2010 World Equestrian Games - Old Friends and New Friends

Lily Zilo, Ferdi Eilberg (new HKEF Dressage Coach) & Yvonne Lasos de Muniz

Lily Zilo, Carl Hester & Yvonne Losos de Muniz

Geri & Ferdi Eilberg

Lily and FEI Steward, Johnny Lee

Lily and Soenke Lauterback

The 2010 World Equestrian Games gave Lily a chance to see old friends and meet new friends in Lexington, Kentucky.

2010 World Equestrian Games

Lily Zilo headed to Lexington, Kentucky this week for the 2010 World Equestrian Games accompanied by her new Trainer, Yvonne Losos de Muniz.

Lily & Juan Manuel Munoz

Lily & Jenny Loriston-Clarke

Lily with Olympian, Rafael Soto

Yvonne, Lisa, Samira & Lily

Palm Beach Post Features Lily Chiu Zilo

Wellington dressage rider Lily Chiu Zilo was born in Taiwan and lived in Hong Kong for several years. In November, she will travel east to the city where her mother was born, Guangzhou, China, to compete in the 16th Asian Games.
For Zilo, riding in the games is a chance to honor her heritage while challenging herself as an athlete.
"Equestrian sports are not common in Asian countries," Zilo said. "I thought it would be a really good example to the younger Chinese generation that if you try your best, you can get somewhere. At 36, I started riding. At 46, I am heading to the Asian Games."
Zilo's experience with horses started when she was living with her husband and their two daughters in Italy.
"We moved to Rome in 1993," Zilo said. "My eldest, Jessica, started to take pony lessons. I was taking her to the stables and watching her. My husband suggested that I ride. He said it might be fun to do something with my daughter. I took group lessons for a year and I got hooked. I'm very competitive. If I do something, I have to do it to the best of my ability."
Zilo excelled at dressage while living in Italy. In 2001, Lily won reserve champion at the Copa Lazio, an Italian equestrian competition. Later that year, she moved with her family to Wellington and founded Windsor stables. In 2007, Zilo tried to qualify for the Olympic Games, held the following year in Hong Kong.
"I was not able to earn my certificate of competency," she said. "It was a really challenging task that I gave myself. I figured that Hong Kong being the host country would only happen once in my lifetime, so I had to try."
Zilo rode for the Hong Kong team in the last Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Though she missed out on riding in the 2008 Olympics, Zilo was asked by the Hong Kong federation to carry the Olympic torch in the ceremony that kicked off the games .
"I carried the flame into the equestrian Olympic stadium," she said.
Returning to the Asian Games with her horse Marquis de Matcho will give Zilo a chance to inspire the Chinese people as she rides on the Hong Kong team once again. She plans to perform a special musical freestyle.
"I've chosen Chinese folk songs in a new arrangement. Millions of Chinese people will sing along with that music. I think it's going to win everyone's heart."
After the Asian Games are over, Zilo will turn her attention to the 2012 Olympics in London.
"To compete is to better yourself," she said. "It's an evaluation of your work. Riding in the Olympics is my ultimate goal. If not, I just want to become a successful grand prix rider."

Article written by: Amy Bower Doucette

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/pets/wellington-equestrian-to-head-to-china-to-compete-944763.html

Topping the 2010 Asian Games Qualifying Score !

Lily Zilo tops her 2010 Asian Games qualifying scores on two occasions this weekend with Marquis de Matcho at the Wellington Dressage Classic with scores of 66.042 and 67.917

Elegance & Nobility

Lily Zilo has the privilege of working with 10 year-old Grand Prix Pure Spanish Horse (PRE), BARROCO M1 bred by D. Eduardo Muniz Pinilla. BARROCO has impressive Yeguada Militar bloodlines and is a grandson to the renowned LEVITON.

Hong Kong Equestrian Federation Meeting

Lily celebrates her qualfication for the 2010 Asian Games with members of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation at the HKJC Beas River Country Club stables.

Connie Lau joins Lily for a visit to the horses in the stables.

Asian Games 2010 - Second Qualifying Score Achieved !!

Coached by Dressage Trainer, Shelly Van Den Neste, Lily Chiu Zilo attained her second requisite FEI qualifying score for the 2010 Asian Games scheduled for later this year.

Lily and Marquis de Matcho earned a First Place ribbon with an impressive score of 67.33 % at the 2010 White Fences Summer Fun FEI competition.

Photo courtesy: Johnny Robb

A Moment For Reflection

Lily Chiu takes a moment on PRE, Gorrion to reflect upon the challenges of the 2010 Asian Games.

Asian Games 2010 - First Qualifying Score Achieved !

In a remarkable four day period of riding Marquis de Macho (Hanoverian gelding) in Gainesville, Florida, Lily Chiu attains her first qualifying score for the 2010 Asian Games.

Canterbury - Riding with Friends

Lily Zilo riding Marquis de Macho and Hon. Judge Martha Lott riding PRE Stallion, Icaro spend a late afternoon in the saddle.

Committed In & Out Of The Arena

Lily Zilo scribing for Judge Gary Rockwell at the Gold Coast Finale I.

Working Towards Grand Prix

Working diligently under the Florida sun.

Dressage Daily Features Lily Chiu Zilo

Lily Zilo and Her Come Back Zoe Efforts Paid Off in Police Sting

Written by Mary Phelps Hathaway
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 06:36

When Dressage rider, Lily Zilo’s four month old puppy Zoe was stolen from her car near West Palm Beach, she launched a full blown effort to find the Zilo’s newest family member, with fliers, posters, and even contacting the well known animal psychic team of Linda Johns and Kate Keigel. Her search was broadcast on three local televison networks, and supported by all her facebook friends. Four days later, after playing along with the people who contacted her seeking the reward money offered, the thinly veiled scam all came undone in the parking lot of a Home Depot, with six unmarked police vehicles lying in wait. All Lily had to do when she was presented with her dog was to take her hat off if the puppy being delivered to her was identified. But she forgot !

Zilo was so overwhelmed and excited to see her puppy she had been searching for she forgot about the signal. As Lily was hugging and kissing her puppy, daughter Jessica knocked off her hat off her head. “I did not even see any of them (the detectives and undercover officers) in my peripheral vision,” said Zilo. “But in two seconds, they had surrounded the person who brought Zoe to the parking lot, and it was all over.”Wearing her new Come Back Courtney T-Shirt, one of the multiple fundraising efforts launch for injured Olympian Dressage rider, Courtney King Dye, Zilo brought rescued hostage Zoe to Dressage at Equestrian Estates and entertained us with her story.

Gorrion At Work

Lily Zilo, Gorrion and Juan Matute put in another days' work. Gorrion's passage and piaffe is starting to look very impressive.

A New FEI Partner

After searching for several months, Lily Zilo finally selected a seven (7) year-old Pure Spanish Horse named GORRION to be her next FEI partner. Gorrion has successfully competed at Prix St. Georges and the pair are now looking forward to getting into the arena soon.

Exquis World Dressage Masters 2010 - Final

Congratulations to Anky van Grunsven for her spectacular overall competition win and deep regrets that we did not get to see Ulla Salzberg on the final competition day.

Anky van Grunsven
Ulla Salzberg

Betsy Steiner & Lily Zilo

Exquis World Dressage Masters 2010

Lily Zilo in attendance at the 2010 Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI 5*. - the undisputed highest level dressage in the western hemisphere - " These magnificient and skillfull world class riders made the Grand Prix test appear so simple ".

Steffen Peters & Ravel - 76.851

Anky van Grunsven & Salinero - 74.638

Isabell Werth & Satchmo - 72.553

Robert Dover - Ashley Holzer & Pop Art - 72.468

2010 Top Shelf Dressage Under The Stars

Lily Zilo wishes to congratulate her friend, Betsy Rebar Sell for a splendid ride with Wonderful Walden and for wining at the 2010 Top Shelf Dressage Under the Stars.

2010 Challenge of the Americas - International Team

The 2010 Challenge of the Americas led by Mary Ross and assisted by Lily Zilo stepped up the pace this week by meeting with all the international riders that will be participating in this year's breast cancer charity event.
The countries that will be represented include Australia, Canada, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and USA.

Warmblood Stallion Has A Mind Of His Own !

Wearing a helmet and taking safety precautions when trying a new horse should never be taken for granted. Lily Zilo remains glued to the seat of this young Warmblood stallion owned by Grand Prix Rider, Mario Gomez.

Sophie Finds Her Equestrian Partner in Spain

After several months searching and assisted by her family friend Lily Zilo, Sophie Hoffman acquires her new equine partner .... a Pure Spanish Horse (PRE) !

Airoso De Les A (known as Kiwi) is a ten year of stallion located in Tarancon, Spain. Kiwi will soon be travelling to his new home in Florida.

Best wishes to Sophie !

2010 Challenge Of The Americas

Mary Ross and her team kick started the New Year with meetings to plan the " 2010 Challenge Of The Americas " which promises to be more successful than last year.

Lily Zilo encourages her friends and family to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and thanks Evelyn H. Lauder for her diligence and hard work.

Tami Hoag

Tami Hoag, Best Selling Author and Grand Prix Dressage Rider has just released her new book entitled "Deeper Than The Dead". Lily Zilo extends her congratulations to her good friend and fellow rider. Tami Hoag has published 30 novels of which 14 were categorized as New York Times Best Sellers !