Here is a summary of the two days (mostly nights for me) of meetings of the FEI Dressage Task Force. It will be out later everywhere but my Dover’s World readers. Get the first look.

Cheers!
RD

Summary from Dressage Task Force meeting 21/22 April Lausanne

Task 3. The DTF discussed various options relating to the Olympic formula. These proposals will be presented in the final report to the Bureau. The Sports Director will keep the Task Force informed concerning developments relating to 2012.

Task 4. The qualification process for the Olympic Games (together with other major Championships) will be reviewed in the Summer once the relevant papers have been received from the IOC.

Task 5. The DTF is communicating with the Nominations Committee relating to the future makeup of the Dressage Committee. This will be in line with the statutes, as was strongly supported by the NFs and the Nominations Committee prior to the recent Bureau meeting. The Secretary General briefed the Task Force on the evolving governance framework and the roles of Technical Committees, the Nominations Committee, the Bureau and Headquarters in the democratic process that leads to election and appointment of committee members.
World Cup Rules 2009/2010. Some amendments, based on feedback from National Federations, have been made to the World Cup Rules, which will be sent to the FEI Bureau for approval

World Cup Finals. There was discussion about the World Cup final allocation for 2011 and 2012. The final allocation will be decided by the Bureau in mid May.

Dressage Rules revisions. The Task Force were informed that the only rules revisions that will be allowed for this year are where there are urgent operational reasons. This is because there was a major rules revision last year.

Dressage Judges Education. Dr Harald Muller discussed the education system that he is working on. The aim now is to get the system moving forwards as soon as possible so that it can be put in place in 2010.

Dr David Stickland gave a presentation concerning tools to improve judge training and education involving statistical analysis. It was felt that this will be an excellent tool to combine with the work that is being done by the Task Force.

Task 1 and 2. Presentations were received from experts from the sports of Ice Skating and Gymnastics regarding their judging systems. These models were extremely educational and the DTF feel that it is important to look at these models in order to modify and modernise the judging of dressage.

The Dressage Task Force will continue their work and keep Stakeholders informed of their progress.

It breaks my heart that these wonderful animals died because of the errors of the pharmacy which prepared the solution given to them. Still, I am glad that at least it wasn’t found to be the result of someone’s purposeful desire to harm either them or their owner. I am certain that the wrongful deaths of the ponies will be adjudicated and send my deepest condolences to everyone who loved them and mourn their loss.

Read the full article here: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/23/Pharmacy-accepts-blame-in-horse-deaths/UPI-40491240500613/

Guys, I love Beyonce but I just had to post this. It’s sort of like when you know it’s wrong but you slow down anyway to see the accident on the highway. I’m almost speechless!

Well, all I can say is that I’m exhausted, after two days of FEI Dressage Task Force meetings. While I cannot brief you quite yet, as the minutes must be summarized and cleared with our group, I can tell you that these were actually “in-person meetings”, however, due to the great expense of flying me to Lausanne, it was decided that I would take part via video and tele-conference.

What even I forgot was the time difference, thus my meetings were from 3:00 am to noon for the last two days! And then I still had to go ride my ponies and “have my normal day”. I am now legally and officially classified as a “Zombie”!

So as soon as I come back from the dead, I promise to bring everyone up to date on these and all other Dover’s World issues.

Cheers!
RD

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.

Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow - - but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe.

For now…

Hey Gang, I just heard that it’s the last week we can all vote for Sean Caddell to win the Esquire Magazine Best Dressed Real Man Contest.
We can’t let him down! Here’s the link again. <
www.esquirebdrm.com/profiles/2201

Cheers!

RD/p>

I am stunned and very sad about the deaths of so many horses in Wellington today. I’m sure they will find that they died of contaminated food but I can’t imagine how awful it had to be to watch helplessly as these poor animals fell to the ground. I know all equestrians’ hearts go out to all those suffering their loss.

Read the full story: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30305180/

Dear Rhonda,

I am a very fifty-something person who does all I can to remain youthful. And when I say, “all I can”, by that I mean absolutely everything at my disposal. I’ve become somewhat conflicted about this as many of my friends accuse me of being out of touch with reality and verging on needing an intervention. On the other hand, I still have the body of a 30 something year old and the skin of a teen. What’s your take on this?

Sincerely,
Bo Tocks

Dear Bo,

Hats off to you for so desperately remaining youthful not only in appearance, but in spirit as well. My first reaction is to tell your friends to buzz off. They are probably just jealous because they look old and crusty or that their “enhancements” are not as effective as yours (or it could be that you have nipped and tucked yourself into looking like a 20-year old Shar-pei in a 100 MPH wind tunnel and you frighten them), but then I began to wonder why you wrote into me in the first place.

If you really are the kind of person who gets yourself pricked, prodded and tucked as you say you do, you probably don’t really needs advice from me about what to tell your friends (or anyone else for that matter). Then it dawned on me. This isn’t about your decaying aged body and the conflict from your friends about your efforts to restore your broken down barn of a body at all. There is only one way that a fifty-something can have the “skin of a teen” or “the body of a 30 something”…HOOKERS.

Bo, you have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one past Rhonda, but good for you for trying (and almost getting me). I now completely agree with your friends. Your have issues. Big ones! Whilst sleeping with wildly inappropriate people is exhilarating (I know first hand), it poses a threat to both your emotional and physical well being (I note physical as well because at your age I assume that Viagra is an integral part of each encounter).

My “take on this” is that you need to listen to your friends and get a grip on reality. You (along with everyone else in this world) are going to whither and decay like a piece of raw hamburger meat sitting out in the sun in the middle of July. Now that is the truth to deal with. So until you can look at yourself in the mirror, smile and say “I love you”, you should steer clear of whatever it is that you are doing make yourself “feel young” because it won’t work. Beauty and confidence must come from within and only you can get yourself back on track. Trust me Bo, hookers are much more fun when you know who you are rather than looking to them to help find yourself.

Best,
Rhonda

 

 

Steffen Peters did what only one American before, Debbie McDonald, had done - he won the World Cup final last night before an ecstatic home crowd in Las Vegas. And here is why this win was still the very best. Debbie was declared the winner after the actual first place, Ulle Salzgaber, was disqualified for her horse having illegal drugs in him. Not that Deb wasn’t great, because she was; but Steffen’s win was just that - an outright win, despite the displeasure of second place, Isabel Werth, who took exception to the fact that 3 judges had her placed 1st while our U.S. as well as the Dutch judges placed Steffen squarely ahead.

Calling the class myself, I honestly could not predict the outcome of these final 2, though I had all the others pretty much right on, (save for Ashley, who I thought rode better than the score that was given her - I would have had her at about the same score as Hans Peter Minderhoud).

Isabel was truly wonderful last night, and other than a mistake in the 2 tempis which she failed to repeat in order to bring up that particular score, she rode a masterful test. Satchmo piaffed better than I have ever seen him, though Isabel did do at least one of her piaffes on the short-side at A, decidedly easier than when they are placed off the walls.

Steffen’s ride was just as if not more difficult, showed equal ground covering with Ravel as did Satchmo with Isabel, and played beautifully to the crowd as well as the judges, using pieces from Cold Play which we all knew well. Ravel did have a few tense spots starting the changes and before one pirouette, but made no true errors.

Either pair of these riders and horses were deserving of being named the champion last night. But I have to tell you honestly and not so secretly that I could not be happier or more proud that it was America’s Steffen Peters who was crowned the 2009 FEI. Dressage World Cup Champion!

Cheers!
RD

Dover’s World Official Results From The FEI Dressage World Cup Final