Vita Flex VictoryTeam, Victory Pass Award Winners Lyle, Wilcox and Fyffe Shine at AGDF7 CDIO3*/3*
Lexington, KY (March 10, 2013) – Vita Flex Victory Team and Vita Flex Victory Pass riders were among the stars of the dressage world to shine most brightly during week seven of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, as Wellington hosted both a National show and only CDIO in the Western Hemisphere, ultimately heralding Nations Cup teams USA-1, Canada-1 and Spain as its respective Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists.
For three consecutive days of competition, the top-scoring American rider on USA Team-1 in the Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup was Vita Flex Victory Team rider, Adrienne Lyle, of Ketchum, ID.
Riding Wizard, owned by Peggy Thomas, Lyle showed the world how far her equine partner had developed since their 2012 Olympic Games appearance, earning their first but not last victory pass on a final 71.6% Grand Prix score. With the format’s 1.5% adjustment, the duo aided their team with a score of 73.1%, putting USA Team-1 in the lead after the first night of competition.
“This is the first time I’ve ridden in a team atmosphere. It’s really special,” Lyle said. “There’s a lot more pressure but it’s a fun pressure of, ‘Come on, let’s do this for each other!”
Lyle and Wizard kept ‘doing it’ for their team, returning the next evening to take the victory pass with a 71.059% score in the FEI Grand Prix Special. Now 15 years old, Wizard had succeeded in helping his rider win two of the only Large Tour classes at the only CDIO in the Western Hemisphere.
Anchored by their winning score, USA Team-1, composed of Lyle and Wizard, Silva Martin and Rosa Cha W, Tina Konyot on Calecto V, and Shawning Harding with Rigo, were crowned the CDIO Nations Cup team Gold medalists, with an overall score of 423.543.
With one more evening of competition – the Grand Prix Freestyle – ahead, the pair commanded the house’s full attention as they discoed down centerline to a 1970s medley.
“He can be a bit spicy,” said Lyle, who chooses Lactanase® muscle support supplement, to keep her dance partner feeling his best. “I think he was the most rideable he’s ever been in a Freestyle (tonight). Everyone got into the music and he fed on that, too,” said Lyle.
For a third consecutive evening, the pair again led the victory gallop after posting a thrilling but ultimately unbeatable score of 75.8%. Only a point’s margin separated Lyle and Wizard from second- and third-place podium mates, 16 year-old teenage dressage riding sensation Juan Matute, Jr. of Spain and USA 1 Nations Cup squadmate, Tina Konyot, respectively.
The Stillpoint Farm CDIO Nations Cup ended but the winning continued for the Vita Flex Victory Team. Vita Flex Victory Rider and 2004 U.S. Olympic equestrian Lisa Wilcox won the CDI3* FEI Prix St. Georges presented by Peacock Ridge, on Galant, a seven year-old Belgian warmblood owned by Jacqueline Shear and making his CDI debut at Wellington.
Wilcox was all smiles as she said their 68.772% finish was the best debut she could have asked for: “He just broke through! I’m exceptionally proud. It couldn’t have gone any better, as far as I’m concerned, the first time out.”
Wilcox, who has been supplementing Galant since he became a Prix St Georges horse with Vita Flex® Accel® product and Vita Flex® Lactanase® product, sensed she could ask for a little “more” from him in his first CDI after noting how solid and confidently he was carrying himself in the highly charged atmosphere of the international arena.
She said happily afterwards, “Now I know I can ride with more expression when I feel like he’s got the confidence to do it. I see a lot of future in this horse. I see a Grand Prix horse.”
Meanwhile, big glamour ‘up front’ is what spectators were treated to after the Fourth Level performance by seven year-old PRE, Faisan A.T. and Nicholas Fyffe of Australia, winners of the Vita Flex® Victory Pass Award for week seven of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDIO3*/3* and National Show.
“I was happy. He’s just seven and so green,” said Fyffe of the Suburbio x Infazor-bred horse owned by Dr. Allison Tate. “Once his strength catches up to his ambition, he’s going to be an interesting horse to see at the higher levels.”
Fyffe, who rides for Australia, but divides time between Canada and Florida, saw his Victory Pass Award and bucket of Vita Flex products as a chance to learn more: “I’m excited to get more Vita Flex products that I use or want to know more about, so thank you, Vita Flex!
Successful CDIO competition relies on teamwork. Vita Flex® joint supplements, and high performance products provide the antioxidants, electrolytes and vitamin/mineral supplements that make victory passes possible. Vita Flex® products have been researched and tested by equine nutritionists and veterinarians, and relied upon by owners, trainers and top riders for decades.
For more about Vita Flex Nutrition products, visit www.vitaflex.com or call (800) 848-2359. Vita Flex is a registered trademark of Farnam Companies, Inc.
Tanner Clark tclark@central.com www.vitaflex.com (800) 848-2359
