Lyle and Helix Win World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle at AGDF 5

In a beautiful display of riding, Adrienne Lyle (USA) pulled off a huge new personal best of 80.325% on Friday, February 7, in the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by The Dutta Corp, on her Paris 2024 Olympic partner, Helix. With it, she booked a starting place at the FEI World Cup™ Final in Basel, Switzerland (April 2-6).

Wellington International hosted the third ‘Friday Night Stars’ of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. The stands were filled with enthusiastic fans and the atmosphere electric, motivating Lyle and Helix to score more than 2.7% higher than their previous best score, set in December 2024. They topped an all-American sweep of the top four places.

Her compatriot Anna Marek rode a powerful test on Cynthia Davila’s 15-year-old Zizi Top x Houston gelding Fayvel to claim second with 78.785%. Last to go in the class, P.J. Rizvi and the 14-year-old Lusitano stallion Vanilla Ice got the crowd clapping along to their ice-themed freestyle from the get-go, finishing third with 76.585%. American rapper and mutual friend of Rizvi, Vanilla Ice himself—Robert van Winkle—presented the awards in the prizegiving.

Scroll to continue with content

The class was also a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers—seven of which are at AGDF—before the final in California in November.

Lyle took over the ride on Helix just over a year ago and made her CDI debut with Zen Elite Equestrian’s 13-year-old Apache x Jazz gelding at AGDF in 2024. Lyle competed Helix under lights for the first time two weeks earlier, and he was a little overawed. This time, she walked him around the arena giving him pats before the bell, and he duly performed.

“That is, hands down, the best feeling he’s ever given me,” said Lyle, who rode to a Terry Gallo music compilation. “He was able to replicate the work that I’ve been getting at home—the lightness, harmony, and self-carriage. Tonight, he was able to take that into an electric environment and stay relaxed and in his own balance. It felt effortless and I didn’t have to push for anything. To feel that kind of confidence from him is really exciting.

“When I saw the score, I was so excited. It’s not many times in your life you’re going to see an 80%; it’s a huge thrill,” added Lyle, whose groom Marina Lemay was awarded the $500 grooms prize, sponsored by Lövsta Future Challenge. “We added a high degree of difficulty to the floorplan by adding combinations, like pirouettes into the changes and the piaffe full pirouettes.”

Helix will have a short break before picking up training again ahead of the World Cup Final and, hopefully, the summer competing in Europe with the U.S. squad. Lyle’s longer-term goal is the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.

Marek rode a complex floorplan on Fayvel, including a half circle of two-time changes straight into one-times. A bobble in the final extended trot, where the horse’s abundant power brimmed over, was costly for Marek.

“Fayvel is a really fun horse to ride,” enthused Marek, who is based near Ocala, FL, and trains with Ann Gribbons. “I can take risks and we made this freestyle with so many combinations in a row. As difficult as it is, he’s still so easy to ride. I ride the brake a little bit and say, ‘Not so much, buddy!’”

Owner Davila originally made the soundtrack—which features funky dance music—for herself when she was competing Fayvel. Marek hopes to return to the World Cup Final and also compete in Europe this summer.

Rizvi’s was an extraordinary comeback story after major injury. She has been out of the CDI ring for six years since having a major accident and being told she would never ride, walk or drive again. Vanilla Ice, who was found by Rizvi’s trainer Ashley Holzer and Robert Dover, was the horse who gave her the confidence to return to the saddle after numerous surgeries. Rizvi grinned throughout her test.

“My goal was to prove to myself that I could get back on a horse, and he’s a complete confidence builder,” said Rizvi, who rode to a Tom Hunt freestyle which had the crowd on their feet. “I really pushed hard for this, and I honestly did it for pure fun. It was our first CDI and it was my personal best score. I’m in shock. I heard a lot of clapping and screaming; this was so much fun.

“The horse has charisma like Vanilla Ice. He’s a Lusitano, he’s so different than a warmblood and I have to do the best I can with him and not try to be something that he isn’t, because he’s enough, and he’s the best for me,” she added.

Judge at C Debbie Rodriguez (USA), who was presiding from C during Friday Night Stars for the first time, said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better class. Seeing Helix relax as he walked by me before the test was awesome. You knew the test was going to be good, and it didn’t disappoint. Watching Anna come in and have that confident partnership with her horse, that was a treat, too. Then P.J. came in to finish the night and it was sheer fun; whether you’re a dressage person or not, it made everyone clap. Tonight was awesome.”

For full results from AGDF 5, click here.