US Olympic dressage rider Adrienne Lyle has paid tribute to her former top ride and London 2012 horse Wizard, who has died aged 27.

Adrienne and Wizard made their Olympic debut at London, finishing 35th individually. In 2014 they helped the US team to fourth place at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France.

“Rest easy big boy. Wizard, you were larger than life and I loved you, and your many opinions, fiercely,” said Adrienne.

Adrienne got the ride on the Oldenburg gelding, owned by Peggy and Jane Thomas, through her trainer Debbie McDonald in 2007. They made their international grand prix debut together in February 2009 at the Burbank CDI-W in California.

Over the next few years Adrienne and Wizard were consistent on home soil, scoring wins at venues in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York, and rarely finishing outside the top 10.

“I will never forget the day Debbie first let me ride you in the jumper ring at River Grove. You were young and fiery and powerful, and I was in love,” said Adrienne.

“Because the Thomas family and the McDonalds chose to take a chance on a young girl from a farm in Washington state, my life was changed forever. Together you and I learned grand prix, became under-25 national champions and went on to represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics and 2014 World Equestrian Games.”

Wizard’s final international outing was WEG; Adrienne had hoped to aim for the 2015 World Cup Final, but she announced his retirement in January aged 16, after he sustained a field injury. He spent his retirement at home at the Thomas family’s River Grove Farm.

“You always kept life exciting and kept me laughing, while teaching me every day how to tame a dragon with love and patience,” she said. “I hope heaven knows what they are in for when you come charging through the gates.”

A spokesperson for US Equestrian said the governing body is saddened to learn of Wizard’s passing.

“USA Dressage sends our condolences to all who worked and loved Wizard throughout his life,” he said.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

‘It felt like flying’: Olympic medallists deliver another personal best

‘I just sent Carl Hester a message’: Justin Verboomen on the British legend who inspired him, making history – and what came next

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

United States Equestrian (USEF) has announced the US Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024. The selected riders for the US, which will be defending its silver medal won in Tokyo, are Adrienne Lyle, Marcus Orlob, and Steffen Peters, with Endel Ots as the alternate.

Adrienne is a stalwart of the US team and will be riding Helix. The 12-year-old gelding was bought for Adrienne by Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center in January.

Marcus will be riding Jane – another new partnership formed this year when Marcus took over from the owner, Alice Tarjan. Together, they were the highest-scoring US partnership at CDI Kronberg, achieving personal bests in the grand prix (73.91%) and the special (75.34%).

Steffen will partner Suppenkasper, the horse he rode at the Tokyo Olympics – at which the American team won team silver.

Endel and Bohemian – who finished fourth individually at the Tokyo Olympics with his former rider Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour – will act as the travelling reserves.

US Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024

Adrienne Lyle with 12-year-old Helix

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Breeder: AMT Toonen Arts

Breeding: by Apache, out of a mare by Zeester T

Groom: Marina Lemay

Marcus Orlob with 10-year-old Jane

Owner: Alice Tarjan

Breeder: HJ van Oort

Breeding: by Desperado, out of a mare by Zandra

Groom: Allison Nemeth

Steffen Peters with 16-year-old Suppenkasper

Owners: Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki

Breeder: F van der Poel, Haps

Breeding: by Spielberg, out of a mare by Upanoeska

Groom: Eddie Garcia

Travelling reserve:

Endel Ots with 14-year-old Bohemian

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Breeder: Heinrich Langewellpott

Breeding: by Bordeaux, out of a mare by Sunshine

Groom: Caroline Hoerdum

“There has been a lot of anticipation around the selection of this team, and I am confident in and proud of each of the combinations we have representing the US at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” said chef d’equipe Christine Traurig.

“Everyone has been hard at work here in Europe for the past six weeks, working to solidify and build confidence in their partnerships and producing stronger scores for the US We want to be sure our horses are peaking at the right time over the next few weeks, and I know these athletes will give everything they have to make our country proud.”

You might also be interested in:

British Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024 revealed: who’s made the cut?

‘We can’t get enough of this special horse’: plans unveiled to clone Olympic dressage medal winner

‘Sadness’ and ‘excitement’ as Lottie Fry’s up-and-coming ride sold to USA

7 things you didn’t know about Steffen Peters, from army service to famous owners

We find out more about Steffen Peters, who was born in Germany and has become one of the USA’s most

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Subscribe today and enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus unlimited website access and digital versions of the magazine dating back to September 2012.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Salvino, the world and Olympic silver medal-winning ride of the USA’s Adrienne Lyle, has been retired from sport aged 17.

The Sandro Hit stallion was ruled out of action in February 2023 with a “minor injury”, but did not return to international competition. Before that he had won four international starts in a row, including scoring +85% in the World Cup freestyle at Wellington in December 2022.

Yesterday (4 April) Dressage-News reported that Salvino had been retired. His owner, Betsy Juliano, told the publication that Salvino is “still quite fit and energetic” but that the process leading up to the Paris Olympics “would not be in his best long-term interests”. Salvino will “transition to a life of retirement”, including breeding.

Adrienne paid tribute to the “best friend, teammate, and partner anyone could ever have”.

“Salvino, I don’t begin to have the words to describe the depth of my love and gratitude for you. You were an absolute warrior in the ring,” she said.

“You had my back every time we went down the centre line… if I was nervous you took the lead and showed me there was nothing to be afraid of. If I messed up, you picked up the slack and did it right anyway, if I doubted myself, you reminded me that we could make it happen, and when we turned up the final centre line and I would whisper under my breath, ‘Take it home, buddy’… I could always feel you raise another foot off the ground and give it your absolute everything.”

Salvino was competed as a young horse by Spain’s Susana Mostaza and Antonio Porras, and Adrienne took on the ride in 2017. They were part of the US Nations Cup team in Aachen that year, finishing second.

In 2017 Adrienne and Salvino were on the team that won silver at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, alongside Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, Laura Graves and Derdades and Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet.

At the Tokyo Games, Adrienne and Salvino and Steffen and Suppenkasper were joined by Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo to deliver the US dressage team’s best Olympic finish in 73 years, winning team silver.

Adrienne added that Salvino taught her that “if you really believe in something, keep your head down and work until the rest of the world believes in it too”.

“I am so glad I get to still greet your beautiful face every morning and saddle up for fun rides together, for years to come,” she said, adding thanks to Betsy.

“Betsy, none of this would have been possible without your vision, dream, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Salvino. I am so thankful for your amazing support. And to Debbie McDonald for the years of expert guidance and help. None of this would have been possible without such an amazing team.”

The Paris Games are still in sight for two-time Olympian Adrienne, with new rides 13-year-old gelding Lars Van De Hoenderheide and 12-year-old gelding Helix, for owner Heidi Humphries. Lars was formerly campaigned by Lottie Fry, and Helix was previously based with Swedish rider Marian Mattson.

Adrienne made her international debut with both horses last month at the Wellington CDI3* in Florida, finishing second in the grand prix with Helix and third with Lars. She then won the grand prix special on Lars on +73%.

You might also be interested in:

‘Sadness’ and ‘excitement’ as Lottie Fry’s up-and-coming ride sold to USA

‘The undisputed king’: heartbreak as medal-winning horse put down after accident

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

US Olympic dressage medallist Adrienne Lyle has boosted her Paris 2024 hopes with two new additions to her stable.

The van Olsts’ and Lottie Fry’s 13-year-old gelding Lars Van De Hoenderheide, and the Hannells’ 12-year-old gelding Helix, have been sold – as first reported by Eurodressage.com – to Adrienne’s owner Heidi Humphries, with the Olympic transfer deadline approaching (15 January). Horses must be registered at least in part-ownership of the same nation as their riders by this date to be eligible to compete at the Olympics.

“I am incredibly honoured to have such an opportunity with two super talented horses,” Adrienne told H&H.

“There are not enough words to express my gratitude to Heidi for her support on this journey. I am excited to get them here and get to know them. Now it’s time to keep my head down, get to work and try to do the best we can with this amazing opportunity.”

Helix, who is by Apache, and out of a Jazz mare, was campaigned by Swedish rider Marina Mattson for Hannell Dressage, having made his international grand prix debut in February last year. Marina and Helix were part of the Swedish Nations Cup team at Falsterbo in July, where the team finished second.

“Lars”, who is by Negro and out of a Layout mare, arrived at Van Olst Horses as a 10-year-old. He made his international grand prix debut with Lottie in October 2022, and has continued to grow in confidence. Last May they scored a +81% personal best in the Compiegne CDI3* freestyle, and were second in the CDI4* grand prix and the grand prix special at Aachen CHIO in the summer. At their final outing together in December, they won the Kronenberg CDI3* freestyle on 78.48%.

Lottie told H&H that Adrienne visited the Netherlands to try Lars and the sale went ahead.

“Lars is kind of a good fit with everyone, he’s so easy to ride and he’s such an amazing character, I think anyone who would have tried him would have fallen in love with him,” she said.

Lottie said Lars has continued to “get better and better”, consistently scoring +75%.

“He’s just the most amazing horse because he loves being a show-off. At home he’s the biggest personality, he’s always playing in his stable and wants all the attention. He’s very, very cool,” she said, adding that the sale of Lars was “especially sad”.

“Anne [van Olst] trained him before I started riding him so she has a really good bond with him too, so everyone is really sad to see him go. His face brightens up the stable and he just has such a great expression. It’s exciting for Aderienne, and I think it will be a very nice home.”

Lottie said she has had a busy few weeks, having contested the World Cup legs at the London International Horse Show (13-14 December), followed by Mechelen (28-29 December), with 15-year-old Everdale. The pair were second in the grand prix and freestyle in London, and they won both classes at Mechelen.

“It’s nice that Everdale has taken the spotlight back a little bit. He’s now getting a bit older and really coming into his prime I think, he’s getting better every show. He’s really improving and it’s been really fun to be able to do some of the World Cup shows on him,” she said, adding that Glamourdale is doing “really good” and continues to be in demand with his breeding duties.

“He’s taking it easy at the moment and we’re slowly building him up looking towards Paris. We’re taking it as it comes and we’re looking first to the outdoor season and maybe some stallion shows.”

You might also be interested in:

‘So much fun to ride’: Lottie Fry’s ‘cheeky’ chestnut in tussle for Aachen CDI4* grand prix honours

Lottie Fry’s top tips for success: ‘Take every opportunity, work hard and have fun’

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The USA’s top-ranked dressage combination, Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, have been forced to withdraw from this weekend’s World Cup qualifier in Wellington, Florida, after the 16-year-old Sandro Hit stallion suffered a “colic episode”.

Salvino and Adrienne, who are currently ranked eighth and 10th in the world respectively, were members of the US team who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. They also finished sixth individually at the World Dressage Championships in 2022.

They have proved to be on top form throughout the 2022/23 World Cup season so far, having won both qualifiers they have contested, scoring over 83% in each grand prix freestyle performance. A third victory this weekend at the Global Dressage Festival would have secured them a place at the World Cup Final, in Omaha, USA, in April.

“Unfortunately we have to withdraw Salvino from this week’s CDI-W competition. He is doing ok but had a colic episode and we don’t want to push him to go today,” said Adrienne.

“His welfare is always our top priority, so we will be packing up our tackroom set-up and heading home, but we wish the best of luck to all the other competitors and will be there to cheer them on.”

Adrienne is currently sixth in the World Cup standings for the North American League, with three spots available, and one more qualifier before the final, at Wellington in March.

The current league leader is Steffen Peters, who looks to have secured a ticket to Omaha with his Olympic team horse Suppenkasper, with Alice Tarjan and Sarah Tubman vying for places just behind him on the leaderboard. Adrienne is 20 points adrift of Steffen, and would have been hoping to draw level with him in the rankings with another qualifier win.

The World Cup qualifier gets under way with 13 combinations set to contest the grand prix today (9 February). Among the line-up is Britain’s Susan Pape with Harmony’s Eclectisch, as well as British-based Singaporean duo Caroline Chew and Tribiani.

You may also be interested in…

Meet Adrienne Lyle: the USA’s top ranked dressage rider

Find out more about top rider Adrienne Lyle

‘He’s right there when you need him’: USA’s Adrienne Lyle leads World Dressage Championships grand prix special

7 things you didn’t know about Steffen Peters, from army service to famous owners

We find out more about Steffen Peters, who was born in Germany and has become one of the USA’s most

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Adrienne Lyle of the USA is currently holding at the top sport in the World Dressage Championships results for the grand prix special.

Adrienne and Betsy Juliano’s 15-year-old Sandro Hit stallion Salvino improved on their grand prix performance to score 75.69% and take over from Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino at the top of the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Championship results today.

The pair stayed mistake free, with the highest marks coming for the stallion’s piaffe and seamless transitions in and out, as well as his fluid tempi changes.

“He felt looser and a little more relaxed and able to show himself off today, and he didn’t put a foot out of place,” said Adrienne, as she compared the feel of today’s ride with that of yesterday, when she posted 74.39% in the grand prix to help the USA achieve sixth place and the all-important qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“He felt very honest; I didn’t have to use much leg and it’s really fun to feel him when he has that kind of energy and drive to do it,” she added of her ride in the special. “I can just sit up there and pilot him around. We’ve been focusing so much on the grand prix, because that was the team test, and that just shows what a good character he is to be able to go in there, do the changes off the different leads, and do all these things we haven’t really been focusing on. He just is right there when you need him.”

Adrienne has had the ride on Salvino for seven years now, and she says that he just keeps getting better, with today’s ride one of the best she has had in terms of feeling, even if the score was some way off her personal best with Salvino in the special, which is 80.83%.

“We’ve been able to refine the self-carriage and the balance that was always the hardest thing in his younger years, because he was such a big mover that trying to solidify the balance has taken quite a long time. But that’s what I really enjoy about dressage – you can watch the step-by-step process.”

The grand prix special has reached its halfway point, with 14 riders still to go, following the withdrawal of Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Duke Of Britain FRH, a decision made to preserve the well-being of the horse. With the best 15 combinations from today eligible to go forward to the freestyle on Wednesday night, Adrienne is the first rider who can be certain of a slot.

Gareth Hughes, Charlotte Dujardin and Lottie Fry will all ride for Britain later today, with the top combinations from the grand prix still to come as well.

You may also be interested in…

‘Horses are not machines; I’m not mad at her’: USA rider has perfect response after disappointment at World Championships

It’s SILVER for Britain at World Dressage Championships, as Denmark clinch gold on home soil

Find out when the Brits will ride for individual medals in today’s World Dressage Championships grand prix special

New Zealand denied team finish under blood rules, as four combinations eliminated from World Dressage Championships grand prix

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The reigning world champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth, was one of three grand prix riders eliminated under blood rules at CHIO Aachen last week.

Isabell and her current top ride, the 12-year-old Qatarback stallion DSP Quantaz, were eliminated in the CDIO5* grand prix special after blood was spotted in the horse’s mouth partway through their test. The pair had just begun their line of two-tempi changes and were trending around the 74% mark, when the judge at C, Denmark’s Susanne Baarup rang the bell to call them to a halt. She wiped the stallion’s mouth with a tissue, which showed the presence of blood.

Isabell Werth being eliminated from the special did not result in team disqualification, and her score of 76.41% from the grand prix still stood, helping the German team, also featuring Benjamin Werndl (Famoso OLD), Frederic Wandres (Duke Of Britain FRH) and Ingrid Klimke (Franziskus 15), finish second in the Nations Cup. This was the first time the home side has not triumphed at CHIO Aachen since 2010 – with Denmark claiming a decisive victory in the team competition.

It is also the first year since 2016 that Isabell has not landed the title of Aachen grand champion, with Dane Cathrine Dufour taking the honour instead.

Two USA combinations were also eliminated under blood rules at Aachen; the team fortunes suffered a blow when Katie Duerrhammer and Quartett were eliminated in the CDIO5* grand prix special, while blood was also spotted in the mouth of Adrienne Lyle’s CDI4* ride Salvino during the freestyle, resulting in her elimination.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt Salvino feeling so soft, supple, and powerful as he did today in the warm-up or in the show ring,” said Adrienne of the 15-year-old Sandro Hit stallion, with whom she won team silver at the Tokyo Olympics. “The feeling he gave under the lights was just phenomenal and then, in a sad turn of events, halfway through our test he must have bitten his lip because the judge noticed there was some blood in his mouth and so we stopped our ride. Salvino [was] immediately examined by our team veterinarian to make sure he is ok, and his well-being is our number one priority.

“I feel sorry for Salvino that he didn’t get to show off his favourite final centre line, but judging by how proud he was of himself back at the barn, I think he is still convinced that he was the winner.”

Meanwhile, Aachen debutante Katie was eliminated shortly after the conclusion of her 71.3% special, when blood was found to be present on 14-year-old Quaterback gelding Quartett’s bottom lip during the post-test stewards’ check.

“I am so proud of Quartett for laying down a great grand prix special today, mistake free until our last extended trot where unfortunately he tripped and bit the bottom corner of his lower lip. We still finished with a 71.3% but sadly there was a bit of blood from [the] lip bite present at bit check,” said Katie. “While I’m very sorry and disappointed for my teammates that my score couldn’t count, this doesn’t take anything away from how proud I am of this amazing little-horse-that-could.”

The USA team, which also included Benjamin Ebeling (Indeed), Charlotte Jorst (Kastel’s Nintendo) and Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper), finished seventh, just behind the British team of Lottie Fry (Everdale), Laura Tomlinson (Fallatijn), Lara Butler (Kristjan) and Susan Pape (Harmony’s Eclectisch).

You may also be interested in…

Lottie Fry leads the Brits at Aachen, as podium favourites emerge ahead of World Championships

Tom McEwen spearheads Brits’ Aachen eventing win, plus protest over top of individual leaderboard

British entries revealed for 2022 dressage World Championships

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

USA’s Adrienne Lyle and Salvino danced their way through the grand prix freestyle CDI4* at Global Dressage Festival’s “Friday Night Stars” to post the highest ever score recorded at the show – 85.58%. Entering the arena to Carly Simon’s Let The River Run, the stage was already set for a performance that proved hard to differentiate which came first – the music or the movements.

Adrienne, who scored two 10s for piaffe and another for music, said: “It was hands down the best feeling I’ve ever had in the ring in my life. Salvino just feels unbelievable. This is such a fun place to show. The crowd’s amazing and enthusiastic. The competition was super tonight; it was a magical evening.”

Adrienne had updated the freestyle music, put together by Terri Gallo, since last performing to it with Salvino at Aachen in July 2019.

“Salvino had a rest after Tokyo, and he’s back and he truly feels better than ever,” said Adrienne of Betsy Juliano LLC’s 15-year-old stallion by Sandro Hit, with whom she was on the Olympic silver medal-winning team. “To end on this high note here for our Wellington season is really wonderful.

“We’re hoping to head to Europe and do a selection show there with our sights set on trying to qualify for the team for the dressage World Championships [in Denmark in August], which would be our big goal. He’s proven that he doesn’t need to go a whole lot. He’s always there when we want him to be, so we’ll respect that of him.”

The previous record of 84.975% had been held by USA’s Laura Graves and Verdades since March 2018.

Bruce Springsteen, who personally approved the use of his music, also featured in Adrienne and Salvino’s crowd-pleasing performance, which included a curving line of 17 clean one-time changes.

Compatriot Sarah Tubman pulled off a personal best of 78.205% on First Apple, Summit Farm’s 12-year-old by Vivaldi, to claim second place. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and All In — who represented Canada in Tokyo — took third with 77.01%.

You may also be interested in…

Father and son win at the Global Dressage Festival with Europe next stop

Disneyland beckons after rider claims three wins in one week at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Less than 2% splits top two nations in FEI Nations Cup at Global Dressage Festival

Frederic Wandres pledges prize money from Palm Beach dressage derby to support the Ukraine

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD ended their winning CDI5* grand prix freestyle test last night in the international arena at the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival with a crowd-pleasing one-handed centre line passage.

“I think as a rider you know that it must have been not that bad when the crowd is already clapping on the last center line,” said Frederic. “And it always also pushes the horses a little bit more to come out of themselves and shine. I’m always willing to say thank you to the crowd. I think it really worked out and he showed all his qualities in passage.”

In “Friday Night Stars” showcase, part of the 2022 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), Frederic won the freestyle, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, with a score of 81.165%. Belgium’s Laurence Vanommeslaghe filled second with an energetic performance on Edison (79.430%) and Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón finished third on Quantico (78.925%).

“Bluetooth is getting better and better,” said Frederic of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux, with whom he also won Wednesday night’s grand prix freestyle. “I’m super happy about his development here in the Wellington season. For him, the season is finished now, and he has a few more weeks here to rest a little bit and enjoy the Florida sun before he goes home. Then we are looking forward, and trying to take these things which we have achieved and developed here, together with us to Europe.” Next stop is the CDI4* at Horses and Dreams in Hagen. “It’s the first selection view for the German World Equestrian Games team,” explained Frederic.

USA Olympic team silver medalists, Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, also made it two wins from two starts this week when claiming the grand prix special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm. The 15-year-old stallion by Sandro Hit posted 79.511%, with a high score of 81.489% from judge Monique Peutz-Vegter.

Showcasing dressage at the Winter Equestrian Festival this week was a new venture for the AGDF. “I always wanted to have a change of venue so that the horses see something different, so I’m really happy,” said the Festival’s director of sport, Thomas Baur.

You may also enjoy reading…

Wandres goes for a double victory as dressage returns to the limelight at the Winter Equestrian Festival

‘The sort of piaffe you want to bottle’: former British champion and Carl Hester’s Rio reserve retires

US and Germany take first five-star wins at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD set a personal best to finish grand prix for freestyle winners as the 2022 Adequan Global Dressage Festival began week seven yesterday evening with five-star competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, home to the Winter Equestrian Festival, Wellington, USA.

US 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle and Betsy Juliano LLC’s Salvino were victorious in the grand prix for special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm.

“I’m very happy. I had no mistakes at all, and he gave me a super feeling,” said Frederic of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux, owned by Elena Knyaginicheva and Sergey Knyaginichev, who scored a personal best of 74.631%, to pick up their fourth win of five starts at the Global Dressage Festival, ahead of 12 other strong contenders.

“It was our personal best and at a five-star, that is really what I’m looking for. We have been building him up at the season here. Now delivering that score is what I’m looking for daily. That makes our whole team completely happy.”

Up-and-coming American star Benjamin Ebeling celebrated a second-place finish with Illuster Van De Kampert, ACR Enterprises Inc.’s 14-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding by Spielberg, on a score of 72.478%. Another American rider, Charlotte Jorst, filled the podium by scoring 71.674% with her own Kastel’s Nintendo, a 19-year-old KWPN stallion by Negro.

In their first competition since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last August, Adrienne Lyle and Salvino set the winning tone with a score of 76.500% in the grand prix for special CDI5*, presented by Havensafe Farm. Fellow American Ashley Holzer rode her own Valentine, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare by Donnerhall I, to second place with a score of 70.696%. Seven-time Swedish Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Lövsta Stuteri AB’s Devanto, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding by De Chirico, were third with 68.739%.

“Honestly, I think that’s one of his better tests we’ve ever done,” said Adrienne. “I was really happy with it. It may not have been our best score posted, but I just went back and watched the video and I’m thrilled with him and the feeling.”

You may also be interested in…

Gio moves to new rider Annabella Pidgley’s yard

Anna Ross: ‘The costs – and benefits – of a good education add up fast’

‘My writer was almost falling off her chair with the scores’: Isobel Wessels on judging Valegro

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now