Debbie McDonald, a prominent dressage trainer, has decided to slow down and spend more time with her family in Idaho after a long career of competing and coaching. Her absence from Adrienne Lyle’s side at the 2025 Global dressage Festival raised questions about their training partnership, but Lyle plans to continue working with McDonald in some capacity in the future.

McDonald played a key role in Lyle’s rise to success, training her on horses such as Wizard and Salvino. McDonald’s coaching also helped riders like Kasey Perry and Laura Graves reach new heights in their careers. Despite leaving her role as U.S. dressage Technical Advisor in 2023, McDonald remains a significant figure in the dressage world.

While McDonald has returned to Idaho, a group of elite riders in Florida have formed a “trainers’ union” called “Inner Excellence” to continue her legacy of compassionate training. Lyle, Perry, Bateson, and others are part of this group, supporting each other and maintaining a high standard of excellence in their work with the help of outside clinicians and peers.