Dressage rider Abi Lyle on her future stars, finest recommendation and going eventing

Eire’s Abi Lyle achieved what many high riders aspire to and solely a choose few attain when she competed on the Paris Olympics this summer season – however what does the longer term maintain?

Abi thrives on coaching horses – extra so than competing – and that hasn’t modified since using on the Olympics.

“It’s humorous, I don’t have youngsters however they are saying doing an Olympics is like childbirth and that you just say ‘By no means once more’. Then time passes and also you suppose, ‘Hmm, possibly I might do it once more’. I’m nonetheless transitioning,” laughs Abi.

“In fact, if I’ve obtained a horse that’s good on the time, then completely. However I’m not going to say ‘Proper which one’s going, what am I going to do?’. We’ll simply see.”

Abi Lyle’s present horses

Abi has a promising string of six horses; her high rides Giraldo (Arty) and Farrell are joined by eight-year-old Francesca II (Jesse), who’s competing at prix st georges, seven-year-old Solar Rose (Shirley), who’s at superior medium, plus five-year-olds Olenza (Lenny) and Firedance Caledonia (Fawkes).

Abi Lyle getting Olenza (Lenny) prepared along with her companion Mark McVicar. Credit score: Peter Nixon

Abi produced Arty and Farrell from younger horses to grand prix, and it was Farrell she rode on the 2023 European Championships. They had been each certified for Paris, however Abi leaned in direction of Arty, with the environment in thoughts.

“Once I came upon there was a Paris slot I needed to focus extra on the one I might take and I believed I might do a greater job with Arty. I really feel responsible for saying that, and there have been occasions I questioned my choice, even not that far out from choice,” she explains.

“I knew Paris was going to be an environment like I’d by no means skilled earlier than, and Arty is essentially the most bombproof, chilled, easy-going horse. That’s actually why I selected him as a result of I knew when he noticed all of the issues he’d see, he can be completely high quality – and he was.

“But it surely’s good they’re on the identical stage; they’re very totally different to experience however they complement one another, if there’s one thing you want you had extra of on one, you may experience it on the opposite and get that feeling.”

Giraldo (Arty) loved some down time after the Video games – although hacking is a part of his common routine

Since coming back from Paris, Arty has been simply ticking over, then headed to the Burghley dressage demo, and Abi says he feels “so good and recent” following the Video games.

“I’m unsure what’s subsequent for Arty, I beloved the London Worldwide, so possibly he’ll do this – or possibly Farrell needs to do this.”

Discussing her string, Abi says “there isn’t a weak hyperlink”.

“They’re all beautiful and actually sturdy in numerous areas,” she says.

“They’ve all obtained good temperaments, and I’ve obtained such fantastic and supportive house owners. You’ve obtained to be actually assured within the folks you’ve gotten round you and who’s going to be standing there while you’re going into these massive occasions, and I’m over the moon to have them standing there within the kiss and cry.”

Abi Lyle education Solar Rose (Shirley). Credit score: Peter Nixon

Abi’s high rides could also be geldings, however she “loves” working with mares.

“I’m inclined to say I’m excellent with mares, and I feel I’m good with them as a result of I’m one. You talk about all the things with them and also you decide your battles. I feel it’s vital with every one to determine what you’re fussy about and what you’re not,” she says.

“A rule I’ve with all horses, in case you’re getting nowhere then it’s OK to stop that day. They received’t maintain a grudge. Particularly with mares, I feel there’s days the place issues can simply be a fluke. With one, she was leaping all the things after which at some point wouldn’t go over a pole, then the subsequent was completely high quality. Some days you may say ‘It’s not immediately’, and that’s vital with mares.”

Abi Lyle – not only a dressage rider

Trying additional forward, Abi reveals plans to combine issues up – she has a love for showjumping, however hold your eyes peeled for her on a cross-country course.

“Ingrid Klimke, that’s the vibe,” says Abi. “I’d love to have the ability to dabble in different issues. I don’t suppose I might occasion to three-star or something like that, however I’d like to possibly have a toe in one other self-discipline. For me the thought of getting a medal or scoring 80% will not be as inviting because the potential of having the ability to be working throughout disciplines – that’s a bit of bit extra of a aim I’d have for now. I don’t know the way I’m going to attain it as a result of I’d want one other horse, however that’s one thing I’d be tremendous focused on.

“I’m presupposed to be doing a British Eventing BE80 competitors quickly with a shopper’s horse. If we don’t get it completed earlier than the top of the season it’s not the top of the world, but it surely’s going occur in some unspecified time in the future – and it has to occur as a result of I’ve informed the entire of Instagram, and the Irish eventing staff, so I’d look actually foolish if I didn’t do it!”

Abi loves leaping and incorporates small jumps and polework in coaching her dressage horses. Credit score: Peter Nixon

Abi will even proceed along with her common teaching commitments.

“It’s been a journey in teaching, I actually lacked confidence with it and I nonetheless do typically. However I take pleasure in it and I feel it actually helps my using. You’ll be educating somebody and so they’re having an issue and also you magic up an train, after which suppose ‘I’ll use that’,” she says.

Being sensible

With regards to giving others recommendation on following their desires, Abi says a very powerful factor is to set achievable objectives – a mantra she adopted in Paris.

“I learn a ebook by Steve Magness, a tremendous sports activities coach. He says in case you’re doing one thing vital take your final 5 scores and common them, and that’s your aim. He says it’s so vital to be sensible about what you need to obtain or in any other case you’re going to be disillusioned,” explains Abi.

“Have your desires completely, however in relation to what you’re doing now be tremendous sensible, since you don’t get higher by not being assured. You probably have an achievable goal and also you attain that then you definitely’re going to get extra assured. And also you’ve obtained to be ready for one thing being troublesome. A extremely good motto I’ve, and this was my motto going into Paris was, ‘That is going to be arduous however I’m completely succesful’.”

Abi achieved greater than she thought doable in Paris, using her coronary heart horse Giraldo (Arty). Credit score: Peter Nixon.

There isn’t any doubt that Abi is pleased with her Paris achievements, however when requested if it has modified her life, it’s a straightforward no.

“I got here dwelling to my identical little home, and all the things day after day is identical. I’m the identical,” she says diplomatically, however she has already been noticed for her achievements when exterior of horses, because of her new tattoo of the Olympic rings accompanied by Giraldo’s identify.

“The one factor I might say is in ‘civilian’ life, being on the Olympics is one thing that individuals know what you’re speaking about. I used to be on the Taylor Swift live performance and somebody noticed my tattoo and so they mentioned ‘Could I ask, did you do the Olympics?’ It’s a very good speaking level,” laughs Abi.

“However on a deeper stage, I actually didn’t know if I might do the Olympics, to experience in that kind of environment and maintain my nerve, and I did. And I’m actually, actually proud.”

One factor that’s subsequent for Abi is a well-deserved break – and her first vacation in 5 years.

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call just some. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.