It was a heady day of new personal bests, with both Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) bringing their A-game to the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Mission Control. Lyle ultimately came out on top with a dazzling display on Salvino, garnering 80.17% in week eight of the 12-week Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29.

This may have been his first show since Aachen in July 2019, but Salvino showed no signs of ring rustiness. He and Lyle produced another harmonious performance to remain undefeated this week, and their quest for an Olympic berth remains on track.

Photo – Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino record a huge new personal best of over 80% in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*, presented by Mission Control. (©️Susan Stickle)

LaGoy-Weltz and Lonoir, her own and Mary Anne McPhail’s 16-year-old gelding by De Noir, scored a new personal best of 75.617% for second place. Another American lady rider filled third: Jennifer Schrader-Williams rode the 17-year-old Millione, by Milan, to 71.064%.

“I’m amazed,” beamed the 35-year-old from Idaho. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from him. The test was everything you’d hoped in the back of your mind that you’d be able to achieve. I didn’t say it out loud, but I was secretly hoping we’d get at least close to 80%.

“We’ve had him for five years now, and been showing the grand prix for three years, but developed him slowly,” said Lyle, who debuted Salvino at big tour at AGDF three years ago. “I’m sure lucky to have the support of Betsy [Juliano] as an owner and Debbie [McDonald] as a trainer who believe in developing them slowly. We always thought he had talent, but we took our time and now he really feels like he’s ready to put it all together. He’s at a place in his mind and body now where he’s able to be consistent and not be stressed about doing any of it.

Watch Adrienne Lyle’s winning test here. Courtesy of Richard’s Equine Video.

“He didn’t change at all [from the warm-up]; he didn’t get hot or dull or strong and that’s huge for us,” she added. “To get those last few little points, it’s all about the refinement and the rideability. He’s the coolest thing I’ve ever sat on. To get an 80% in a grand prix is something not many people get to do and it’s an incredible honor to sit on him.”

Owner Betsy Juliano was ringside to watch her horse perform. She said: “That horse trusts Adrienne for every single second. She trains him with complete empathy and understanding and thoroughness, so what we see here in the arena is the result of all that. Every single day. She knows every molecule of that horse, so as an owner I rest every night knowing that he’s in the best hands.

“I’ve never sold a horse; any one I’ve ever acquired will be kept for life and that will be the same for him,” added Juliano. “It’s important to me that the rider has that security, but also I’m not in it to make money. We do talk about probably breeding him once his competition career is over, but not until then, because we want to keep him focused on this.”

Week eight of the 12-week AGDF concludes on Sunday with seven international dressage classes. These include the culmination of the small tour contests, the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Harmony Sporthorses, as well as the FEI Intermediate II CDI3*. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Results
Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge M%, judge B%, final score

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Mission Control
E, Ulrike Nivelle (GER); H, Mike Osinski (USA); C, Peter Storr (GBR); M, Irina Maknami (RUS) B, Gabriel Armando (ARG)

1. Adrienne Lyle (USA) on Salvino, Betsy Juiano LLC’s 13yo Hanoverian stallion by Sandro Hit: 78.298, 83.298, 78.617, 77.66, 82.979, 80.17

2. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz (USA) on Lonoir, her own 16yo Danish Warmblood gelding by De Noir: 76.383, 76.489, 74.574, 76.277, 74.362, 75.617

3. Jennifer Schrader-Williams (USA) on Millione, Millione Partners’ 17yo Danish Warmblood gelding by Milan: 70.638, 71.489, 71.064, 69.787, 72.34, 71.064

4. Jill Irving (CAN) on Degas 12, her own 18yo Hanoverian gelding by De Niro: 71.489, 69.894, 70.532, 71.596, 70.213, 70.745

5. Naima Moreira Laliberte (CAN) on I Do Kiss, KML Inc.’s 14yo Swedish Warmblood stallion by French Kiss: 70, 71.277, 68.723, 67.66, 70.213, 69.575

6. Lindsay Kellock (CAN) on Sebastien, Enterprise Farms LLC’s 14yo Rheinlander gelding by Sandro Hit: 69.894, 66.809, 69.255, 69.043, 70, 69

7. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) on Westwood 5, Stone Hill Equestrian Ltd.’s 13yo Hanoverian gelding by Wolkenstein II: 64.362, 69.362, 66.383, 67.128, 66.915, 66.83

8. Nicholas Fyffe (AUS) on Fiero HGF, his own 12yo PRE stallion by Grandioso III: 68.723, 65.851, 65.106, 65, 65.851, 66.106