My Farewell (Cher) Tour Underway!
Just back from Cincinnati the second of my monthly stops on my World Farewell Tour of Symposia and Clinics, and I can’t say enough about the entire event. Chris Federer put on a wonderful symposium and Gala Benefit to raise funds for the USEF High Performance Dressage Programs. My thanks go out to her, Becky and Kirk, and all the helpers and volunteers who made the weekend a huge success!
Approximately 120 auditors and 10 riders showed up and I couldn’t have been happier with their enthusiasm and sincere desire to learn and have fun. What made the weekend even more special for me was that I was so impressed by the quality overall of the riders and horses. Each and every combination, from Ken Borden’s absolutely fantastic 5 year old stallion, Rashka, to Chrissa Hoffman’s green Grand Prix horse,F. Ferrelli, thrilled me with their potential. Silke Rembacz flew out from New Jersey to ride Becky and Chris’s 6 year old stallion, San Francisco, and again I could not get over how fabulous this horse is!
I also got to see old friends like Kathy Priest and her wonderful mare, Wild Dancer, and Mary Haskins Gurganus riding the stallion, Richmond, both of which are combinations to watch carefully in the future. And then I made some new friends too like Jennifer Roth, who rode her own London Z as well as the Smith’s super Grand Prix mount, formerly ridden by George Williams, Marnix. Jenn is also one to watch for not too long from now.
Jackie Sharp, Sue Black and Lara Silver each rode lovely horses which I enjoyed very much helping them with. And last but most certainly not least was possibly the finest Andalusian I have ever seen or worked with, named Faraon and ridden by Francesca Nicoletti.
The great news is that I am positive we have the raw material all around this great country of our to produce top teams from in the future. The problem is that they are missing the key element to ensure their, and therefore our, success - programs. It is not that the competitions and appropriate tests are not in place from which to evaluate these riders and their mounts; it is that their daily lives do not adhere to high enough standards to assure their rise to excellence and fame. When I say some of these horses are GREAT, I am not kidding! But in many parts of Europe, for many reasons, they work in an environment which demands extremely high and well understood standards, including every single detail of their existence, both under tack and in the stable.
For America to take its place at the top of Dressage sport, we must provide incredibly strong and far reaching programs at every level for our riders and horses, from the youngest to the Grand Prix trained. We must find them, nurture them, and produce them like movie stars, with every detail and refinement thought of meticulously. Only then will we create the depth of knowledge and competitive excellence necessary to bring America consistently to the highest medal podium.
Watch for my next stops on my tour and come see me.
Cheers!
RD
Francesca Nicoletti — June 29, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
I wanted to thank Mr. Dover from the bottom of my heart for this past weekends symposium in Cincinnati. I was blessed to ride with him with my new Andalusian partner “Faraon.” The outcome of this weekend, however, was not as I expected. Mr. Dover said out loud what I have been feeling in my heart. “We need a program!! I need a program!!!” i have been struggeling alone for quite awhile to find someone who can guide me and this magnificent horse. I am praying Mr. Dover reads this and can suggest someone or perhaps himself??!!(in florida??) I am forever in his debt to get me “back on the yellow brick road”. The dressage world certainly has been blessed to have someone like you.
Very Fondly,
Francesca Nicoletti and Faraon
Sandra McGuire — June 30, 2009 @ 8:44 am
For anyone who is presented the opportunity to attend one of these Farewell Tour Symposiums…. DO IT!!! You will gain insights and fill in understandings and come home ready to approach your partner with a whole new set of tools. Trainers, bring your students and for younger students, bring their parents. Even one day is the experience of a lifetime!
Robert, thank you so much for coming to Ohio! I am so glad that I came and brought my husband with me (especially since he had no problem asking questions).
While I do not have a horse with fantastic conformation or upper level potential, he is a great partner and I want to do the best I can for him and ride him in a way that allows him to be the performer he was born to be. You have helped me put so many missing pieces together and I am grateful.
I echo Francesca’s comments, and feel it extends below our upper level riders. The need for richer programs, focussing on basics stretches all the way to our first lessons. To our kids, and those of us who entered into riding and the sport of dressage as adults. The first time we take a breath on a horse, it shouldn’t just be to settle our nerves, but to set ourselves up for a lifetime of learning and connecting with our dance partner. Each new lesson, each new movement, is a time for us to set our goals and ride toward them. Think how great a program this country would have if in every equestrian discipline, our trainers believed they were working with a future Gold Medalist.
The other thing you and the riders gave to all of the auditors was a picture of what to ride toward. I’ve seen some very good horses and some very fine movements, but to sit for hour after hour and just watch what a fabulous extended trot looks like, or a truly engaged collected walk, helped burn the movie of what I should be striving toward into my mind. (I know that I don’t have the foundation for some of those movements, but now I know the energy that I need to create for that future to exist).
There are trainers who push us and want us to believe that anything is possible when we first ride a given horse. They may never have ridden Grand Prix, or even beyond third level, but they want us to have a goal and work with us to achieve it. They are the ones who say “you can do this. I believe in you, you need to believe in you and your horse”. I would love to see a list of those trainers in my local tack shop. We need a program to support them too.
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to put this fantastic opportunity together! If you have a video of the rides and presentation, please let us know. They’d make great birthday or Christmas presents!
Sandy, Darrell, and Oscar McGuire
Becky Knollman — July 1, 2009 @ 6:45 am
We cannot thank Robert enough for coming to Ohio! What a opportunity for everyone who came to ride and audit. It was exciting to see the talent we have right here in the Midwest!
Becky Knollman, Cincinnati Dressage Tradition
Lara Silver — July 1, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
I would also like to take a moment and personally thank Mr. Dover, Chris, Becky, and everyone else involved in putting this clinic together. I was one of the 10 riders lucky enough to ride with Mr. Dover and could not be more pleased with the experience. This symposium was an eye opening experience that reminded me of why I love this sport so much. It has re-energized my passion for dressage and led to a new level of motivation and determination for reaching mine and my horses full potential. Again, thank you to everyone involved!
-Lara Silver and Highlander
Robin Vaughn-Strait — July 5, 2009 @ 8:34 pm
have been trying for an entire week to formulate a ” thank you” that would appropriately describe how tremendously inspiring your weekend clinic in Cincinnati was for me and my students! Without gushing I would definitely say that it was the BEST clinic I have ever attended (Guenter being the only Olympian in the last 6 teams I have not seen). We left feeling inspired though exhausted as we rode every ride along with you! We were so proud to have “the trainer of trainers” in Ohio. Thank you again Mr. Dover, you are truly the master of our sport and it was an honor to watch you mold a beautiful horse into a brilliant one.
Thanks so much Robert, Becky and Chris for making this happen!
Also thanks to the riders for sharing their lovely horses with us.
Sincerely,
Robin Vaughn-Strait & Finer Things Farm
Krakow guide — December 15, 2011 @ 5:19 am
I became pretty pleased to access this great site.I would like to thank you for this specific terrific post!! Actually appreciating every word of it and I book marked to follow fresh things you write-up.