Some of the Olympics best athletes will never get a medal

When the U.S. Equestrian Team takes to the ring this week, a lot of local folks will be rooting for a young rider from Washington. But her first trainer says we should also be rooting for the horses.

Adrienne Lyle, 27, grew up on Whidbey Island and went to Washington State University. She is competing in Dressage at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Carol McArdle was Lyle’s first formal instructor. She trained Lyle for about six years starting when she was 14.

In Dressage, the horse and rider glide across the arena like dancers across a ballroom floor. McArdle says just as the man showcases the woman in the ballroom, dressage is really all about the animal.

“A horse without a rider will always be a horse, but a rider without a horse is just a person like any other person. So ride your horse in such a way as to glorify, or like you said showcase the horse, and diminish yourself,” McArdle says.

It’s lessons like this that she is passing on to all her students. McArdle has been riding since she was a kid and competed for years at an international level.

As the U.S. Equestrian Team traveled to the U.K. this year, they did it in stages. The horses had actually been in New Jersey for several months. That is where the selection trials were held. It’s the horses, not just the riders, who have to qualify to be on the Olympic Team. Those who made it flew to London more than three weeks ago.

“The horses are shipped on what they call pallets. They’re 9 x 9 x 9 cubes, and they hold one to three horses,” says McArdle.

Even with three horses on one pallet, it is a bit roomier than the average horse trailer.

At 12-years-old, Wizard, the horse Adrienne Lyle is riding this week, is actually a relatively young competitor. McArdle says by the time most horses make it to the Olympic level they are very well traveled.

“When this horse flew to compete in Europe the first time the horse next to him had never traveled that much. But he had traveled so many times, that he just kinda leaned up against the other horse and ‘Hold on buddy, you know, it’s OK.’ He was a great traveler,” McArdle says.

No drugs are used. The International Olympic Committee thoroughly tests all athletes for drugs, even the four-legged ones. McArdle says if you do have a horse that needs to be tranquilized you should not be putting them on a plane.

“Very tragically, several people have lost horses in flight because when they get nervous they can take down a whole plane. So, if a horse freaks out on an airplane they have to put him down,” says McArdle.

After what was probably at least 10 hours in the belly of a plane, these equine Olympic athletes (worth upwards of six-figures) are given the best care by their trainers, their grooms, veterinarians, and even massage therapists.

The equine team arrived in London more than three weeks before the games. The riders did not need to rush it. They wait several days, even a week, before getting back on their animal.

“As big and powerful as they are, they are so fragile. Horses can get an upset stomach we call colic and they can die,” McArdle says.

Once they finally make it to the ring, the rider sits regally and statuesque giving nearly invisible cues as their mount moves to the music and amazes the crowd. Still, after all that, it’s the rider who will step up to the podium.

“It’s really the horses that deserve the medals. But, you know, the funny part is they couldn’t care less. Horses like to eat. All this Olympic stuff is for us,” McArdle laughs.

Watch: Carol Ann McArdle shows some horse tricks: