Lyle and Giraldo nominated for Olympics individual dressage slot

Abigail Lyle, pictured at the FEI World Dressage Championship in Herning 2022, has been nominated for consideration to represent Team Ireland at the Paris Olympics

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is delighted to nominate the athlete-and-horse combination of Abigail Lyle and Giraldo for consideration by the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) to represent Team Ireland in Individual Dressage at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Dressage High Performance Director Anne Marie Dunphy has chosen the combination, as well as individual reserves Anna Merveldt with Esporim, and Judy Reynolds with Rockman Royal NG, for the competition which starts on July 30th.

Anne Marie Dunphy said: “It is a huge honour and privilege for Irish Dressage to be represented at the Paris Olympic Games. We are very fortunate to have three such accomplished athletes to choose from and I would like to congratulate them, the owners of the horses and their support teams on their hard work and commitment to the HSI High Performance Programme throughout the selection process.

“I would like to thank the Irish dressage community as a whole, the OFI, Sport Ireland, Dressage Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland in particular for their continuing support.”

As per Article 607 of the FEI Olympic Regulations, HSI will formally submit, before the deadline of the 24^th of June, the below combinations to the FEI and the nominations are subject to the expiry of the HSI appeals window and selection by the OFI.

The combination nominated for consideration for selection by the OFI is:

• Abigail Lyle(Co. Down) with Giraldo (KWPN, by Harmony’s Rousseau), owned by Lyle herself and Caroline Clarry.

The following combinations have been selected as reserves and are listed in alphabetical order:

• Anna Merveldt(Co. Kildare) with Esporim (LUSIT, by Pagaw), owned by Mario Greco and Giovanna Mazza.
• Judy Reynolds(Co. Kildare) with Rockman Royal NG (WESTF, by Rock Forever), owned by BG J. Hinnemann and Next Generation Dressurpferde.