Wizard, Adrienne Lyle's Career Starter, Passed Away

Dressage

U.S.A.

Wizard, Adrienne Lyle's career starting Grand Prix horse that took her to her first Olympics, has passed away. He was 27 years old.

Wizard was a 1999 born Oldenburg gelding by Weltmeyer out of Pica (by Classiker x Welt As). He was bred by Han Lind.

WCYH Finalist

The bay gelding was owned as a youngster by Belgian Yannick Buyck.

Stefan van Ingelgem initially trained and competed him, debuting him as a 5-year old at the CDN Duffel in April 2004. They were selected to represent Belgium at the 2004 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany, where he finished 19th in the consolation finals.

The pair's last show was in August 2004 at the CDN Wiekevorst.

Sold to River Grove Farm

Van Ingelgem and Wizard at the 2004 WCYH Verden

Van Ingelgem sold Wizard to the Thomas family of River Grove Farm in Sun Valley, ID, U.S.A.

Lyle's coach Debbie McDonald trained Wizard up to Prix St Georges level. In 2007 she gave the ride to her assistent trainer Adrienne Lyle.

The young duo achieved its first big success when they became the 2008 U.S. Under 25 Champions by winning the Brentina Cup Finals at Gladstone. They debuted internationally in Burbank in February 2009 and showed in Del Mar too. They won the Freestyle at the 2009 U.S. Senior Grand Prix championships.

Almost a year break from CDI showing followed and they returned in February 2010 in Thermal, followed by Burbank and Del Mar. Lyle made her first trip to Europe to show in Hagen in April 2010, followed by Mannheim.

After the German CDI a 15-month break from CDI competition followed. They returned in 2011 at the CDI Estes Park in Colorado and also went to Saugerties and Devon on the East Coast.

U.S. Team Horse

Their break through year came in 2012. After showing in West Palm Beach,Wellington, and Del Mar they were nominated on the U.S. team for the 2012 Olympics in London, where they were 35th in the Grand Prix with 69.468%.

Thy only briefly showed in 2013 in West Palm Beach in January and returned a year later for their last season together in 2014.

With successful starts at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, they were nominated for the Euro trip and showed in Fritzens, aachen and Verden before heading to the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France.

Lyle and Wizard helped the U.S. achieve a fourth place in the team ranking in Caen, France. They were 3àth in the Special with 69.202%. The 2014 World Equestrian Games were Wizard's last show.

Retirement

Wizard was retired from sport in January 2015 and he got to spend the rest of his days at River Grove Farm in Sun Valley, Idaho.

A special retirement ceremony was held at the 2015 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center, built and owned by Wizard's owner Parry Thomas.

At the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen

"Not everyone gets to take their first Gand Prix horse to an Olympics and a World Equestrian Games. I think he's given me more than I ever thought or ever could have expected from him," Lyle said at the retirement ceremony.

"Rest Easy Big Boy"

Wizard passed away at the start of May.

"Rest easy big boy," Lyle stated on 6 May 2026. "You were larger than life and I loved you, and your many opinions, fiercely. 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! 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."

At Adrienne's first European CDI in 2010 in Hagen

Adrienne added, "you always kept life exciting and kept me laughing, while teaching me every day how to tame a dragon with love and patience. I hope Heaven knows what they are in for when you come charging through the gates."