Top Dressage Competitor Adrienne Lyle Enjoys Her Horse-Centered Life
U.S. Olympic dressage rider Adrienne Lyle always wanted to have a career centered around horses. Lyle was born and raised on the south end of Whidbey Island, Wash., about 30 miles north of Seattle. Her dad and brother are lawyers, while her mom is a pediatrician. Although not an equestrian family, they keep active. Her mom enjoys downhill skiing and the occasional trail ride. Her brother runs in Ironman triathlons.
Lyle took a fork in the road and opted to pursue her passion from an early age. Growing up on a cattle farm with horses has that affect.
“My parents were always very supportive, but this has always been my thing,” said the 33-year-old Lyle, who is in Wellington for the winter season. “I’m sure my parents were completely stressed. My path was always so clear to me. I was definitely one of those girls who was horse-crazy. I never had a Plan B. I’m really glad the horse thing is working out so far, because that’s all I ever wanted to do.”
Although her family didn’t live and breathe horses, her younger cousin Maya Black shared her passion.
“Adrienne is still the same smart, hardworking, determined, kind and talented person she was back when we were growing up and riding together on Whidbey Island,” said Black, a rising star in three-day eventing. “Those qualities, paired with her incredible horsemanship, is what has brought her such immense success in her young career. I have no doubt this is just the beginning for her. She has always been a role model to me, and I am so proud of her.”
So far, so good for Lyle.
Lyle’s highlights include representing the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, along with numerous first-place finishes in major Grand Prix competitions.
Her short-term plan for the rest of the winter season is to qualify for the FEI World Cup (April 11-15 in Paris) with Salvino, an 11-year-old bay stallion. The combination finished first in two Grand Prix competitions early in the Wellington season.
After that, she wants to be part of the U.S. team that trains in Europe preparing for the prestigious World Equestrian Games in September at Mark Bellissimo’s Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. But she is already preparing her horses for an even bigger competition.
“The next big goal is the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo,” said Lyle, who is based out of Sun Valley, Idaho. “I’m blessed to have three Grand Prix horses. Who goes depends on who peaks at the right time; who is happy and healthy at the moment.”
In addition to Salvino, Lyle is also working hard with Horizon, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, and Harmony’s Duval, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding.
Lyle’s rise to becoming a force in dressage got off to an inauspicious start. She started riding western style and going on trail rides with friends on her parent’s farm. She joined the local chapter of the U.S. Pony Club when she was seven and soon began competing in three-day eventing, which was how she was first introduced to dressage. Eventing competition consists of dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
“I fell in love with dressage,” Lyle said. “I was so fascinated by it. I learned a lot by watching videos, and then spent hours trying to duplicate what I saw on the videos.”
Lyle went from learning the sport on her own to training and working with U.S. Olympian Debbie McDonald, with whom she has been with for more than a decade. While with McDonald, Lyle began working with horses owned by Betsy Juliano, including Horizon. Her daily routine includes waking up at 5:45 a.m. and getting to the barn by 7 a.m.
“I just love Adrienne,” Juliano said. “We have gotten to know one another better and better over the past six years. At first, I knew her solely as an excellent rider and the protege of Debbie McDonald. But, as we have worked together, I have also come to know her as a deeply compassionate person whose commitment to her profession is her top priority. This means she takes care of herself as an athlete, she oversees superb care of the horses, and she is able to strategize for each horse’s training and their future.”
Juliano appreciates Lyle’s demeanor and thoughtfulness.
“Adrienne is always quick to demonstrate her gratitude and thanks. Many years ago, before I knew her very well, I received a handwritten note from out of the blue,” Juliano recalled. “She was in Europe, but wrote to say how much she appreciated donations made to the USET Foundation by people like me because they enabled her to compete as a member of a team. I was so surprised to receive the note, and so appreciative.”
Lyle wants to keep developing horses, unlocking the puzzle that can get them to top level, where at international levels, fractions of a percent can make a big difference.
“Adrienne’s best attributes are her terrific feel, terrific timing, and, above all, the fact that she never, ever becomes angry or impatient with a horse,” Juliano said. “Adrienne celebrates a horse’s success and will make a wonderful big fuss over an accomplishment or new movement learned. This way, the horse always knows Adrienne is pleased, and the horse will get quite proud of himself or herself. But she never takes it personally when a horse struggles or is in the process of learning. Adrienne’s level of equanimity is extremely rare and truly sets her apart as one of the very best riders in the world.”
Dressage competition consists of two parts. The first is similar to ice skating’s compulsories, where each rider and horse must perform a designated series of moves. The second is the freestyle, where the moves are choreographed to music.
“Freestyle is my favorite part of dressage. It suits me and my personality,” Lyle said. “I’m a big music lover. I love everything from folk to rock to bluegrass. I may be one of the few dressage riders who love the Grateful Dead.”
Lyle said she is always learning, trying to get to the next level of this “perfectionist sport.” But it’s not always about the competition.
“At the end of the day, when you’ve swept the barn and it’s quiet, and the horses are munching their hay and it’s so peaceful, that to me is the most Zen place I can find in the world,” she said.
Learn more about Adrienne Lyle at www.adriennelyle.com.
