FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES AUGUST 2013 47
Silvia shows off her bling while walking with Michele Betti, a
renowned dressage, show jumping and eventing trainer and the
former Chef d’Equipe of the Italian eventing team.
the test most of all,” she explained.
Her partner, Michele Betti, noted that she ignores distractions
to concentrate on putting forth her best effort. “She is really
focused on the moment, the nine minutes of the competition,” said
Michele. “She is always thinking
about what she has to do when
she enters the ring.”
Michele is a renowned
dressage,
show
jumping
and eventing trainer and the
former Chef d’Equipe of the
Italian eventing team. He
and Silvia offer lessons and
clinics to students who travel
to Germany to train with them
at Hof Marabunta, where they
benefit from the pair’s extensive
knowledge and international
experience. Silvia’s state-of-the-
art barn provides clients with a
private, friendly, low-pressure
atmosphere where they can
enjoy the horses and learn at a
high performance level.
Outside of the show ring,
Silvia used her trip to Florida
to explore the area’s tourist
attractions and equestrian
scene. While Bubi was in
quarantine after his arrival,
she saw the sights and took
advantage of the shopping in
Miami. Between competitions,
Silvia visited Palm Beach to
shop and go to the beach, Boca
Raton to check out the “chic and
elegant” city center and Orlando
to visit Disney World and pose
with Mickey Mouse.
Silvia and Michele were
impressed with the competitions
and beautiful stables of
Wellington. “We were very
curious to understand what the
equestrian life is like here, and
how the stables are,” Silvia said. “In Germany, you have many
stables, but not on such a high level and so close together.
Wellington has one stable after the other, each more beautiful
than the last.”
While in Florida, Silvia attracted spectators’ attention with her
fashionable ensembles. Her stylish wardrobe – featuring plenty
of bling – acts as the perfect complement to her effervescent
nature. When she had to start wearing glasses, she turned that
inconvenience into an opportunity to display her style, selecting
the blue sunglasses that have become her trademark accessory.
Accademia Italiana Style, an Italian line of equestrian apparel,
provides complete outfitting for Silvia, ranging from casual
schooling attire to competition apparel.
“I always want something unique,” she said. “My general idea
is to create a fashion, not get used to a certain fashion. So it
must always be something new and unique. It’s like with my blue
sunglasses: it must be something recognizable and different.”
Between her sparkly sunglasses, striking black stallion and
stunning dressage tests, Silvia is a standout performer. Watch
for her to make appearances at prestigious shows around the
globe, including the invitation-only CDI4* in Doha, Qatar, and the
Falsterbo CDI5* in Sweden, as she aims for the 2013 ECCO FEI
European Dressage Championships in Denmark. And next winter,
she’ll be back in Florida to compete her talented string of horses
and teach American students.
