Second Rider Eligible to Compete in $10,000 Finale-
Rick Silvia Wins Players Club Dressage Under the Stars Grand Prix II
Wellington, FL- Judge, Michael Klimke came all the way from Germany to help judge the second Dressage Under The Stars Grand Prix competition held at the Players Club restaurant in Wellington, Florida and winning Grand Prix rider, Rick Silvia is glad he did! Judging along side Klimke, was Betsy Steiner and best selling author and grand prix rider, Tami Hoag. The trio gave Silvia’s steamy grand prix musical freestyle a whooping 88% and the crowd went wild.
Dressage under the Stars is an exhibition/competition hosted at the Players Club restaurant and sponsored by Snow Queen Vodka. Diners at the restaurant are treated to a rowdy musical freestyle competition in the polo field adjacent to the dining room and outdoor patio bar. The rules and regulations for the competition are a bit loose and the end result is riders and spectators (lot’s of them) having fun. The ring is regulation size and the horses are required to perform at the Grand Prix level, but the rest of the event is an anything goes gala. The stakes are also high! Winners from five Friday night competitions will compete in the Dressage Under the Stars Finale for a $10,000 purse! High stakes and high spirits are not often associated with the sport, but the organizers at the Players Club are putting a twist on dressage that spectators applaud.
Elizabeth Niemi also placed in last week’s competition riding Christina Baker’s impressive gelding, Florencio V. Niemi was not disappointed that she didn’t win since she was not actually competing. “I was doing a demonstration exhibition on Florencio,” explained Niemi, “But Michael Klimke was having too much fun and said in Germany everyone gets a score,” added Niemi with a laugh. Niemi should also be flattered as both Klimke and Steiner also tried to the buy Florencio at the end of Niemi’s ride!
Week one winner, Shannon Dueck will return with Silvia and three other winners to ride for the $10,000 grand prize in late April. Meanwhile the big winner in this competition may actually be the sport of dressage…which is getting a reputation as fun and entertaining thanks to the Dressage Under the Stars series. For more information or dinner reservations for up coming Dressage Under the Stars competitions, call the Players Club at 561-795-0080 or visit www.playersclubrestaurant.com.
Photo: Dressage Under the Stars Celebrity Judging Panel- Country singer, Jenna Wyatt, Betsy Steiner, Tami Hoag, Michael and Manuela Klimke share in the fun!
Elizabeth Niemi also placed in last week’s competition riding Christina Baker’s impressive gelding, Florencio V. Niemi was not disappointed that she didn’t win since she was not actually competing. “I was doing a demonstration exhibition on Florencio,” explained Niemi, “But Michael Klimke was having too much fun and said in Germany everyone gets a score,” added Niemi with a laugh. Niemi should also be flattered as both Klimke and Steiner also tried to the buy Florencio at the end of Niemi’s ride!