Dressage: Lyle and Salvino a Special Win in Wellington

Wellington, FL – USA –  February 10, 2018 — Adrienne Lyle and Salvino improved on their Grand Prix performance from Thursday to ride an error-free test and win the Grand Prix Special CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, on Saturday, February 10, at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). 

Lyle and 11-year-old Salvino cruised to victory with 75.319%, representing a new personal best high score for the pair. The top three in the class represented a clean podium sweep for the U.S.A. in the fifth week of AGDF at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida. 

“I was thrilled with him today,” said Lyle, who trains with Debbie McDonald and rides the Sandro Hit stallion for owner Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Juliano. “It means a ton to win the five-star special; this is huge, especially on a horse who we haven’t even been competing a full year at this level. In the grand prix he was running a little bit through my aids, so today we took the time to make him stay back and wait. He felt like he was right with me throughout the whole test. If he understands what you want, he always does it for you. He has tremendous potential that we’re only just beginning to tap into.”

Australian judge Susan Hoevenaars agreed, saying: “There was so much harmony and it was a joy to judge.” 

The winner of the grand prix, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, had to settle for second place on her own Lonoir, a 14-year-old gelding by De Noir, logging 72.851%. 

“The goal is clean rides, but I left the ones [the one-time changes] in the warm-up,” she said. “We did a super line right before we went in, but I think we were both a bit over-heated. I was super proud of him; the quality level is coming up and everyone has full confidence that the consistency is going to fall into place. When it does, it’s going to be pretty cool.” 

Third placed Arlene ‘Tuny’ Page was pleased to be able to put two sub-70% scores on Woodstock at AGDF in January behind her, and her ever-improving performances elevated her from seventh in the grand prix.

“I was happy with how my horse presented himself and with the quality of his gaits,” she said of the 15-year-old gelding by Havel. “This is only our fourth test back this season and it’s taken four rides to get him back and for him to wait for me. Now it’s a question of developing more inner calmness in the next two months as he settles into the routine again.”

Results – Place, rider, nationality, horse, horse information: judge E%, judge H%, judge C%, judge M%, judge B%, total

FEI Grand Prix Special CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors – E, Susan Hoevenaars (AUS); H, Janet Foy (USA); C, Katrina Wuest (GER); M, Mariette Sanders van Gansewinkel (NED); B, Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN)

Adrienne Lyle (USA) on Salvino, Elizabeth Juliano’s 11yo Hanoverian stallion by Sandro Hit x Donnerhall: 76.17, 78.085, 75.426, 75.851, 71.064, 75.319%. 

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz on Lonoir, her own 14yo Danish warmblood gelding by De Noir x Loran: 69.894, 73.191, 73.191, 75.213, 72.766, 72.851%. 

Arlene Page (USA) on Woodstock, her own 15yo Danish warmblood gelding by Havel x Contango: 70.106, 73.085, 72.021, 70.638, 68.404, 70.851%. 

Juan Matute Guimon (ESP) on Quantico Ymas, Juan F Matute’s 12yo Hanoverian gelding by Fighting Fit x Constant: 69.574, 68.511, 71.277, 71.383, 66.702, 69.489%.

Diane Creech (CAN) on Chrevis Christo, Louise Leatherdale’s 10yo Danish warmblood gelding by Chrevi’s La Vi x Natador: 72.128, 67.34, 68.191, 69.149, 69.255, 69.213%. 

Megan Lane (CAN) on Caravella, her own and Cathy & Kelsey Lane’s 17yo KWPN mare by Contango x Riverman: 70.532, 70.745, 69.149, 68.191, 68.298, 69.383%. 

Brittany Fraser (CAN) on All In, her own 13yo KWPN gelding by Tango x Damiro: 69.894, 69.149, 68.085, 68.298, 67.128, 68.511%.

Jill Irving (CAN) on Degas 12, her own 16yo Hanoverian by De Niro x Regazzoni: 67.66, 67.128, 69.255, 68.723, 66.596, 67.827%. 

Press Release Equestrian Sport Production – by Alice Collins for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.