July 1, 2014 – The Dressage Foundation has announced that Adrienne Lyle is the recipient of the 2014 Patsy Albers Award, established in 2012 in special remembrance of Patsy. The $500 award provides financial support for continuing education and training to a High Performance rider.
Adrienne Lyle, of Hailey, Idaho, is a Grand Prix competitor riding Wizard, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas. The team placed fourth in the Grand Prix Division at the USEF High Performance Championships held at the Festival of Champions on June 12-15, 2014. The Patsy Albers Award is given to the highest placing Grand Prix rider at the Championships who also competed for the U.S. at a previous North American Junior/Young Rider Championship.
“I am very honored to receive the Patsy Albers Award,” said Adrienne. “Her dedication and passion for dressage touched so many. I hope to always radiate the same enthusiasm for the sport that she did. I am honored to receive this award in her memory.”
Patsy Albers, one of the nation’s best known figures at dressage shows across the country, passed away in October 2012. She was a longtime supporter and Chef d’Equipe of the North American Junior/Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC) Region 1 team. She was also very involved at the prestigious Dressage at Devon where she served for many years as the FEI Event Director. Her expertise also extended into management, officiating, and volunteering, for which she was honored multiple times. “Patsy was a Region 1 delegate for as long as I can remember,” said Janine Malone, a close friend of Patsy’s who established the Award at The Dressage Foundation. “I knew she would want to support riders who had come up through the ranks, competing at the NAJYRC and going on to the Festival of Champions.”
For more information about the Patsy Albers Award or The Dressage Foundation, please contact Jenny Johnson at (402) 434-8585, by email at jenny@dressagefoundation.org, or visit www.dressagefoundation.org.
The Dressage Foundation
The Dressage Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt, donor-driven organization that is dedicated to supporting and advancing the sport of dressage. The organization solicits contributions, appropriately allocates the donations, and awards grants and scholarships to dressage riders of all ages and levels. For more information, please visit www.dressagefoundation.org.