PLEASE remember to come out this Tuesday, January 31st, at 7pm to the City Hall in Wellington to voice your support of the new Global Dressage Festival show grounds and Equestrian Village as applied for! The “Alliance” has attempted to mount a very strong opposition using distortions and out-and-out lies to try to create a wedge in our community. one such lie is that they say we are building 400,000 square feet of commercial property, but they are actually calculating the enormous (and gorgeous) covered arena into that number! See what I mean? This is really just a few very rich people with their personal agendas who have used their propaganda machine and lots of their money to incite people who honestly want the show grounds but are under the illusion that we are going to create a “Walmart” there if not stopped. This is anything but the truth! Just look for yourself at the renderings and ask yourself, “Which would you rather look at when going along South Shore Blvd. or Pierson Rd. - a huge number of white tents to house all the vendors most certainly coming for the entire season each year, or beautiful boutique shops and cafes with a Mediterranean flare”? And do you presently love looking at the white tent barn on the corner or would you rather see a gorgeous entrance to a 5* small but luxurious hotel with spa and conference rooms for our great sponsors as well as owners and anyone else who wants the privilege of living on the grounds of the finest shows in the world?
I am confident that, just like the last 2 meetings, the committee will do the right and wise thing and approve the construction as applied for and 5 years from now we will be sitting at one of the cafes or in the hotel sipping a cool drink and loving every minute of it while wondering what all the fuss was over half a decade before.
Cheers!
RD
Be sure to tune in for a very special “Dover’s World” radio show this Tuesday, January 31st, from 6:05pm to 8pm EST on WBZT (AM1230) in the Palm Beaches and LIVE around the world right here at DoversWorld.com. I am off on a cruise for the week but Lita Dove will be hosting the show and speaking with top riders from the World Dressage Masters from this past weekend. Very exciting! She will also have the latest news from the upcoming Global Dressage Festival with Jennifer Wood from ESP and CEO of ESP, Mark Bellissimo. And in the “non-horsey” category, Lita will be speaking with a very interesting surprise guest from the political world, just as the Republican primary vote is about to be cast in Florida next week. I wish I were here for that interview! So, don’t forget to tune in and call in with your questions or comments to Lita and her guests at 561-844-6167 or toll-free from anywhere to 1-800-889-0267. I know she would LOVE to hear from YOU!
Cheers!
RD
The World Dressage Masters climaxed with a fantastic Freestyle competition with Steffen Peters and Ravel coming out just barely on top of Charlotte Dujardin and her Valegro, both with just over 83%! Honestly, it could have gone either way but I am very happy that Steffen showed his usual brilliant riding to become the victor in front of his home-town crowd of American fans. The electricity in the air was palpable and hats must go off to John Goodman, John Flannigan, Noreen O’Sullivan and a cracker-jack staff for making us feel, once again, like we were at a wonderful European show for a weekend. Many thanks also to the folks from WDM for allowing America to host one of their great shows in their Series!
I am now off on a cruise with Robert for a week of much needed R & R for R & R! :) I will post a few more times before we set sail but don’t be surprised if you don’t hear much from me for the next 7 days. OK?
Cheers!
RD
The Grand Prix for the World Dressage Masters was terrific sport today at the Jim Brandon Center with a great crowd cheering on their favorites. I LOVE seeing competition at its best and Steffen Peters was the worthy victor with over 81% on Akiko Yamosaki’s, Ravel over Charloote Dujardin and her amazing gelding, Valegro with over 78%. Steffen continues to put in practically flawless rides, showing both great expression and wonderful harmony. Charlotte’s test was fantastic and she is a brilliant rider, thanks to her mentor, Carl Hester, who rode Fiona Bigwood’s, Wie Atlantico, after only ten days together to close to 70% and 8th place overall. Perhaps Valegro could have been a bit softer looking in the bridle to earn a much higher score. Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven rode Favourit to 3rd place with over 73%, using all her amazing skills and a few tricks I bet not too many people noticed that really worked. Adrienne Lyle rode the Thomas family’s, Wizard, to over 72% and is showing far greater strength and confidence, thanks to her mentor, Debbie McDonald. Anja Plonzka rode her La Mont d’Or to 5th, just edging out Ashley Holzer with Breaking Dawn and Heather Blitz on Paragon, both of whom did superb jobs on their very green Grand Prix horses to receive over 71%!
Here are the final results and I wish them all the very best in the Freestyle tomorrow night! Very exciting!!
1. Steffen Peters (USA) – Ravel – 81.383%
2. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Valegro – 78.468%
3. Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven (SWE) – Favourit – 73.255%
4. Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Wizard – 72.149%
5. Anja Plönzke (GER) – Le Mont d’Or – 71.404%
T5. Ashley Holzer (CAN) – Breaking Dawn – 71.404%
7. Heather Blitz (USA) – Paragon – 71.000%
8. Carl Hester (GBR) – Wie Atlantico – 69.979%
9. Todd Flettrich (USA) – Otto – 69.638%
10. Tina Konyot (USA) – Calecto V – 68.447%
11. Minna Telde (SWE) – Deinhardt – 66.787%
12. Pierre St. Jacques (USA) – Lucky Tiger – 66.021%
13. Per Sandgaard (SWE) – Lomumba Havdal – 65.894%
14. James Koford (USA) – Pharoah – 64.809%
15. Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) – Liebling II – 62.255%
16. Victoria Winter (CAN) – Proton – 60.426%
Cheers!
RD
Thanks to John Goodman, John Flannigan, Noreen O’Sullivan and their great staff, the World Dressage Masters is taking place this week in Wellington to a sold out much bigger crowd than last year. The seating capacity for spectators was dramatically enhanced, footing is very good and the vendors areas are much nicer as well. Top riders from Europe such as Carl Hester and Tine Wilhemson will be trying to beat defending American champion, Steffen Peters on Ravel so we are sure to be in for some great sport all weekend! But that’s not all. not only is there a CDI 3* going on at the same time as the 5*, you can also come out to root for the Para Dressage riders as they compete for spots in London later this year. So be sure to come out and take part in this very special weekend at the Jim Brandon Center!
Cheers!
RD
I had a glitch earlier this evening with my website server and was not able to let you know on my radio show about the latest Vinceremos buzz, so I told Tuny I would post it here tonight. So here it goes:
1st Buck Off - Last Thursday at White Horse Tavern, the first Buck Off was won by the “Panda Pals”, headed up by 11 year old Team Captain, Ava Stearns. They are now qualified for the “Championships” to be contested at the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Gala and Auction on the 10th of February. Congratulations!
The next Buck Off is this Thursday again at the White Horse Tavern as is the last one next Thursday, February 2nd. It’s great fun for all some come on out and support the bull riders and Vinceremos!
Current funding sponsors are: Caroline Moran for Goshen Hill Farm, Tamara Gerber ( Adoption Center underwriter), Kim and Frederick Boyer, Bruce and Ellen Miller, Milo Mott and the Harding Foundation, and Debbie Mullaney. Many thanks go out to them all for their wonderful support!
Don’t forget that the big event is February 10th at the International Polo Club in the Nespresso Grande Pavillion at 6:30pm. Hope to see you all there!
Cheers!
RD
I have a great show for you tomorrow evening as the show season heats up for all equestrian sports here in Wellington! My Special Guest in the first hour is my great friend, Kim Boyer, owner of Hampton Green Farm. Kim wears more hats these days than most anyone I know. Besides running her breeding and training farms in Wellington and Michigan, Kim in the President of the USPRE and is a member of the Wellington Equestrian Partners responsible for building our new world-class Equestrian Village and putting on the Global Dressage Festival. In other words, we have lots to talk about!
My Special Guest for my second hour is truly one of America’s greatest jumping riders/trainers and has also come very close to making a team for the Olympics in Dressage. Bernie Traurig is just plain amazing and the consummate all-around “horseman”. He has been doing a great deal of work with training using the Internet and will discuss his most recent project pertaining to the “Forward Riding” style which U.S. riders became so famous for decades ago. Bernie knows what hard work and determination is all about and he will most certainly have fascinating things to discuss tomorrow night.
Tune in to WBZT (AM1230, Clear Channel) in the Palm Beaches and LIVE around the world right here at DoversWorld.com from 6:05pm to 8pm EST and call in to speak directly to my guests and me at 561-844-6167 or toll-free from anywhere to 1-800-889-0267. Remember, I love to hear from you! Thanks!!
Cheers!
RD
I was so happy to see the entire Thomas family here in Wellington along with Debbie McDonald and rider, Adrienne Lyle, who rode Wizard to over 73% in the Grand Prix for the Special. At 90 and 85 respectively, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are wonderful people and great owners and all should be proud of the great job Adrienne is doing with Wizard to make him stronger than ever. I was also happy to see Tina Konyot out again on Calecto V and Ashley Holzer on Pop Art, both with over 71%.
It was equally exciting to watch the Para Dressage riders competing today. There is a huge amount riding on this weekend and next week during the Masters for Americans hoping for a team spot in London later this year.
Finally, tonight was the Grand Prix Freestyle and Ashley Holzer won again on PJ Rivzi’s and her Breaking Dawn with a lovely and masterfully ridden test! I left before the score came back but am sure it was well ahead of Shawna Harding with her Comeback 3 and their score of 73%. I enjoyed Shawna’s ride and her partnership with her horse but Ashley pulled out every stop and was a worthy champion tonight.
Tomorrow is the Grand Prix Special and I will report on this and the final placings of our Para Dressage riders. As always, I wish all the riders and horses the very best of luck!
Cheers!
RD
Those using the Gold Coast Opener CDI as a warm-up show for next week’s World Dressage Masters are enjoying great weather and the chance to ride in the already decked out main arena, minus the huge spectator numbers expected to fill the stands when the best in the world compete in the 5* show. The Grand Prix for the Freestyle had only 7 contestants but it was still a nice class won by Ashley Holzer and PJ Rizvi’s, “ Breaking Dawn” with over 71%. This green Grand Prix horse shows great class and is being piloted expertly by Olympic veteran, Ashley, who will also continue to contest for London with her wonderful “Pop Art”.
Equally exciting at this show are the classes for Para Dressage which started very early this morning and are qualifiers along with next week’s Masters for London’s Para Olympics this summer. I have seen our Americans in action and wish them all the very best of luck and certainly hope I will be able to watch their rides!
Tomorrow begins bright and early again for me and doesn’t finish until the evening Freestyle. I wish all the riders the very best of luck and will report on the classes tomorrow night.
Cheers!
RD
So here’s the thing. I know it’s no excuse, but I just have not had time to keep up my usual 1 or more posts per day here on DoversWorld.com. Between my training 15 to 20 combinations per day, my preparations for each week’s radio show, family “stuff”, and working on my website, I can tell you that “fun time” has been trimmed down to practically nothing. I would love to be going to all the social events and fundraisers in Wellington now that the season is in full tilt, but I’m afraid I would end up face dpwn in my plate of food. And trust me, I’ve seen that look before on others and it’s not pretty!
We have back to back CDI’s this weekend and next with the World Dressage Masters and it’s been fun seeing so many friends in town from all over. I am really looking forward to watching the classes, though I will continue running back and forth to and from Stillpoint Farm for my clients not competing yet as well as those like Phillip Dutton who are here just for training. And now I see it’s way past my bedtime so I will cut this post short, but I will keep everyone in the loop as to how the Gold Coast CDI Opener is going each day.
Cheers!
RD
