08/14/2026
✔️First World Championship
✔️Personal best with Fleau de Baian in the Grand Prix — 71.3%
✔️Qualified for and rode in the Grand Prix Special
✔️Danced together on the world stage
✔️Made Team USA proud 🇺🇸
“𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘹 𝘰𝘯.”
Well, Fi… you did a little more than that. 🧡🦁
I thought I already knew there were no limits when you put your mind and heart into something. But you reminded me that sometimes what we believe is possible is only the beginning.
Challenges don’t define the ending. You can stumble, struggle, get back up and still go farther than you ever imagined when someone believes in you.
And most of all, you showed me how horses believe.
They don’t need words. They just need us to listen to them, believe in them, and give them the chance to show us who they are.
We see you, our sweet Lion. 🦁🧡
Christian Simonson believed in Felix. Felix believed in Christian.
And somehow, the horse we hoped would simply help teach a 23 year old how to ride at the Grand Prix level helped carry him all the way to his first World Championship. 🥹🧡
Fi, you were supposed to be a teacher for Christian.
Turns out, you taught all of us.
Christian, I hope you know how incredibly proud we are of you. Of the rider you have become, the way you have cared for and believed in this horse, and the partnership the two of you have built.
Adrienne Lyle, thank you for believing, guiding, coaching…and carrying so much of this journey along with them. 🧡
Georgia, Marina, Hugo, and everyone who helps care for and support these amazing animals, thank you for all of your hard work and love. It doesn’t go unnoticed. We couldn’t do this without you. 🙏
What a journey.
What a partnership.
What a team.
And what a lion. 🦁🇺🇸❤️
📸 LilyForado.com & USA Dressage
