will ride 20-30 horses. “I can’t do it without

will ride 20-30 horses. “I can’t do it without the world’s best help — it takes a team effort.” One of the most important members of Silitch’s team is his wife, Jaci, a talented hunter exhibitor. “She critiques me when I’m in the ring,” said Silitch, helping him to improve his technique.

Silitch rents his home and a large bam at Fletcher’s Farm. Comparing the spacious facilities and mild Virginia winters to Stowe, Vt., where he grew up and first began riding professionally, he stated flatly, “I wouldn’t move for anything. I hate riding indoors,” and the county location “is close enough to do (everything I need to do) in the horse business.”

Bom into a horse loving family, Silitch first rode on the front of his mother’s saddle. Her show horse, “Spats,” a saddlebred-standardbred gelding, became Silitch’s pony club mount. When Silitch was 14, Julie Ulrich gave a clinic, introducing him to jumping. “I loved it,” said Silitch. “The pony club was focused on eventing, which I didn’t enjoy. I wasn’t very good at cross-country.” Gifted with the “eye” critical to being able to judge jumps and-takeoff points, Silitch found his niche.

Of the 32 horses he trains, only three are owned locally. Five or six students live full time on the property, including apprentices from Australia, Wales and England. Amateurs who train with Silitch bring their own horses so that they can learn to work together as a team. “Every horse and every rider has a goal to where they want to go. Most want to move up another notch to professional. Other people don’t want to be an Olympic rider, they just want to learn to ride a little better. I try to put together a training program that will help them achieve those goals.”

Apparently Silitch’s program works. Over the years, he has “made” 15 Grand Prix horses, and, recently, Beth Forbes, a