how amazing she is and how much work she puts into it," Lexi said. "It's amazing to experience."
-- TerraNova press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Link
Scores: 2024 CDI Myakka City