Twenty-two-year-old Rick Silvia, a well-known competitor on the Southeast dressage circuit, has been selected as a demo rider for the 2006 Adequan/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Symposium. The USDF Symposium will be held in conjunction with the Adequan/USDF Convention to be held in Kansas City, MO, November 29–December 3. Two-time German Olympian and World Champion event rider Ingrid Klimke will address the riders and their mounts in the USDF Symposium sessions on "Performance Through Fitness." In addition, 2004 German Olympic Team Veterinarian Dr. Ina Gosmeier will discuss the topics of acupuncture, chiropractic and kinesiology for the equine athlete.

Silvia expressed that he was truly honored to be selected for the symposium. “I have followed Ingrid Klimke’s career and relish the opportunity to work with her,” said Silvia, who has spent the past five years developing 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 medalist 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.

At the symposium, Silvia will ride Mr. Magic, an 11-year-old grand prix stallion, sired by Kyra Kyrklund’s Master 850. Silvia owns six 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 the United States. “I am fulfilling a dream to bring top stallions to our country to compete and also offer for breeding in the U.S.,” Silvia explained. “I have also donated a breeding to one of my stallions to the USDF Convention Silent Auction to benefit the Youth Executive Board,” said Silvia. “It is exciting to be involved with the USDF Convention, and I am looking forward to learning a lot and meeting many fellow dressage enthusiasts from around the U.S.”

Persons interested in attending the 2006 Adequan/USDF Convention and Symposium will find complete details at www.usdf.org.


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