Friday, May 19, 2006

Rick Silvia to Debut Two Dream Street Stallions At the Raleigh CDI with Lisa Wilcox

Rick Silvia of Silvia Estate Dressage announced today that two of the stallions in his newly formed Dream Street Stallion collection will compete in the Raleigh CDI to be held in North Carolina June 2-4, 2006. The stallions, Starlight and Lullaby will be shown by Silvia’s trainer, Olympian Lisa Wilcox, who recently relocated to Florida after more than a decade of training and competing in Europe.

Twenty-two year old Silvia, has been a well-known competitor/owner on the Southeast dressage scene for the past five years, as he made the humbling transition from competing as young rider into the open competition. In his passion to develop as a dressage competitor, Silvia has studied under several of the world’s top FEI dressage trainers, most notably Karin Rehbein and Reinhard Neilsen of Gestut-Groenwohldhof, and Olympic bronze medalists, Michelle Gibson and Lisa Wilcox. Silvia trained in Europe for nine months, earning his German Riding License and gaining experience competing in the Grand Prix in Europe. He returned to the United States and set about putting together his “Dream Street Stallions” collection.

Silvia owns seven dressage horses, including three stallions of international quality. He decided to acquire his “Dream Street Stallions” to bring some of the most sought after European bloodlines to United States. “I am fulfilling a dream to bring top stallions to our country to compete and also offer for breeding in the US,” Silvia explained. Silvia Estate Dressage has three locations in the United States including Wellington, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida and a farm in Middleburg, Virginia. The stallions will train and compete in South Florida in 2007 winter season, and stand in Northern Florida for the breeding season. “The Virginia farm will be our summer training facility when we are not competing in Europe, “ Silvia added.

Two of the Dream Street Stallions, Starlight (by Sandro Hit) and Lullaby (by Londonderry), will be debuting at the Raleigh CDI this June with trainer, Lisa Wilcox. Wilcox who is renowned for her ability to bring out the best in the stallions she trains, has her sights set on qualifying Starlight for the Young Horse World Championships in Germany this August. Wilcox compares the stunning black Oldenburg stallion to Royal Diamond. If Silvia’s Starlight makes it to the Young Horse World Championships this summer, Silvia may well be the youngest owner ever to present a horse in the Young Horse Championships.

Wilcox, will also compete Silvia’s young Hanoverian stallion, Lullaby, at the Raleigh CDI. This striking bright chestnut will undoubtedly not be missed as he debuts with Wilcox.

Silvia and Wilcox and the horses will head to Raleigh, North Carolina in late May. Regardless of their success, the pair will have little time to rest on their laurels as they are scheduled to back in Florida to perform a Pas de Duex exhibition on the two stallions at the June 7th Grand Opening of the New Jim Brandon Palm Beach Equestrian Facility at Okeeheelee Park.

HorsesDaily.com Stallions For Breeding

• Lullaby

Bringing together the top Hanoverian lines, Lullaby earned impressive scores in his 300-day performance testing at Landgestute Celle Stud. He holds his lifetime stallion approval from both the Hanoverian and Oldenburg Verbands.
• Starlight
  By Sandro Hit his excellent pedigree makes him a very interesting breeding stallion for a variety of mare types. His outstanding uphill exterior and jet-black color lend for a breathtaking picture in the arena.