In episode 174 of the Horse & Hound Podcast, sponsored by Leader Equine, Irish Olympian Abi Lyle discusses her return to competition after injury, mental challenges that led her to step back from international events, surviving abuse amid pressures leading to the Paris 2024 Olympics, her 69% Olympic score, and building resilience. Named Inspiration of the Year at last year's H&H Awards, she opens up in an interview with the magazine's dressage editor, Oscar Williams.
Episode 174 of the Horse & Hound Podcast, published on March 5, 2026, features Irish Olympic dressage rider Abi Lyle recounting her recent experiences, including finding her rhythm after being sidelined by injury and rediscovering enjoyment in competition.
Lyle addresses the pressures of top-class events, her aspirations in eventing, and the mental toll that left her in a 'really bad place' by year's end. "It wasn’t even that I didn’t want to do it – I felt I couldn’t," she said. "People said, ‘You’re so lucky, it’s a privilege to have two grand prix horses,’ but I just thought: they don’t care." She chose to pause international competition to regain her passion for the sport.
Lyle also shared the overwhelming challenges before the Paris 2024 Games, compounded by her participation in the Sky documentary "Death of a Showjumper," which examined the murder of Katie Simpson and included her recounting violence from the same man, her former partner. The timing overlapped with his trial, intensifying her emotional strain. "I honestly don’t know how I did it," she reflected. "I was really affected by all of it... It made me feel so overwhelmed, like I was drowning."
Despite this, she competed at the Olympics, vividly recalling her ride: "I remember the half-halts I gave... On the final centre line, I absorbed the moment." Seeing her 69% score brought immense relief: "I looked up, saw 69%, and thought, ‘Thank you, everyone.’"
Post-Games, the documentary proved cathartic. "I’m so glad I did that," Lyle said. "I had never relayed my experiences chronologically... Now I’m here. I’m fine, I’m safe, and I’m in a really healthy relationship." Therapy helped her recognize true resilience: "I expected resilience to mean that I’d be absolutely fine now. And I’m not. But actually that’s OK."
She emphasized speaking out against abuse: "Their ability to silence you is their greatest power. So once you take that away, that’s the best thing you can do." Her advice is to talk to someone, noting how stepping back from competition reignited her love for riding.
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