Lyle, Marek, and Rizvi Deliver a Thrilling Night of Freestyle Dressage

Personal bests, high scores, and a celebrity cameo made for an electric night at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival’s Friday Night Stars. Under the warm Florida evening sky, Adrienne Lyle and Helix delivered a stunning performance, earning a career-best 80.325% to claim victory. Anna Marek and Fayvel followed closely in second, while P.J. Rizvi rounded out the podium in an inspiring comeback ride aboard her non-warmblood mount, Vanilla Ice.

Adrienne Lyle & Helix — A Combination-Best Performance

Lyle and Zen Elite Equestrian Center’s Helix put on a masterclass under the lights. Their winning score of 80.325% — a combination best — marked a three-point improvement from their last outing at this same venue, where they scored 77.280%. The Paris 2024 pair looked more composed than ever, with their freestyle victory coming on the heels of a strong Grand Prix win the day before.

“I am just so thrilled with him. That is hands down the best feeling he’s ever given me,” Lyle said. “He just felt so effortless. I felt like I didn’t have to push for anything.”

Performing to a nostalgic mix featuring “Stand By Me,” “The Way You Move,” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, Lyle and Helix delivered a freestyle packed with technical and artistic brilliance. Their degree of difficulty averaged 9.18, and their piaffe-passage transitions—an area of focus this season—earned a 9 from one judge.

It’s not often you see a perfect 10 in dressage, but Lyle did just that, with the Judge at B awarding a 10 for music and interpretation. 

Anna Marek & Fayvel—A Strong Second Place

After withdrawing from competition just a week ago in Ocala, Marek and Cynthia Davila’s Fayvel returned in top form, earning a 78.785%—just shy of their personal best (78.995%). Their freestyle was electric, set to a soundtrack featuring “BOOM” by X Ambassadors and “Coincidance” by Handsome Driver.

“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,”

Marek, a Paris Olympic shortlist rider, took risks with a challenging floor plan, including a half-circle of two-time changes straight into one-time changes. Fayvel’s power surged in the final extended trot, leading to a slight bobble that cost them a few marks, but it didn’t overshadow an otherwise stellar performance.

“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,” Marek explained. “I ride the brake a little bit and say, ‘Not so much, buddy!’”

With this performance, both Marek and Lyle remain firmly in contention for a US team spot at the World Cup Final in April.

P.J. Rizvi & Vanilla Ice — A Comeback Story for the Books

“My goal was to prove to myself that I could get back on a horse..."

In perhaps the most wholesome moment of the night, P.J. Rizvi and Vanilla Ice finished third in their first-ever CDI together, scoring 76.585%. The result was emotional in more ways than one — this was Rizvi’s first CDI in six years after a life-altering accident, one that left her being told she’d never ride, walk, or drive again. Simply getting back in the saddle was the goal — third place was just the cherry on top.

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

Their icy freestyle music featured “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner and “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice (Robert van Winkle)—who was in attendance as a personal friend of Rizvi’s and also helped to present awards.

As the final ride of the night, the crowd was already buzzing, but their energy only intensified for Rizvi. Her freestyle had spectators on their feet, clapping and cheering — a rare sight in the traditionally reserved sport of dressage.

Watch their full performance here.

A Night to Remember

"Tonight was awesome.” - Judge Debbie Rodriguez

Qualifier Six delivered everything fans could hope for — career-best performances, emotional comebacks, and leaderboard drama. With US riders sweeping the top four spots, the competition has never been tighter. But in a major leaderboard shakeup, Germany’s Evelyn Edger now leads with 40 points, while Marek, Lyle, and Felicitas Hendricks sit in a three-way tie for second.

Top 10 Placings on the Series Leaderboard after Qualifier 6:

See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, here.

"I couldn’t have asked for a better class,” said Judge at C, Debbie Rodriguez. “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.”

What’s Next?

The leaderboard battle continues as the US Equestrian Open shifts to the West Coast for the Del Mar Opener in historic Del Mar, California. This is a critical opportunity for West Coast riders to shake up the standings and make their mark.

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For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org.

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