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Olympic rider pays tribute to former top ride and London 2012 horse

Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • 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.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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