Wellington, FL (March 18, 2010) – Each week at the Top Shelf Dressage Under the Stars competition at the Player’s Club & Restaurant the dressage community is treated to world-class riders, judges and entertainment, including a recent demonstration by the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. Esmeralda and Kuchi, two Gypsy Vanners owned by Bill and Wendy Ricci of WR Ranch in Oxford, Florida, wowed the crowd with their beauty, color and grace.

Esmeralda, who was born in England, was one of the first Gypsy Vanners imported to the United States. Esmeralda has a long list of accomplishments to her name, including being named the Number One Tandem Driving team in 2001 with her partner Jasmine. Esmeralda and Jasmine continued their winning ways last month, winning the Pair Championship at the Florida Carriage Festival.

Esmeralda, the current centerfold in the March 2010 issue of Horse Illustrated, was driven at Dressage Under the Stars by owner Bill Ricci, the current President of the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. Heather Caudill, of Olympus Sport Horse, rode Kuchi, the first Gypsy Vanner born in America. Kuchi’s sire, The Gypsy King, was immortalized as the first Gypsy Vanner Horse Breyer model. Last year Kuchi, who currently competes at second level in dressage, followed in her sire’s hoof steps to become Breyer’s second Gypsy Vanner Horse model.

“It was very exciting to have the Gypsy Vanner Horses at Dressage Under the Stars,” said Neil Hirsch, owner of The Players Club. “I know everyone attending was thrilled with their demonstration. Dennis Thompson, the founder of the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, also attended and he and Bill signed a Breyer Horse Model of Kuchi and the model was auctioned off to the highest bidder, Bo Lofvander, for $1,000. The money raised was donated to dressage rider Courtney King-Dye, who is hospitalized with a brain injury.”

In addition to seeing the Gypsy Vanners at Dressage Under the Stars, Vanner fans will soon have the chance to see the stunning horses on the big screen. The Greening of Whitney Brown, a movie about a little girl and her magic Gypsy Vanner Horse, will appear in theaters in the summer of 2010. The movie will star Brooke Shields, Aiden Quinn, Kris Kristofferson and Sammi Hanratti.

For more information about Gypsy Vanner Horses, visit their website at www.gypsyvannerhorsesociety.org. For more information on Dressage Under the Stars, visit the Players Club website at www.playersclubrestaurant.com.