Last Updated on February 10, 2025 by Teri Rehkopf
Adrienne Lyle & Helix. Photo ©susanjstickle.com
In a beautiful display of riding, Adrienne Lyle (USA) pulled off a huge new personal best of 80.325% on Friday, February 7, in the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by The Dutta Corp, on her Paris 2024 Olympic partner, Helix. With it, she booked a starting place at the FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland (April 2-6).
Wellington International hosted the third ‘Friday Night Stars’ of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. The stands were filled with enthusiastic fans and the atmosphere electric, motivating Lyle and Helix to score more than 2.7% higher than their previous best score, set in December 2024. They topped an all-American sweep of the top four places.
Her compatriot Anna Marek rode a powerful test on Cynthia Davila’s 15-year-old Zizi Top x Houston gelding Fayvel to claim second with 78.785%. Last to go in the class, P. J. Rizvi and the 14-year-old Lusitano stallion Vanilla Ice got the crowd clapping along to their ice-themed freestyle from the get-go, finishing third with 76.585%. American rapper and mutual friend of Rizvi, Vanilla Ice himself — Robert van Winkle — presented the awards in the prizegiving.
The class was also a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers — seven of which are at AGDF — before the final in California in November.
Lyle took over the ride on Helix just over a year ago and made her CDI debut with Zen Elite Equestrian’s 13-year-old Apache x Jazz gelding at AGDF in 2024. Lyle competed Helix under lights for the first time two weeks earlier, and he was a little overawed. This time, she walked him around the arena giving him pats before the bell, and he duly performed.
“That is, hands down, the best feeling he’s ever given me,” said Lyle, who rode to a Terry Gallo music compilation. “He was able to replicate the work that I’ve been getting at home — the lightness, harmony, and self-carriage. Tonight, he was able to take that into an electric environment and stay relaxed and in his own balance. It felt effortless and I didn’t have to push for anything. To feel that kind of confidence from him is really exciting.
“When I saw the score, I was so excited. It’s not many times in your life you’re going to see an 80%; it’s a huge thrill,” added Lyle, whose groom Marina Lemay was awarded the $500 grooms prize, sponsored by Lövsta Future Challenge. “We added a high degree of difficulty to the floorplan by adding combinations, like pirouettes into the changes and the piaffe full pirouettes.”
by Alice Collins
Wellington International
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