Wellington, FL- Rick Silvia of Dream Street Stallions has been at his favorite pastime again, promoting the sport of dressage. In November, Rick performed a dazzling Grand Prix freestyle for spectators at the Florida Equine Celebration in Jacksonville Florida. Silvia rode Mr. Magic, an 11-year-old Grand Prix stallion, sired by Kyra Kyrklund’s Master 850. The musical freestyle was choreographed exclusively for the 2006 Florida Equestrian Celebration and the pair rocked the house with contemporary tunes that left the crowd cheering for more.

A week later, Silvia packed up Mr. Magic and his Hanoverian stallion, Lullaby and headed to Kansas City, Missouri to participate as a demo rider in the 2006 Adequan/USDF Symposium. The USDF Symposium was held in conjunction with the USDF Convention in early December. Silvia rode with two-time German Olympian and World Champion event rider, Ingrid Klimke, demonstrating to spectators new avenues to dressage fitness, which included cavalleti work.

A year ago when Rick Silvia decided to acquire his “Dream Street Stallions” to bring some of the most sought after European dressage bloodlines to United States, he also had a plan to promote the sport of dressage. “I am fulfilling a dream to bring top stallions to our country to compete and also promote the sport of dressage, ” Silvia explained. “Dressage is much more mainstream in Europe. If each of us ((dressage riders) commits to a few promotional opportunities each year, I believe dressage will grow in popularity in the United States, too”, said Silvia.

Silvia is a well-known competitor on the Southeast dressage circuit. Silvia owns six dressage horses, including three stallions of international quality. “For the next few months I look forward to concentrating on showing on the winter circuit in Wellington, but if an opportunity to promote dressage comes up and fits into my schedule, I am always game,” said Silvia.

Photo- Dressage promoter, Rick Silvia and his stallion, Lullaby take a leap of faith at the 2006 USDF Symposium (Meghan Nichols photo)