Making her third Olympic appearance for the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team, Adrienne Lyle will arrive in Paris with two new additions: her new mount, Helix, and her 9-month-old daughter, Bailey.
A 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, Helix was purchased with the Olympics in mind for Lyle in late 2023. The horse and rider team competed together on just a handful of occasions in spring 2024, but quickly made it clear that they make for an impressive duo.
Horse Illustrated had a quick chat with Lyle ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics to discuss this year’s Games.
Horse Illustrated: What qualities do you look for in an Olympic horse?
Adrienne Lyle: When we’re searching for horses for the Olympics and high performance, we obviously need them to have the physical capabilities and the physical talent to do it. But a huge part of the equation is their heart, how hard they try for their rider, how intelligent they are, and how much they enjoy learning new things. Because to get to the Grand Prix level, they have to really be open to constantly learning new things and evolving. So their character is also very, very important.
HI: What has been the biggest challenge for you in your journey to the 2024 Olympics?
Lyle: This year, my journey to the Olympics was unique for two different reasons—one of which is that Helix and I are a new partnership. That’s not something I had done before in my career, so there’s a lot of new challenges and things to figure out with getting a horse in a shorter timeframe.
And the other thing that made it challenging, or at least different, was that I’m a new mother. I had a daughter at the end of September of last year (2023), so there’s been lots of new additions to my life this season.
HI: How does having previous Olympic experiences help you prepare for this year’s Olympics?
Lyle: This will be my third Olympic Games and for sure every time you go, you learn such an incredible amount. Not just about riding and competing, but also what it means to be a good teammate—to be there for other competitors and the honor of representing your country.
HI: What are you most looking forward to about this year’s Olympics?
Lyle: French pastries!
HI: What is your favorite Olympic sport outside of equestrian?
Lyle: Outside of equestrian, I love to watch the track and field and gymnastics. They are just, to me, the pinnacle of amazing things that the human body can do. And it’s pretty cool to get to see them train and compete in person.
HI: How has motherhood changed your preparation for the Olympics?
Well, besides the fact I can’t get anywhere on time ever again for the rest of my life, it’s added just a different element being in Europe here and having my daughter with me. So we’re not only focused on the training, but also obviously the role of being her mom and just figuring out how to delegate our time. It hasn’t taken away anything from the training; I’m still training just as hard and just as focused as before. It’s just kind of added another fun dimension to it.
Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.
