Wellington, FL – For the third year in a row, Dressage Under the Stars held patio-side at The Players Club Bar & Grille, is the place to be on Wednesday nights in Wellington. This year will bring another eight weeks of exciting rider and horse combinations competing for weekly prizes and an opportunity for riders to return the final week to perform in the grand finale.

Chris Von Martels stole the show with his winning performance on Don Darveen, a warmblood gelding by Donnerhall. Von Martels performed to music that included the Black Eyed Peas for a fun hip-hop combination musical freestyle. Don Darveen’s owner, Regina Sacha-Ujczo, drove all the way from Orlando to come see her horse perform.

Von Martels’ prizes included a custom Quantum Saddle, presented by Quantum Limited’s North American Representative, Ted Rekal-Nuttall, 500 dollars cash and VIP passes to the table service sponsorship tent. All competitors received a rider care package from The Wellington Institute, an American Express Gift Card donated by Jill Hoag of Keyes Company and a bundle of organic carrots for their horses.

“We are very excited to have Dressage Under the Stars return to The Players Club,” said Neil Hirsch, owner of The Players Club. “We will be hosting another season of FEI Musical Freestyles including another star-studded line up.”

"Quantum is pleased to support this elegant and entertaining evening showcasing the sport of Dressage. One can only imagine what amazing performances such as the ones we have seen tonight would look like had they been ridden in a saddle that allows for greater range of motion such as is afforded by Quantum technology in the AMS-D dressage saddle." added Rekai-Nuttall.

The judges this week included 16 New York Times Best Seller and the 2010 Dressage Under the Stars $10,000 Grand Finale winner, Tami Hoag, along with successful dressage trainers and riders Carole Grant and Jane Savoie. This week’s celebrity guest was Art Design Photographer, David Charlowe, well known for his photographs from the EAF events and last year’s Lusitano Collection Auction.

“The first night of Dressage Under the Stars was an amazing evening. This event is a great way to show the dressage community that dressage can be more mainstream and fun,” said Rick Rockefeller-Silvia, who co-produced the event with Steve Williams.

Sponsors for the second year in a row include Draper Equine Therapy and The Wellington Institute, and are now joined with prizes from Vita Flex Supplements, Dressage Connection formerly Euro American Saddlery, and Jill and Katie Hoag Realtors.

“This is a very fun event,” said judge Tami Hoag. “The crowd will certainly get bigger and rowdier each week as the competition goes on.”

Dressage Under the Stars will continue next week on Wednesday February 9th and the finale, featuring each Dressage Under the Stars previous weeks winner, on March 23rd. For participation information please contact Rick Rockefeller Silvia at [email protected] and for reservations contact the Players Club Bar & Grille at 561-795-0080.

ENDS