It was back to back victories for Adrienne Lyle and and her new partner Helix (Apache × Jazz), owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center & Heidi Humphries. After only a two month partnership, Lyle and Helix took two victory laps at TerraNova Equestrian Center this past weekend after securing the win in Saturday’s CDI4* FEI Grand Prix Special with a score of 73.979%.

The pair took charge in the CDI4* FEI Grand Prix scoring a 72.021%, then put it all on the line in her first performance in the Special with her new ride.

“I am thrilled with Helix today in the Grand Prix Special. That was our first special together, and he is just super fun to ride in that test,” Lyle said. “He has really powerful extensions and a great ability to come back and collect. He was very focused and tried really hard today.”

With back-to-back days the challenge was how best to guide Helix going into the Special. “Having the two days back-to-back, there wasn’t a lot of time to do anything in between; so this morning, he just went out for an easy stretch in the arena,” Lyle said. “We practiced a few of the transitions from the special since we haven’t had a chance to run through this yet. We just relied on the fact that we can trust him, and he’s a good boy.”

Nothing But Praise

Adrienne Lyle and Helix

Debbie McDonald, Lyle’s long time trainer had nothing but praise for the duo.

“[Helix] is super elastic,” McDonald said. “The range of motion he has – the ability to do the piaffe and passage in such a way that there’s never a mistake in the rhythm at all from one to the other. The extensions are big and powerful. I don’t think the horse has a hole. He’s 100% good in everything, it’s just a very new partnership. For what she’s done already in just two months blows my mind.”

Reflecting on their careers together, McDonald stated “I cry a lot. At this point, she’s like a child to me- I know I can’t be her mother” McDonald laughed, “but I take so much pleasure in watching her in every single aspect of her career, being a professional. It’s amazing to me what she’s been able to accomplish.”

Lyle and Helix have now moved into third place on Team U.S.A.’s shortlist for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their performance at TerraNova help determine if they will be chosen for the shortlist of approximately eight U.S. horse/rider combinations that will be picked to travel to Europe to compete ahead of the Games.