A Fabulous Handling Season for Phil Silva and His Clients

By Colleen O’Connor-Dzik, Majestic Gaits Farm
Brookline, NH

This year’s Breed Show Series has proven to be an amazing season for Phil Silva (Ten Broeck Farm, Pepperell, MA) and his clients. Phil is a very experienced and professional handler, and his rapport with horses is immediately obvious.

Among the highlights from Phil’s season include, but are not limited to, Reserve Grand Champion at the Maplewood Farm Warmbloods Breed Show in New York with Kathy Hickerson’s (Majestic Gaits Farm) Hanoverian stallion, Schroeder (Sandro Hit x Escudo I). This was Schroeder’s first season showing as a four-year-old and it was clear that Phil has developed a fabulous connection with him. Not only has Phil shown this horse successfully at the Breed Show Series, but also at inspections for several Warmblood Registries. With Phil at the helm in hand, Schroeder was approved for breeding in the studbooks of the BWP, RPSI, ISR Oldenburg NA and the German Oldenburg Verband. Proper presentation of horses at these inspections is critical to success, especially for breeding stallions, who tend to be greatly scrutinized.

Sue Wildman’s five-year-old Dutch mare Waltina LAN (Flemmingh x Nimmerdor) became Grand Champion with Phil at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine. Not only was this a special honor, but it was also Waltina’s first show ever!

At the prestigious NEDA Fall Festival of Dressage Breed Show in Saugerties, NY, Phil led Kathy Hickerson’s eight-year-old broodmare Torette R (Silvano N x Flemmingh) to the honor of Grand Champion for the entire show (with a huge number of entries) as well as Champion Mare of the East Coast Finals.

Phil Silva’s work throughout the Breed Show Series and several breed registry inspections was truly a triumph. In the inspections, Phil was 100% successful in presenting stallions for approval. For example, he presented VDL Farrington (Wellington x Doruto), the only KEUR Dutch stallion in North America for successful approval for breeding in the Belgian Warmblood studbook. He did the same for VDL Navarone (Jus de Pomme x Armstrong). Navarone was also approved for breeding by the RPSI and German Oldenburg Verband.

Phil has demonstrated his prowess as a great handler and his ability to develop a wonderful relationship with the horses. I suggest you keep Phil in mind for on-site or trailer-in training, handling at breed shows, inspections, keurings and FEI jogs. In addition to this recommendation of mine, Phil can readily provide other referrals and recommendations.

Congratulations to all of Phil’s clients, and thank you for your support and patronage!

Check out more Program News!