Jeff's Success at Wellington Classic

In addition to Prosecco's successful and well-publicized showing last weekend at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II show, Silva and Jeff the Chef won the Young Horse Prix St. Georges on Sunday.

She says, "I am very excited because we have been working so hard and it finally came together. Jeff did a great test with no mistakes. There were three judges and one judge gave us 71%, one judge gave us 70%, and one judge gave us only 66%. But with a final score of 68% we still won the very competitive class!"

Silva continues, "Sea Lord also did a great test. He went in the Fourth Level Test 3 and for the first time he did not feel as green in the canter. We scored 68% and finished second!

"Caitlin and her new mare, Gabriella Rossellini, did very well for their first show together. They scored almost 64.47% and finished sixth."

A New Horse for Caitlin

Silva's working student Caitlin Silliman has just purchased an exciting new young horse named Gabriella Rossellini (photos, above, by Amber Heintzberger). Having sold her experienced Young Riders horse Twain, Caitlin felt that it was time for a young horse.

A Dutch Warmblood by Gambol out of a Dutch mare, Gabriella Rossellini is seven years old and was purchased from Alex Robertson in Ocala, FL. She is schooling fourth level dressage and does her flying changes, and has competed in one novice horse trials, which she won.

Silva says, "I'm obviously very excited about her because she's such a good mover. Simone Kann was also impressed with her jumping - they let Caitlin take her on trial for two weeks, which is almost unheard of these days. We also took her to Marcia Kulak's, who liked her too, so we're hoping Boyd approves, since he hasn't seen her yet! We also took her to the show and rode her around. If she does not work out as an event horse she's good enough that Caitlin can sell her as a dressage horse or a jumper, but it looks like she loves eventing."

Caitlin, who is 18, still has three years to compete as a Young Rider, but she knows she has her work cut out for her before she considers trying to compete at the NAJYRC again. "When we tried her she was wild!" Caitlin says. "She nearly bucked Silva off, but we knew she could move and she jumped really well."

"I'm excited to have a young horse," continues Caitlin. "She knows a lot of dressage already. In addition to lessons with Silva, I'm working with Marcia Kulak while I'm down here and I'm excited to work with Boyd at home, too. We'll probably do novice at Plantation Field as our first event."