When he was 20 years
old, Rick returned to Europe and spent nine months
training with Karin Rehbein and Reinhard Neilsen of
Gestut Groenwohldhof. While in Europe, Rick earned
his German Riding License and gained his initiation
to the big leagues by competing in the Grand Prix in
Europe. “My experience in Europe was both
humbling and eye-opening,” Rick explained. “I
learned a lot and also learned how much more I have
to learn.”
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Lisa Wilcox and Rick |
Rick returned to Florida
and when Olympic Medalist Lisa Wilcox relocated to
Florida, Rick began training with Lisa. At the same
time he was putting together his collection of
stallions and forming Dream Street Stallions. He
partnered on a farm in Wellington with former
professional racecar driver turned dressage rider,
Deborah Howe.
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Rick at CDI jog. |
Rick Silvia has always had a great admiration for
stallions. “I really like stallions and that
something extra they bring to their work”, Rick
explains. While he was living in Europe, Rick
attended his first Stallion Show. He was impressed,
not only with the horses but also with how the
people reacted to them. He said everyone was so warm
and the air was filled with anticipation just to see
these horses, and he said he will never forget the
clapping and excitement when Rubin Royal entered the
arena. The crowds were truly in awe.
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Rick Jumping |
Rick continued to immerse
himself in dressage in Europe. He attended every show he
could, whether he was competing or not. He went to a
number of stallion licensings and breed shows. He
visited many of the stud farms, viewing stallions, mares
and offspring. Rick continues to attend the annual PSI
sale in Germany, as his schedule allows. These
experiences lead Rick on a journey to study the
bloodlines of both the sires and dams that were
producing great performance horses.
While Rick’s study of gene pools and bloodlines
continues today, he already has a great knowledge base
that one might not expect from such a young person. “My
interest in bloodlines and breeding is probably
inherited”, says Rick, “My grandfather showed livestock.
My own father is very diversified and is involved in a
number of business ventures including real estate,
resorts, and capitol investing, but he had a great deal
of success in commercial intensive agricultural dairy
farming.
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Rick and Lullaby
competing at FEI
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"In fact, in the 1980’s he
coined the phrase “Dream Street” to the international
agricultural market, hence the name, Dream Street
Stallions. My equestrian business really falls inline
with a long family tradition of agri-businesses”. But
instead of dairy cattle, Rick’s passion manifested
itself in breeding dressage horses. He already has some
exceptional foals and yearlings growing up at several
farms in the US and Europe, but currently his focus is
on promoting his three Dream Street Stallions.
Read more about Dream Street
Stallions and Rick here:
GoHorse.com
