Adrienne Lyle And Wizard Capture The Freestyle At The $120,000 5* West Palm Beach
(Global Dressage Festival) – Wellington, FL – 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.
Holzer was also pleased with Breaking Dawn’s performance. ”The horse is just phenomenal. I have ridden enough horses to know I have a good one. The more I pushed the more he gave. I am really thrilled,” said Holzer. “I’ve been careful, knowing how long the season is at this level of competition, not to push him. I go in each time and am happy with what he can give. With someone like Adrienne getting a 77%, I want to push, but know I can’t. I’m careful to let his strength build for August with confidence. He has been eager all season. I cannot ask for more. He’s blown away my expectations.”
Spectators were also treated to a spectacular Freestyle Opening Ceremony with a laser light show, a DJ, and silk dancers.
| E: Zang ’5*’ – USA | H: Roudier ’5*’ – FRA | C: Steiner ’5*’ – USA | M: Fouarge ’5*’ – NED | B: Tornblad ’5*’ – DEN |
| Rider | Ctzn | Horse | E % | . | H % | C % | M % | B % | T % | Pl. | ||||||||||
| Lyle, Adrienne | USA | Wizard | 78.875% | 75.250% | 77.000% | 78.500% | 76.750% | 77.275% | 1 | |||||||||||
| Holzer, Ashley | CAN | Breaking Dawn | 74.125% | 74.375% | 72.500% | 75.125% | 73.875% | 74.000% | 2 | |||||||||||
| Plonzke, Anja | GER | Le Mont d’Or | 73.625% | 72.250% | 72.500% | 75.500% | 74.125% | 73.600% | 3 | |||||||||||
| Konyot, Tina | USA | Calecto V | 76.500% | 69.125% | 74.250% | 72.125% | 75.000% | 73.400% | 4 | |||||||||||
| Blitz, Heather | USA | Paragon | 70.125% | 70.875% | 72.500% | 71.750% | 70.250% | 71.100% | 5 | |||||||||||
| Koford, James | USA | Rhett | 66.625% | 70.375% | 70.625% | 67.375% | 73.375% | 69.675% | 6 | |||||||||||
| Harding, Shawna | USA | Come On III | 67.375% | 69.000% | 68.000% | 71.000% | 69.625% | 69.000% | 7 | |||||||||||
| Brooks, Jacquline M. | CAN | D Niro | 64.750% | 65.250% | 69.125% | 68.750% | 68.875% | 67.350% | 8 | |||||||||||
“This was a personal best for us,” said Lyle. ”We have scored a 74%, we will take a 77%. In the last two weeks since I’ve been back riding him he has felt like a different kind of horse. He’s got the range of motion and power but is expressive and relaxed and feels fresh in the ring. I think with just a little bit more experience, getting him more relaxed in there, we will be brilliant. He sure doesn’t feel at all limited. It feels like we can do each movement for a 10.”
