Take heart, working students. It is possible to make it to the top of the game with a lot of effort. A case in point is Adrienne Lyle, who began her rise as a working student for Debbie McDonald in 2005.
Adrienne Lyle as a working student on Miguel, the first horse show brought to Grand Prix. (Photo © 2005 by Nancy Jaffer)
Last night, she won the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s International Equestrian of the Year honors, presented at the organization’s annual meeting in Kentucky. It only took 18 years for her to get there.
The trophy was awarded based on a popular vote, and Adrienne acknowledged her supporters, saying, “I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote in the USEF Equestrian of the Year awards. I’m very humbled to receive this award.”
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino in action. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
A 2021 Tokyo Olympic team silver medalist, Adrienne went on to comment, “One of my favorite sayings is that when a rider stands on a podium, they never stand alone. It is incredible how many people’s dreams are intertwined in this sport of ours, and just what a huge village it takes to help make these dreams come true.
“I’m thankful to all the amazing people in my life who have supported me and helped shape me into the rider and horsewoman I am today. I want to say a special thank you to my long-time coach, Debbie McDonald; Salvino’s owner, Betsy Juliano; and my whole team of fabulous grooms at home, who are such an integral part of any success our team has.
“Last, but certainly not least, thank you to these horses—these amazing animals who allow us to be part of their journey and bring so much joy to so many lives.”
A veteran of two Olympics, Adrienne also was on the 2022 world championships team that clinched a berth for the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now she is working toward qualifying with Salvino for the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha this April.
Friday night Jan. 13 moved her closer to that goal, as she won the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 83.540 percent. Second went to Sarah Tubman on First Apple (78.250). It was Adrienne’s second freestyle victory this season as she accumulated points for Omaha.
But it all began where she grew up, on Whidbey Island in Washington State.
Adrienne with a young horse during her working student days in 2006. (Photo © 2006 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We had cows and a couple of ponies,” Adrienne recalls of her life on her parents’ small farm. “I started hacking around, riding Western and bareback—I never had formal lessons then. I joined the U.S. Pony Club when I was nine years old because some of my friends joined.”
She went to her first Pony Club dressage lesson with a Western saddle on a $200 pony named Salsa. From there, she rode in Pony Club Games and started eventing.
She began to develop a small business at her parents’ farm, both bringing horses in to train and managing the barn. “I was mucking and grooming. I learned how to write down all my income and expenses–what you can write off and what you can’t–and how to keep track of everything.”
Like all working students, Adrienne spent her fair share of time cleaning bridles. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Adrienne found herself most interested in the dressage aspect of eventing.
“I’d get problem horses and spend so much time in dressage work that when I finally put a jump in front of them, it wasn’t a big deal anymore,” she says. “I just loved the training process.”
With Miguel, a Swedish warmblood gelding, she earned a team silver medal at the 2002 Cosequin Junior Dressage Team Championship at Dressage at Devonwood in Portland, Oregon. It would be the first of many medals for her.
In 2004, competing in the North American Young Riders’ Championships, she and Miguel contributed to a team bronze medal for Region 6.
The next year, Adrienne began working on a plan to take some lessons with dressage icon Debbie McDonald. She arranged to stay at the farm of a family friend in Hailey, Idaho, Debbie’s hometown, doing chores in exchange for Miguel’s board–so she could trailer to Debbie’s base at River Grove, for training.
During the initial lesson she gave Adrienne, Debbie recalls, “The first thing I noticed was her natural ability and the feel she has for riding. I was impressed with the training she had done and how far she had brought this horse.”
The bonus was Adrienne’s attitude (are you paying attention, working students?)
“She’s a joy to be around,” said Debbie. “She gets along with anybody.”
Adrienne’s workday started at 7 or 8 a.m. In addition to riding, she groomed, wrapped and iced the horses’ legs when needed. She cleaned tack, laundered blankets and bandages, fed, watered, turned out horses and helped manage the veterinary care and shoeing schedules. And if sweeping and vacuuming were necessary, she did those chores, too.
“Most kids today just want to ride,” Debbie once observed. Adrienne was different.
“She knows there’s a lot of work involved in horses. You don’t look at the watch when you’re working with horses and she’s willing to do all that. She accepts all aspects of the business. If it means cleaning a bathroom or a stall, she is up for it.”
Everyone at the USEF dinner could see how that turned out.
The National Equestrian of the Year title for the second time went to hunter rider Hunt Tosh. In 2022, he was a winner everywhere, from Devon to the 2022 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships in August, There, he took two of the top three spots: the champion title with Wheeler family’s Cannon Creek and third place with Ceil Wheeler’s 2013 warmblood gelding, Autograph.
Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“One definition of ‘horseman’ is one whose skill with horses is exceptional,” said Hunt. “Although I do not consider myself exceptional, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by those who are: a group of people that includes my family, friends, vets, farriers, grooms, breeders, farm manager, and owners who I am lucky enough to call my friends. I learn something from these exceptional people every day. But we all owe the most to the horses. To be able to spend my life caring for these animals is a privilege.”
In addition to Adrienne, eventer Will Coleman and para dressage rider Kate Shoemaker were nominated for the international rider title.
Those in addition to Tosh who were nominated for national titles included Janae Griffin (Friesian),James Hitt (Arabian), Wendy Potts (Arabian), Jim B. Robertson II (Roadster) and
Matt Siemon (Arabian).
The 2022 USEF Lifetime Achievement Award was presented posthumously to Hope Hand, a leader who helped develop paralympic competition for equestrians.
Hope, who died last year, began riding at age 10. She discovered para dressage as an adult, when her daughter, Amy, learned about the sport as part of a school project on the Paralympics. That opened the door to Hope’s life work and lasting legacy in equestrian sport, as both an elite athlete and as a sport leader.
She was first alternate to the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Team and competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning gold, silver, and bronze. As a member of the U.S. team at the 1999 World Dressage Championships, she won a bronze medal. She also competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing fifth in the overall standings.
In addition to serving on the USEF board and on numerous committees, Hand also was president of the U.S. Para-Equestrian Association. She was instrumental in transitioning para dressage into an FEI and USEF sport, and never missed an opportunity to educate, recruit, or mentor participants, from the grassroots to the elite level.
Her tireless support for para dressage and its athletes contributed to the growth of the sport and the success of the U.S. program, including the U.S. Para Dressage Team’s outstanding results at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Other USEF award winners were USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year: Skylar Wireman; Sallie Busch Wheeler Trophy for Distinguished Service to Equestrian Sport: Elisabeth Goth;
Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders’ Award: Eleanor Hamilton and Maryanna Haymon;
Kip Rosenthal Memorial High Score Equitation Award: Augusta Iwasaki; Pegasus Medal of Honor: Jan Decker, Sally McClure Jackson and John R. “Doc” Steele.
Also: Richard E. McDevitt Award of Merit: William “Bill” Ellis, John King, Antonio “Pusito” Lopez, Richard Picken, Nancy Turrill; USEF/EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award: Meris Bickford; USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award: Ryder Richardson and Walter B. Devereux Sportsmanship Award: Charlotte Skinner-Robson.
