Wellington, Fla. – Feb. 10, 2018 – American dressage riders were on fire this afternoon as Adrienne Lyle, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and Tuny Page took the top three scores during the CDI5* Grand Prix Special at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).
Adrienne Lyle and Slavino made quite a comeback as they danced their way to a score of 75.319 percent to win first place and capture the blue ribbon, this is the pair’s highest CDI Grand Prix Special score to date. In 2014, Lyle won the CDI5* Grand Prix Special aboard her Olympic partner Wizard with 75.588 percent in Wellington.
Earlier in the week, Lyle and the 11-year-old stallion (Sandro Hit – Donnerhall, Dynastie), owned by Betsy Juliano competed in the CDI5* Grand Prix for the Grand Prix Special, where they placed sixth with a score of 69.935 percent.
Coming in second, was Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and her mount, Lonoir, who earned a score of 72.851 percent, which is also their highest Grand Prix Special score as a pair. LaGoy-Weltz and the 14-year-old gelding participated in the CDI5* Grand Prix for the Grand Prix Special on Thursday where they won the class with a score of 71.957 percent.
Rounding out the top three was Tuny Page and her 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Woodstock. This pair rose from seventh place with a score of 69.826 percent in Thursday’s CDI 5* Grand Prix for the Grand Prix Special to earn third place with a score of 70.851 percent.
Today marked the end of the CDI5* classes at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The next weekend of CDI competition will take place during AGDF Week Seven, Feb. 22-25.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Adrienne Lyle – First Place
On Her Ride:
“I was thrilled with him today. In Thursday’s Grand Prix he just was running a little bit through my aids, so today we took the time to make him really wait and stay back with me. He felt like he was right with me through the whole test and totally relaxed to the end. So clearly he gained confidence throughout it as well.
On her strategy after Thursday’s Grand Prix:
“In the Grand Prix there was a pilot error on my part — we’ve been working on trying to get the passage a little more ground covering. I think I took it for granted that I could take him from that big ground covering passage and put him right into piaffe — he got his hind legs a little behind him and then got a little muddled up and got a little worried then. Today I came in with the passage a little more closed up and he was right there, so it’s just a matter of fine-tuning those little things and figuring out what I push for and what I might have to ride a certain way.”
On Winning the CDI 5* Grand Prix:
“It means a ton to win the 5* Special — this is huge. To win on a horse that we haven’t even been competing a full year at the Grand Prix, I’m just thrilled. He keeps rising to the occasion when you want him too. It’s great to be back on a horse that I think has tremendous potential that we’re only beginning to tap into.”
On Her Future Plans:
“I have not made a concrete plan yet – I kinda like to see how it goes at one show, then plan ahead. I’m guessing I’ll probably do the Palm Beach Derby and one more after that but we’ll make a plan with trainers and owners and we’ll see where we can fit our shows in still giving him plenty of time in between.”
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz – Second Place
On Her Ride:
“I think we were just going out to, as always, ride the best test that we can, building on what we did last year in Europe. Our goal is always clean rides and unfortunately, we left our ones in the warm-up — we did a super line right before we went in and then just missed that. I was just super proud of him. I think the overall response I’m getting from Debbie [McDonald] and Robert [Dover] is that the quality level is coming up and everyone has full confidence that the consistency is gonna fall into place and when it does, it’ll be pretty cool.”
On Her Future Plans:
“Our next show will be here.I don’t know when basically I need to go talk to Debbie and Robert and decide if we’ll show in two weeks or if we’ll show in three weeks. It will either be the next CDI that’s here or the Palm Beach Derby. So that’ll be our next show and then we’ll probably a couple more including the Nations Cup.”
Tuny Page – Third Place
On Her Ride:
“I’m really happy with the way the horse is presenting himself in his posture, physique and in the quality of his gaits. We’ve struggled a little bit with tension and this is only his second show we’ve done this year and the last show he did was back in July in Germany. So I’m starting back here and it’s taken four rides to get him where he’s sort of waiting for me and not going his own way. What I love is that he’s very good in his body and he’s moving top quality at the moment. Now it’s a question of having him develop a little more inner calmness about things and I think that’s going to grow in the next two months as he settles into his routine again. So I’m happy to be in this company.”
On Her Future Plans:
“To just keep building with where we’re at right now. Obviously, the goal is to always be in the top 8 and be very competitive in Europe, but I’m surrounded by a lot of people scoring very consistently into the mid-70s and higher, so I’ve got my work cut out for me, but I’m not scared. I’ll just carry on and let the chips fall where they may, but at this point, honestly show to show is where my focus is. We’ll show in three weeks and then probably the show that is the 4*, so the Palm Beach Derby and the 4* will be the plan.”
CDI 5* Grand Prix Special Full Results
Place / Rider / Country / Horse / Total Score
1. Adrienne Lyle / USA / Salvino / 75.319
2. Olivia LaGoy-Weltz / USA / Lonoir / 72.851
3. Arlene Tuny Page / USA / Woodstock / 70.851
4. Juan Matute Guimon / ESP / Quantico Ymas / 69.489
5. Megan Lane / CAN / Caravella / 69.383
6. Diane Creech / CAN / Chrevis Christo / 69.213
7. Brittany Fraser / CAN / All In / 68.511
8. Jill Irving / CAN / Degas 12 / 67.872
9. Michael Klimke / GER / Royal Dancer 33 / 65.681
10. Joanne Vaughan / GEO / Elmegardens Marquis / 63.404
