Welcome!
Welcome to Dover’s World! I am so excited to tell you about my new website!
After a career spanning over 30 years and including 6 consecutive Olympics in which I won 4 bronze medals, I wanted to do something new and creative with my life. Everyone who knows me knows that I have always been extremely outspoken when it comes to my sport and just about everything else in my life. What better way to then to create a forum in which I can make my thoughts public then by having my own website.
But let me tell you right now what is going to set Dover’s World apart from all the others. Yes, there will be a huge Dressage related content, not the least of which will be a revolutionary new method I have named, “The Simul-Coach System” which will allow me to teach an actual lesson to a mounted rider in real time anywhere in the world. This will be done using state-of-the-art software which will be compatible with people’s video cameras and laptops. I will see them and they will be hearing me through their earpiece as if I were standing there in the arena. I will be taking a very limited number of requests per month for Simul-Coached lessons. Please watch for more information in the coming weeks!
For a more reasonable fee, I will also be accepting a limited number of requests from riders and owners wishing a critique/video lesson. Send me a video online and I will send you back a 30 minute critique which I hope will be a big help to the many horse people around the world who have a hard time getting the training they need. And, if I love the horse and/or rider and am requested to place the video and subsequent critique on my site for others to see, I will do so happily. Dover’s World will also be a place for top horses and riders to find their match as well as all Equestrian items on the “Dover’s World Market Place”.
Lastly, you can go to my “Everything Horsey” blog and read about and discuss with me and thousands of our friends, many of the hottest topics in the Equestrian World today, and also link onto other horse related sites which I am very interested in.
But if you think Dover’s World is only about my Equestrian life, you’re dead wrong. The other half of my site is devoted to “Everything Else” in my life and I promise it will be anything but boring!
If you google me you will actually find there are two Robert Dover’s listed. The other one was born in the 1600’s and started the Cotswold Olympics and, amazingly enough, was an avid horseman. I considered reincarnation but my great grandfather’s name was actually Dowel until he arrived at Ellis Island. I, on the other hand, am the living (thank goodness), openly gay, Jewish, six-time Olympic Equestrian.
So while the “Everything Horsey” side of my site will be totally “G Rated”, I want to warn all of my readers that my “Everything Else” section will include language and topics not necessarily appropriate for young people or the faint of heart. So if you or your parents choose not to click on ”Everything Else”, please know that I honour that choice completely, but I can’t prevent anyone from doing so. In other words, it’s “Read At Your Own Risk”.
I am saying this to you now because I was adamant that my website be true to who I am as a whole, multi-dimensional person. I refuse to hide my gayness and all that goes along with it, which I am totally proud of. I am truly excited by many of the topics which I will be covering, like my section which I call, “Out For Good”, in which I will highlight my friends and others who are my gay heroes of today.
My section, “Out Around The World”, will also be chronicling my travelling adventures with my partner, Robert Ross, and our best friends as we tour many of the most beautiful hotspots around the globe. We’ll bring you photos and video footage of everything from the beaches and cruise ships to the local people, architecture, and clubs. I promise you that the cast of characters I travel with will keep you laughing hysterically as they do me!
I am also going to be publishing my first book, “Words That Start With An ‘F’”, on my site. It consists of memories, stories and anecdotes, and I will post the first two chapters for everyone to read free of charge. If you enjoy them as I hope you will, you will be able to purchase each additional chapter for the very inexpensive price of $1.00! You will laugh, perhaps cry, and probably reconsider the state of my sanity, but that’s the price one has to pay for one’s art, right? I am even going to ask anyone who has a brief story or one-liner they remember about themselves and me (I’ve heard them called “Doverisms”) that they would like to send to my e-mail address to do so. If I like them I will include them in my chapter on “Friends” for all to read.
I hope my “Everything Else” blog will encourage my gay and straight friends alike to discuss any and all topics they choose. I promise to keep it real and not shy away from any issues or questions. I also hope that my blog will give me and thousands of others a chance to connect and make new friends. The only requirement I have is that everyone be honest and not hide behind an alias. In other words, if I’m putting myself out there I expect everyone else to do the same. No anonymous Graffiti, PLEASE!
As “Dover’s World” grows and matures, I hope to create new and exciting additions to it and am always open to thoughts on how I can make it better, more fun, and effective. Don’t be shy!
So here we go into new and uncharted territories, together with hopes for a fantastic, brighter future for our world, both “Horsey” and “Everything Else”. Cheers!
Robert Dover
JJnyc — January 22, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Wow! What a great start to your new website. It looks fantastic… and so do you in that picture! Congratulations on yet another victory for Team Dover. This is a great site and I can’t wait to keep up with what’s going on in the ever exciting life of Robert Dover.
Rhonda Weiss-Weiner-Baucher — January 22, 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Congratulations on the launch. The site looks great!
-RWWB
RDover2 — January 22, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
Thanks for he great comments from my first day of Dover’s World! A special thanks goes out to Rhonda Weiss-Weiner-Baucher ( I actually think there are a few more suffixes to be added to that name, but who’s counting) who is always one of my most honest critics. I will continue to do my best to make you and everybody proud!
RDover2 — January 22, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
Oh, and how could I forget my other very best friend, JJNYC, without whom life would be hardly worth living and moost certainly less entertaining! Luv ya!
jean Dover — January 27, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
Robert,
I finally got a blog from Gale. I guess Rod didn’t do it right!
Love Robert’s Mom
Jim Wolf — January 30, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Hey Robert,
Great site. Very innovative…once again you are ahead of your time. I love the fact that we can even talk to your mother! Boy, do I have a lot to talk to her about…..
Good Luck with your new venture…..
Jim
jean Dover — January 31, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
So Jim what do we have to talk about…I am all ears!
Robert’s Mom
RonD — February 2, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
Dear Robert’s Mom,
Can you tell us how Robert got started in horses and when he was a boy could you ever have imagined that he would end up in six Olympics?
Jean Dover — February 3, 2009 @ 11:28 am
Dear Ron,
It must have been in Robert’s karma to become a Dressage rider. He was taken to ride by a neighbor and the Teacher was German and a Dressage teacher. She saw something in Robert even then. Shortly after we moved to the Bahamas and there too was a lovely riding teacher. For his 13th birthday His doting Father brought a horse from Florida for him to ride. I believe it was called Cash. That is another story for another day. At his time it was three Day Eventing. Robert won his first trophy for jumping Cash clean. The trophy was bigger then he was. When we moved back to Florida he joined the Pony Club. Again they do Three Day Eventing. His problem was he could never find his way out of the woods! Ann Reily who was another Mother to Robert would say…Oh there he comes at last. He really loved Dressage and that was the start.
To answer the last question. Yes I believed Robert would end up a top rider because he was so devoted to learning and doing. it was a priority in him life. Nothing interfered with his going to the stable every day even with a broken leg or a broken wrist. Again another story for another day.
Thanks for asking such probing question.
Be well. We look forward to seeing you soon in Florida.
Love Robert’s Mom
RWeiss — February 7, 2009 @ 8:19 am
Where’s Waldo? I mean Dover… We haven’t heard from him in weeks.
- a concerned fan
Jennifer D — February 15, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
Hey Robert!
I hope you remember me- I used to groom for one of your students (remember Lorenzo’s Fire?) but I especially remember the great conversations we used to have while I videotaped Melissa’s lessons on Couleur. He was such a magnificent horse! Anyway - congratulations on your website launch - it looks great! I have bookmarked it already! Take Care
Christie Hanson — February 16, 2009 @ 9:08 pm
Robert,
I just love the new site and blog-I have recently started one myself just before the new year.
I have met you on several occasions mainly thru the trainers I worked for-Manfred Lewis and Hokan Thorn. I used to come to your barn with Yelska(Bold Contender) and film Hokan’s lessons. But I think my most memorable occasion would have to be the time the Orlando dressage show got rained out and we were all stuck in a tent that held the Mexican fiesta sponsored by Mary Phelps. I was at your table with Manfred, Rick Wallace, David De Wispelare, I think Kenn Acebal…it was an Atlanta group gone wild on margaritas! A great memory for sure!
So now I am married with a daughter and I would very much like to get back to dressage. I am working out with a trainer to lose over 100 pounds so that I can be healthy and ride again. My blog is about my road back and reclaiming a space in the dressage world. I also wrote about the Equestrian Aid Foundation. I had a life changing moment when I was mistakenly told that I was HIV positive and it took weeks to get that figured out…I knew of your participation as a founder and what a great program it is. I was uninsured and it meant the world to me that the help was there if I ever needed it. I hope to be able to give back in some way. My blog is http://www.flyingchangesweightloss.blogspot.com if you’d like to check it out! It would be a huge honor.
Christie Hanson
meghan — February 16, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
Hi,
My friend sent me the link to your site, and it is totally awesome! I look forward to reading more.
Jean Dover — February 17, 2009 @ 7:32 pm
Dear Christie,
I just viewed your website and find it very moving and wonderful. I wish you great success in your venture back to Dressage and Motherhood. Having raised 4 Children myself I know that can be a bit daunting. Good Luck and G-D bless.
Lovingly,
Robert’s Mom
Christie Hanson — February 17, 2009 @ 10:56 pm
Robert’s Mom & Robert
Thank you so much for reading! I wrote a little about Robert’s page on my blog today. I can’t help but use the name “Bobby D” when refering to Robert. I lived in Palm Beach for 4 years and managed a dressage barn there(1997-2000) and at that time if you said “Bobby D” it meant Robert…I just wondered if there was a known origin? Or is it just a random thing that came around?
Thanks, Christie
RDover2 — February 17, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
Thanks, everyone, for making my 1st 2 weeks of DoversWorld go far beyond
My wildest dreams. In just over 2 weeks we’ve had close to 20,000 hits.
Our commitment to you all is that we will do our very best to keep DoversWorld fresh
And interesting, fun and edgy.
Oh, and my mother never allowed anyone other than Alex Konyot to call me Bobby.
Some years ago, a few ladies began referring to me as Bobby D. Amongst themselves
However nobody ever called me that to my face that I remember. Maybe my Mom had them “taken care of”
So to speak.
Cheers.
RD
Jennifer Swanson — February 18, 2009 @ 11:37 pm
Dear Robert,
Congratulations on your new launch and THANK YOU for inlcuding the rescue and the issue of horse welfare. May I put a link to your site on our website and tell some of our members about this. You have many fans out there!!
Thank you again,
Jennifer Swanson
Pure Thoughts Inc.
Melissa Hare Jones — February 20, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Wonderful new blog! I’m looking forward to following your adventures. I’ve been an admirer-from-afar for many, many years and have always meant to write and thank you for a lesson you never gave me *wink*… I sat ringside at a WEF schooling area for hours one day while you taught - learned a TON about riding and teaching. (Felt like I should have walked out and handed you a check! But I spent it on vendor’s row instead - in your honor, of course, LOL.) I also attended a lecture you gave at DAD one year and again came away inpired and more educated. So, thanks, for your professionalism, your dedication to the sport, and your inimitable sense of humor. You’re a gem.
RDover2 — February 20, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Thanks, Melissa, and everyone who has written in so far! I promise that each week I’ll be coming out (so to speak) with new, intereresting blogs and fun columns.
I want Dover’s World to enhance yours!
Cheers!
RD
"slick" — February 20, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
I have to say, I am utterly and completely shocked at the severity of your back problems, Robert, and how you continued to ride while experiencing such severe pain. I hope you feel better now and that your surgery will improve things for you. You must really have loved to compete and ride, I don’t know how anyone could go on with that sort of pain otherwise.
Susan
Dover’s World » Dover’s World Update — February 23, 2009 @ 6:15 pm
[...] Read the original Welcome message here. [...]
uggs — December 15, 2011 @ 7:23 am
hi, excellent blog, together with a really good understand! one for my bookmarks.