Monday, September 24, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
London Games - My ride is all said and done!
London Games - My ride is all said and done!
Well, its finally all said and done! It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of, and although it was too bad that Wizard was such a nervous boy in the test, I was still so proud of him. He has taken me places I never thought I'd go.
I am so thankful, beyond anything words can ever express, for the support of Debbie, Bob, the Thomas family, and all those who have helped me along the journey!!
I know Debbie has given up so much in her life for me, and I truly appreciate every second of what she has helped me accomplish. It has been so much fun being a part of everything over here, and I can't wait to watch the rest of the competition and cheer on our team. Watching some of these horses go is truly awesome- Valegro's ride was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! And of course Steffen and Ravel looked fabulous as always! And I know Wizard and I are both looking forward to finally coming home to beautiful River Grove Farm, and enjoying some down time, long trail rides, and fun!
(Summer's just getting started for me!)
:)
Thank you again to all you wonderful supporters- we couldn't have done it without the support of all of you!
-Adrienne Lyle
Well, its finally all said and done! It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of, and although it was too bad that Wizard was such a nervous boy in the test, I was still so proud of him. He has taken me places I never thought I'd go.
I am so thankful, beyond anything words can ever express, for the support of Debbie, Bob, the Thomas family, and all those who have helped me along the journey!!
I know Debbie has given up so much in her life for me, and I truly appreciate every second of what she has helped me accomplish. It has been so much fun being a part of everything over here, and I can't wait to watch the rest of the competition and cheer on our team. Watching some of these horses go is truly awesome- Valegro's ride was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! And of course Steffen and Ravel looked fabulous as always! And I know Wizard and I are both looking forward to finally coming home to beautiful River Grove Farm, and enjoying some down time, long trail rides, and fun!
(Summer's just getting started for me!)
:)
Thank you again to all you wonderful supporters- we couldn't have done it without the support of all of you!
-Adrienne Lyle
Friday, August 3, 2012
NBC Olympics 2012 Day 2 Dressage
NBC Olympics 2012 Day 2 Dressage
Check out My ride. Team, Individual Eventing: Dressage Day 2
Complete coverage of dressage Day 2 in team and individual eventing. The competition concludes about 11:30 a.m. (ET), when two-time gold medalist Mark Todd of New Zealand rides.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Hello again from London! - by Adrienne Lyle
Hello again from London!
As the final countdown approaches, the excitement is starting to ramp up. Originally, the whole US dressage squad had planed on going to compete at Hickstead this weekend. But unfortunately mother nature had other plans, and the relentless rains had completely flooded the show grounds and the stabling. So a meeting was called, and we came up with a plan B: we would hold our own mock horse show.
We did everything just like a regular show: horses braided, people in full show attire, riding at a scheduled time, warm up inside then go down centerline in outside ring. And in the end, I think this was still tremendously beneficial. It is always good to have to put that pressure on yourself and figure out how to ride everything in that moment you are in the test, even of something doesn't feel just exactly how you would love it to in schooling. After a day of test riding we had video review in the evening.
We all watched and critiqued our tests
in a group, with the other riders and our team coach, Anne Gribbons,
(and of course Debbie there too to add another set of expert eyes on my
rides). This was a great opportunity to go over every little thing in
the test, and really tear it apart and analyze each step. Then we
repeated to whole drill the next day. All the horses and riders are
looking fabulous, and I think we are all ready to get this show on the
road!
On Monday we head to London for "team processing", where we get our credentials and (yippee!!) our official Olympic gear!! Then it is back to Hadleigh for a few more days of training before we head down for the Opening Ceremonies on Friday!
As the final countdown approaches, the excitement is starting to ramp up. Originally, the whole US dressage squad had planed on going to compete at Hickstead this weekend. But unfortunately mother nature had other plans, and the relentless rains had completely flooded the show grounds and the stabling. So a meeting was called, and we came up with a plan B: we would hold our own mock horse show.
We did everything just like a regular show: horses braided, people in full show attire, riding at a scheduled time, warm up inside then go down centerline in outside ring. And in the end, I think this was still tremendously beneficial. It is always good to have to put that pressure on yourself and figure out how to ride everything in that moment you are in the test, even of something doesn't feel just exactly how you would love it to in schooling. After a day of test riding we had video review in the evening.
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| TEAM WIZARD: Adrienne, Debbie, and Ruben |
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| Wizard in a schooling session |
On Monday we head to London for "team processing", where we get our credentials and (yippee!!) our official Olympic gear!! Then it is back to Hadleigh for a few more days of training before we head down for the Opening Ceremonies on Friday!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Arrival in the UK - Adrienne Lyle Olympic Dressage Rider
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| Unloading Wizard and Rafalca in London |
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| Wizard's Stall |
Wizard is fresh and happy and was eager to get to work. The first day was rest and recover from the trip, for both the horses and the riders. Then we had a light day of long and low and stretching work, and today was our first real schooling session.
Wizard feels fantastic and I can honestly say that I think he is going better than he ever has! We are staying in the little countryside town of Hadleigh, about 2 hours north of London. The barn we are staying at is Linda Keenan’s gorgeous “Layham Hall”.
It is a beautiful facility with great arenas, and miles and miles of scenic rolling hills adjoining it. Wizard is thoroughly enjoying his post-work trail rides through the lush countryside here.
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| Fitness Bootcam |
The riders and grooms are all staying at a charming bed and breakfast in town, I have been biking to and from the barn every day. We have all been having a wonderful time together, with lots of fun dinners out and plenty of laughing going on.
Every afternoon we have rider fitness sessions, aka “bootcamp”, led by Steffen Peters. It is not only great exercise, but also great fun and a good team building experience. Everyone, even the grooms and veterinary staff, participates. If nothing else, we are all laughing so hard the whole time that we get a good ab workout! J
Anne Gribbons, our team coach, arrived yesterday and tomorrow we start official training sessions with her. So far, we have been lucky enough to be able to ride outside every day, but the weather is supposed to turn a bit wetter here soon so we may be moving to the indoor for tomorrow’s training sessions.
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| Layham Courtyard |
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| Outdoor Ring |
2012 USA Olympic Dressage Team Video Created by: Brandi Roenick
2012 USA Olympic Dressage Team
Created by: Brandi Roenick..
PLEASE DO NOT USE CLIPS!!!
This is a fun youtube video that Brandi Roenick, a young rider, did! Check it out.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Rest and Preparations
New Jersey: Rest and Preparations
After the intense two week selection trials, we finally had a minute to slow down and take a deep breath. There was such a whirlwind of activity and logistical planning right after the trials, and I stayed in Gladstone that following week to make sure we had everything in order. Wizard enjoyed a well deserved week of rest and trail rides through the rolling hills at the USET headquarters in Gladstone. Then I was able to make a short weekend trip back home to Idaho. I hadn't even set foot in my home state since last November (we had been on the road, at Linda Fowler's Epona Farm in California, and then at Betsy Juliano's farm in Florida), and it was so wonderful to finally be able to return home. I got teary eyed as I watched our beautiful little mountain valley come into view out of the plane window, and I realized just how much I missed that place. My first order of business was to stop by River Grove Farm and say hi to Peggy and Parry Thomas, and scratch the muzzles of the rest of the horses that I hadn't seen since California. Hugs and nickers all around!
One of the best things about living in a small town is that the hometown support is amazing, and everyone I ran into was so excited about Wizard and I going to the Olympics. Jane Thomas threw a wonderful BBQ dinner party in her incredible gardens, nestled up to the beautiful Big Wood River. It was so nice to finally have a chance to catch up with friends and family that I hadn't seen in a long time. After the BBQ it was off to a night on the town for another wonderful London send-off party planned by my amazing friends, and then a night of boot-stompin dancing at the local bar. :-)
The weekend flew by and then on Monday morning it was back on a plane to New Jersey. Debbie McDonald re-joined us this week and we have begun to ramp up Wizard's work again, and get him back in the swing of things. The weather has turned quite hot, which means early morning rides before the scorching sun comes up. Steffen Peters, Jan Ebeling, and Heather Blitz have all stayed at the USET headquarters in Gladstone as well. It has been great having everyone together. And when the day's heat begins to relinquish its grip, we usually fire up the grill and have a barn BBQ in the evening. We are now approaching our last couple of days on U.S. soil before packing up and heading across seas. We fly out this Sunday, and all the U.S. dressage riders will train together at a barn north of London for the next 3 weeks. Stay tuned!
Adrienne Lyle
After the intense two week selection trials, we finally had a minute to slow down and take a deep breath. There was such a whirlwind of activity and logistical planning right after the trials, and I stayed in Gladstone that following week to make sure we had everything in order. Wizard enjoyed a well deserved week of rest and trail rides through the rolling hills at the USET headquarters in Gladstone. Then I was able to make a short weekend trip back home to Idaho. I hadn't even set foot in my home state since last November (we had been on the road, at Linda Fowler's Epona Farm in California, and then at Betsy Juliano's farm in Florida), and it was so wonderful to finally be able to return home. I got teary eyed as I watched our beautiful little mountain valley come into view out of the plane window, and I realized just how much I missed that place. My first order of business was to stop by River Grove Farm and say hi to Peggy and Parry Thomas, and scratch the muzzles of the rest of the horses that I hadn't seen since California. Hugs and nickers all around!
One of the best things about living in a small town is that the hometown support is amazing, and everyone I ran into was so excited about Wizard and I going to the Olympics. Jane Thomas threw a wonderful BBQ dinner party in her incredible gardens, nestled up to the beautiful Big Wood River. It was so nice to finally have a chance to catch up with friends and family that I hadn't seen in a long time. After the BBQ it was off to a night on the town for another wonderful London send-off party planned by my amazing friends, and then a night of boot-stompin dancing at the local bar. :-)
The weekend flew by and then on Monday morning it was back on a plane to New Jersey. Debbie McDonald re-joined us this week and we have begun to ramp up Wizard's work again, and get him back in the swing of things. The weather has turned quite hot, which means early morning rides before the scorching sun comes up. Steffen Peters, Jan Ebeling, and Heather Blitz have all stayed at the USET headquarters in Gladstone as well. It has been great having everyone together. And when the day's heat begins to relinquish its grip, we usually fire up the grill and have a barn BBQ in the evening. We are now approaching our last couple of days on U.S. soil before packing up and heading across seas. We fly out this Sunday, and all the U.S. dressage riders will train together at a barn north of London for the next 3 weeks. Stay tuned!
Adrienne Lyle
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Adrienne Lyle London 2012 Olympics - Pictures of Adrienne Lyle
http://www.AdrienneLyle.com
Adrienne Lyle has earned a spot on the US Dressage Team and will compete with her equine partner Wizard at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Three years ago Adrienne Lyle was not even in the conversation for being a top American dressage rider.
And the Olympics? Forget about it. But Lyle surged into 2010 aboard Wizard, a dark brown Oldenburg gelding, and instantly made her name known.
At 28 years old, Lyle is still very young for a sport that frequently produces Olympians double her age. The youngest member of the team by over 20 years, Lyle said she is excited to take cues from some of the more experienced members of a team that will get underway on July 28.
"We are so thrilled for Adrienne and Wizard, words can hardly express how happy we are that she is going to London. Adrienne is a talented and amazing young woman and Premier is excited to be part of her amazing story as it unfolds. Her partnership with Wizard is spectacular and we can't wait to see what happens in London," said Heidi Zorn, President of Premier Equestrian, LLC.
Lyle, 27, hails from Ketchum, Idaho, and grew up on a small cattle ranch. The call of dressage proved powerful, and during the summer of 2005 she became a working student for two-time dressage Olympian Debbie McDonald at Peggy and Parry Thomases' River Grove Farm in Idaho. "It was a life changing experience for Adrienne," Zorn said. "Under the tutelage of Debbie and her classical theories, along with the pairing of Adrienne and Wizard, a new dressage star has been born."
Friday, July 6, 2012
Pictures - Fun Times - Adrienne Lyle 2012 Olympics
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| Wizard and I ready for a schooling session |
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| Wizard enjoying a trail ride |
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| A hometown celebration |
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| An evening barn BBQ with the team |
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