Adrienne Lyle and Silvano Back After Tokyo

The 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) began its week 7 competition on Wednesday, February 23, with five-star competition held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, home to the Winter Equestrian Festival. It was an exciting return for dressage to the facility that hosts jumping competition throughout the year. 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Betsy Juliano LLC’s Salvino were victorious in the Grand Prix for Special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm.

Photo - After time off following the Olympics, Adrienne Lyle and Salvino were back in winning form. (susanjstickle.com)

In their first competition back after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games last August, Lyle and Salvino set the winning tone with a score of 76.500% in the Grand Prix for Special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm. Fellow American Ashley Holzer rode her own Valentine, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare by Donnerhall I, to second place with a score of 70.696%. Seven-time Swedish Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Lövsta Stuteri AB’s Devanto, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding by De Chirico, were third with 68.739%.

“Honestly, I think that’s one of his better tests we’ve ever done,” revealed Lyle. “I was really happy with it. It may not have been our best score posted, but I just went back and watched the video and I’m thrilled with him and the feeling.

“With him, he’s got so much power and movement that I’m always trying to just perfect that balance so it looks seamless through the transitions, and we can contain all that power,” she continued. “His passage/piaffe is always quite strong. I thought it looked very rhythmic and smooth in and out of the transitions. He didn’t really put a foot wrong or have mistakes, so I can’t complain.”

Lyle echoed the sentiment of enjoying the competition at the PBIEC venue, having already competed in the arena last June in the U.S. Olympic observation trial.

“It’s really fun to be back and have more spectators this time,” she said. “We’re really thankful for this opportunity.”

Click here to watch their winning ride!

Lyle noted that it was “really extra special and really cool” to win the class that was sponsored by her owner, Betsy Juliano. “She’s been such a huge supporter of mine for so many years, so to be able to win on her horse in the class she’s sponsoring is definitely very special,” she said.

AGDF 7 continues on Thursday, February 24, with classes for the CDI3* and more on the AGDF show grounds at Equestrian Village. The five-star horses and riders return to PBIEC on Friday evening, February 25, at 6 p.m. for their Special and Freestyle classes.

Final Results: Grand Prix for Special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm
E, Clive Halsell (GBR); H, Katrina Wüst (GER); C, Elisabeth Max-Theurer (AUT) M, Hans Voser (SUI); B, Evi Eisenhardt (GER)

1 Adrienne Lyle (USA) on Betsy Juliano LLC’s Salvino, a 14yo Hanoverian stallion by Sandro Hit: 77.065, 77.065, 75.870, 76.739, 75.761, 76.500%

2 Ashley Holzer (USA) on Ashley Holzer’s Valentine, a 12yo Hanoverian mare by Donnerhall I: 70.000, 72.935, 67.826, 71.957, 70.761, 70.696%

3 Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (SWE) on Lövsta Stuteri AB’s Devanto, a 13yo Holsteiner gelding by De Chirico: 68.478, 69.239, 68.804, 67.826, 69.348, 68.739%

4 Diane Creech (CAN) on Diane Creech & Louise Leatherdale’s Chrevis Christo, a 19yo DWB gelding by Chrevi’s La Vi: 67.391, 69.022, 66.087, 67.500, 71.739, 68.348%

5 Christoph Koschel (GER) on Koschel Dressage GmbH’s Favorito 11, a 12yo Lusitano gelding by Vulcano: 68.804, 67.065, 68.478, 67.065, 69.348, 68.152%