Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On September 7-9, the FEI Dressage Task Force will be holding the first ever “Judging Systems Trials” in Aachen, Germany. We believe that there is great potential to modify and modernize our present system of judging so as to create one which the world can truly be proud of in the future.
Naturally, in order to properly test various systems we need appropriate rider/horse combinations to go through the both the Small and Big Tour tests. I am hoping that riders and trainers will come with their horses, as many at Grand Prix as possible, to take part in this amazing event. By doing so we may all truly be writing the next page of our history and bring in a new era of Dressage Sport.
Please contact Trond Asmyr at the FEI to get more details and sign up to take part in the Trials. trond.asmyr@fei.org
Thank you and looking forward to seeing you all in Aachen!

Best Regards.

Robert Dover

When I began my latest blog, Dover’s Dreams….And Yours, I hoped that it would resonate with my readers, and it truly has. So many people have responded, especially to my Dream of finding Gary Johnson a new pony, but also with their own wonderful wishes for themselves and others.
I honestly had some very big personal dreams when I thought I was going to be able to retire with the money owed to me by Joe Zada. I still have them as future goals but first I will have to try and make back all that money.
One of my Dreams is to, along with Robert, work with organizations to fund the building of schools, libraries, and wells in Africa and other third world countries. So many people are truly desperate and I hope someday to at least make a tiny dent in the problem. But, since horses are what I know, it will require that I work hard to recoup the funds necessary to be able to make these and other dreams come true.
In the meantime, I thought I might put one more dream out there into the universe and see how it flies.

When you live in a big city like New York, you witness gridlock almost every day, and much of the time emergency vehicles are sitting still with their sirens blasting to no avail, simply because the congestion is so bad in every direction that no one can move to let them by.  So here’s my Dream.  On top of every traffic light there will be a siren which not only makes noise but emits emergency lights showing the direction from which EV’s are coming.  And the best part is that, like with trains, they may be turned on from up to a mile or more away by the flick of a switch on the vehicle’s dashboard. Can you imagine how many lives might be saved if you could clear a path for every emergency vehicle well in advance of every intersection between their start and  their final destination, be that a hospital or the scene of an accident or fire? I can imagine this system working beautifully in every major metropolitan city in the world!  Any Engineers out there who might be interested in helping me to create a prototype for my dream invention, give me a holler.

So, there you have it. My future dream for helping the needy, as well as one for an invention which might also be a source of good in the world. I hope that you all will keep sending me your Dreams so that I as well as my many readers might share our positive energy with you to help make them come true!

Cheers!

RD

Robert’s Dad & I were always there from the beginning for Robert. We saw to his having a horse and supported his desire to be the best he could. Now we would like to find a way to highlight the other important people who by their Mothering and Mentoring helped him become Robert Dover Dressage Champion Extraordinaire!
If you or anyone you know would like to add stories of some of your experiences with Robert through his wonderful journey please contact me at Moms Corner or at jd33024@bellsouth.net and I will be thrilled to help you relate your experiences.
I know there are those who are no longer with us but are now riding with the Angels. I will try to tell their stories as best as I can. I am sure Robert will remember them and add to my knowledge.
I look forward to hearing from you soon so I can get this journey back down memory lane started. It will be fun to read and I know folks in the horse world will think so too
Love,.
Roberts Mom

Well, Gang, I tried to stay quiet and let the universe deal with Joe as I know it already is, but try as I might, it is impossible for me to read his Zadaresponds.com without a few little corrections. And since I always told Joe I’d be happy to have him set the record straight by writing in and telling my readers (and me) exactly where everyone’s money he invested is these days, I feel it only fair to print his responses in full for all to read, afterwhich I shall comment briefly. So here you go.

July 16, 2009

On July 7, 2009 Mike Donaldson posted the following comment to the comments section of Robert Dover’s “doverworld.com” and to Diana DeRosa’s “wordpress.com blog”. Mr. Dover chose to DELETE this comment within 48 hours of its posting:

“Joe Zada and I have enjoyed a fifteen year friendship which included both business and social interactions. We share many common friends and interests. In early 2008, I over reacted to the global economic crisis in a very regrettable manner. I was unkind to my friend. I contacted Joe in the spring of 2009. He is a true gentleman, and graciously accepted my sincere apology. His reaction in this matter speaks very highly of his character. He is a kind, understanding, dignified man, wise in many ways. It requires a big person to forgive and move on. Joe Zada is that big person. I have learned from Joe to be calm, to believe, to be patient, and that a rational approach to life’s temporary problems results in the best outcome for all concerned. I look foreward to our continued friendship in future years.”

Mike Donaldson

Why would Mr. Dover not wish to leave this comment on his page?

Thank you,

Joseph Zada

——————————————————————————–

July 4, 2009

I would like to respond to the recent attempts by Ms. Diana DeRosa, a “respected journalist”, in her pursuit for the truth and honesty with regard to the latest postings about myself. The impartiality she claims to portray in her willingness to seek out only the true and honest statements and claims from parties on all sides seems to have fallen short. I ask if Ms. DeRosa intends to remain neutral, which all professional journalists do, why then does the presentation of her articles seem to weigh heavily to one side. If her demonstration of ethics were fair, balanced and responsible then why is it that I can not receive a chance to give voice to my side of the circumstances?

Ms. DeRosa has been contacted with attempts to allow me to state my side with no avail. I say to Ms. DeRosa “I am here, able and very much willing to state the facts you are so objectively seeking”. I very much look forward to the availability of telling my side of this situation in a truthful and professional manner and hopefully you will allow me that chance in all fairness. So please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you,

Joseph Zada

——————————————————————————–

May 20, 2009

To all readers of Robert Dover’s doversworld.com website:

I am aware that Robert Dover has posted incomplete information on his website that requires a brief response. Mr. Dover and I had a business dispute about which he is apparently not content to utilize his legal rights. Instead, Mr. Dover has resorted to threatening text messages and internet drama to either extort a result from me or otherwise drive home whatever point he is trying to make. Considering that, until recently, Mr. Dover and I were close personal friends. I am both shocked and extremely disappointed in his conduct. I will however, continue to maintain the level of professionalism and respect toward him that he appears to have forgotten in his treatment of me and the issues between us will be resolved. In the meantime, it is unfortunate that he has chosen this route.

Thank you,

Joseph Zada

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April 14, 2009

To All Readers of Ron Davis’ “Riches to Rags” Flyer:

I, unfortunately, am well aware that this document is being circulated by Ron Davis on the Internet. Brief response is required. Anyone reading this document who really knows me knows that these allegations are false; plain and simple. Ron Davis and I have a business dispute and he has opted to resort to melodrama, hoped-for embarrassment and slander instead of testing his claim for money in a court of law. For anyone who does not know me or does not know me well, I only ask that you read this self-adoring flyer for what it is and consider the source while considering Mr. Davis’ “personal journey for truth surrounding his relationship and subsequent business investment.” The only personal journey is for money. Nothing else needs to be said at this point as I will be taking full advantage of my legal rights to address this problem. Thank you for reading and considering this.

Thank you,

Joseph Zada

And there you have it. Well, sort of. The truth is that Mike Donaldson was sued by Joe for allegedly putting posters around Wellington calling Joe a “Deadbeat” for not paying what he felt he was owed. Now, both Robert Ross and I were subpoenaed by Donaldson’s attorney to appear to be deposed on his client’s behalf. We did this and, with the weight of all the testimony which just Robert ( I was ready to testify but Joe’s lawyer and Joe held a little meeting in the hallway and decided maybe it was better if they didn’t ask me any questions) gave and whatever other facts came into evidence, Zada decided to drop his case.
So when Donaldson, in the midst of so much coming to a head, decided to send the above letter to Dover’s World, I, of course, was skeptical. So I sent a message back to Mike and told him that I would be more than willing to print his message if he would be so kind as to contact me either by phone or by e-mail so I could hear his explanation for such a huge turn around. NADA! And so I sent the request again, saying I would not keep his message on my personal site if I did not hear back from him, as I could only imagine the circumstances underwhich he wrote it. Again NOTHING!  So, as this is my personal, private website which contains what I choose to put there and always will, I took it off, without regrets. But understand this - if Mike contacts me in the next days and explains his motivation for writing it, I will gladly apologize to him and Joe for taking the letter off my site.
And now to Joe’s letter about me. First, all I want is for Joe to pay what he owes us and our friends and loved ones. Not only has he admitted to owing everyone, Robert and I have judgments proving how much he owes,  and the many documents we have do the same to show that this has now gone on since the fall of 2007. For Joe to say that I am trying to “extort” anything is absurd, for how does someone extort something the other admits to owing them? And then there is the question of our recent good friendship. Joe actually lived in the guest quarters of my home on and off for 2 years, so I guess he’s right that Robert and I were good friends to him. We trusted him with everything, including our life savings, which he told us was invested along with his own money in oil. This, we began, all the way back in 1999 and continued to do throughout the following years. It was these funds which were supposedly growing over the decade just as oil truly did, as anyone can remember. So, in 2007 when Joe was supposed to pay us on November 5th, and nothing came, this was the beginning of what I now refer to as “The Continuing Joe Zada Saga”.
And so why would it be that we find ourselves no longer able to be fast friends with Joe? Could it be that, after 2 years of “It’s all happening on next Tuesday”, watching our families and friends suffer because they’ve lost every last penny to Joe, and the fact that somehow he actually tries to turn the whole thing around to say that all of us “friends” have turned on him and he’s as much of a victim here as everyone else involved? That must be it! And it’s only the tip of the iceberg, folks. But, I do have just one more question. Joe says he will continue to act toward me with the same level of “professionalism” as always; but now I’m wondering exactly what “profession” that would be!

So, Joe, if you really want to set the entire record straight, as Diana has asked to do repeatedly with you in a phone interview, please feel free to write in and tell me and my readers exactly what you did with our invested money and why you still, after years, have not paid us what you owe us. I promise that, provided it isn’t more nonsense, I will certainly print it along with whatever comes out of your “supposed” court ordered appearance this coming Wednesday in Palm Beach for Case:NO.:502008CA021738XXXXMBAN  Brosseit vs. Zada

Cheers!

RD

Dear Rhonda,

I am a 41 year old gay man and have been dating a 22 year old for the past six
weeks.  I am the youngest of my group of friends and most of them have
been telling me that I am crazy. Am I delusional or is there a chance
at all that this will work?

Thanks,

Cou-gay

Dear Cou-gay (love the spin on Demi Moore’s inspired “Cougar” title),

First of all, I have to say that I am thrilled to finally get a
question from my silent (but clearly prevalent) gay audience.  I knew
you were out there.

My first reaction was YIKES! Twenty-two?? And not for the reasons you
may think.  It was pure jealousy. That’s right, jealousy. And that’s
exactly why your friends said what they said to you.  Deep down, they
may have felt concern and wondered what mid-life fantasy you were
trying to work through (I know which one I am working through just
thinking about it), but WHY the comments shot out of their mouths were
based in 100% pure jealousy. And why shouldn’t they be.  Good for you.

Now back to the million dollar question. Does this relationship have a
chance at all?  Yes it does my dear Cou-gay. Your relationship has the
same chance of success that Rhonda has of being abducted by a Middle
Eastern terrorist and then falling in love with the terrorist.

I know those odds don’t sound good, but remember it did kinda happen
that way for Patty Hearst, so keep your chin up! What you need to
remember is that true love comes in many shapes, sizes, sexes and
ages. It always comes when least expecte. and it may not look
anything like you expected.  Have fun, respect each other’s different
perspectives, be safe and see where it goes (and feel free to send
photos of the twenty-two year old)

Best,

Rhonda

I was afraid that the 1st of my Dreams which I posted as a comment only might have been lost in the shuffle, so I am reprinting it here. It is so near and dear to me that I hope, by doing so, people will grab hold of it as they have so fantastically with my Dream to find Gary Johnson a new driving ony.
I believe we are already well on our way to making Gary’s wish come true. Thanks!!!
So here it is-my 1st post, again.

Well, I just have to say how beautiful the words those of you who have written in have been for me to read. I truly hope you will keep on sharing your dreams with me and others, and I will now share with you one of mine. I want you to know that this is by no means my only or even my greatest, though I admit it to be one of my fondest.

One of the great loves of my life is neither a person nor an animal; though again I admit that these two will always be my highest priorities and I will discuss one in my next “Dream Wish” with you all later. It is actually a place many of us simply refer to as “The Team” and it is the home of the United States Equestrian Team in Gladstone, NJ.
In one of my early posts, I recounted my very first time setting foot in the fantastic stables which also house the offices, living quarters, trophy room, and library. I remember the feeling of entering a building which felt as holy as a Church or Synagogue, but probably cleaner. Every last inch of this shrine to our top horses and riders from decades before was polished and gleaming and NEVER was even a shaving seen where it did not belong. Our great Jumping Coach, Bert de Nemethy, ran the Team as his ship and the riders and staff were the ever faithfull shipmates who ensured his exquisite attention to detail be applied each and every day in not only the care and training of the horses, but to both the interior and exterior of their home as well. Since Bert’s retirement, and because the team stopped being used as it was in his time, as a true “Training Center”, the facilities slowly fell more and more into disrepair. It is certainly partly a result of the nature of the Show Jumping business having evolved into one which sees the trainers and their students spending the greatest bulk of their time annually at the competitions as opposed to training at home or at a “center”.

Needless to say, over these many years I have been very emotional and sometimes even angry over the state of this place I called my second home for many years in my youth. It is absolutely nobody’s fault any more or less than it is all of our’s for letting it become so run down, but last month as I was there for the Festival Of Champions and it was being discussed that next year’s Championships will be the last one probably ever held there, a light came on in my head and I’ve been obcessing about it ever since, and want to share it with you now.

I dream of the “Gladstone Restoration and Beautification Project” which will ask for, recieve, and use funds not associated with those necessary to be used by our Federation to train and field teams, but rather will have the goal to bring the USET back to its former glory, and then some! This fantastic building and the much smaller but still substantial grounds associated with it need not have it’s story come to a close. By restoring what is truly an amazing Olympic Training Center, there is an enormous opportunity to bring back the days of De Nemethy, but now with the discipline priority being placed, instead of on Jumping, on Dresssage. The building and stalls are fantastic; the living quarters and indoor arena need to be refurbished with heavy emphasis being placed on making it the world-class facility it can and should be.
I dream about seeing training sessions and camps taking place there on a consistent schedule, and of nurturing top young athletes, both two and four-legged who may, as I did, take up residence, provided they understand that once again, they will be treated with the same respect as is expected of them in the care and maintenance of this sacred place. And I would be more than thrilled to march myself around daily, humbly remembering that I would be walking in the footsteps of Bert de Nemethy, who I am absolutely certain would be right there in spirit, thrilled to see his home once again with its wood and brass shining and bright! And there you have it - my Dream.

Cheers!

RD

I received word from the man who always has his ear to the ground, Mason Phelps, that a gay Polo team was heading to Wellington this coming season to try its hand against the best in the world.  My first reaction was (and still is) GREAT!
I have been an out and proud gay athlete for decades and have worked closely with the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation since its inception. Here is the link for readers to go to the team’s website: http://www.page2live.com/2009/07/15/get-ready-wellington-heres-the-gay-polo-league/
At the bottom of their page you will notice a place where they have asked for comments, to which I sent congratulations and offers to help promote the fact that they are coming to compete. Other comments from Polo enthusiasts have not been nearly so generous, and some have been outright nasty and homophobic!  It is a very interesting thing how bigotry can be masked behind  nuanced  words by people who fear that someone will call them out on it. So what they do is say things like, ” I really have nothing against Gay people but do you all have to flaunt your sexuality around our children?” Or, “What if a bunch of Drag Queens decides to come up from Miami to watch?” Oh my God! What might happen then?
The truth of the matter is that these guys just want to play Polo, but honestly, I’ve been to many matches here and in the Hamptons and the drinking and carousing that goes on in the tent in front of the “children” are way more a display of sexuality than probably will ever be the case by the gay folk who attend. As a matter of fact, “my people”  have been coming and watching polo for some time now and so far it hasn’t caused much of an uproar.
Now, to those of you who ask the question, “Why does a person’s sexuality have anything to do with sports?” Let me explain the answer as many of us see it. Most of us would love nothing more than to have no more need for Gay Athletic Organizations and Pride Events. But that would require first that there be no more discrimination against people for something they were born with, just as those born a different color than white. Did you know that there has still yet to be an openly gay professional baseball player, or football, basketball, and hockey? (You get the drift) The reason for that is not that there are none (they come out after they retire), but rather that they fear that by coming out they will be immediatley dropped from their contract, just as by doing so gays are still being kicked out of our military, dispite the fact that they are doing excellent jobs in every field where straight people, both men and women, are serving.
So, if by forming a team through which gays are able to form bonds of friendship and even talk about other guys or girls  half as much as straight people in sports do, I say FANTASTIC!  As far as I’m concerned, on the field of play, I’m positive that these guys and gals will try to play just as strongly as their straight (maybe not all?) counterparts and they will be cheered on just like I have been by fans who may or may not be gay but enjoy the sport and respect all people as equals.

Cheers!

RD

My sister, Dale, is always coming up with great Videos and Jokes.
Here is the one she sent for today. Enjoy!

A woman  brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon.  As she  laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope  and listened to the bird’s chest.After a moment or two,  the vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m sorry, your duck,  Cuddles, has passed away.”The distressed woman  wailed, “Are you sure?”"Yes, I am sure.  The duck is dead,” replied the vet.”How can you be  so sure?” she protested.”I mean you haven’t done any testing  on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or       something.”The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left  the room.He returned a few minutes later with a  blackLabrador Retriever.As the duck’s owner  looked on in amazement,the dog stood on his hind legs, put his  front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top  to bottom.He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and  shook his head.The vet patted the dog on the head and took  it out of the room.A few minutes later he returned with a  cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the  bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook  its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.The  vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this  is most definitely,100% certifiably, a dead  duck.”The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a  few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.The  duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$150!” she  cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!”The vet  shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the  bill would have been $20,But with the Lab Report and the  Cat Scan, it’s now $150.”         <

Hi Gang.

I just posted my 1st “Dream” under the Dover’s Dream…And Yours blog. I hope you enjoy reading it by hitting the icon at the top of the page and also take a look  at those lovely responses by others. Please  share yours with me and my readers as I am certain  that only good can come from putting your wishes out into the universe.

Cheers!

RD

I promised a more detailed analysis of the Aachen big tour competition so here it is.

First let me say that there is no show in the world that compares to Aachen. Quite simply, Frank Kemperman and his crew put on the best show in the world and, despite all the uproar over the German troubles with doping and the upheaval withing their natiional federation, from everything I heard the competition was still a great success.

Now, I wasn’t there in person but I didn’t have to be in order to be jumping up and down with pride over the amazing victories of Steffen Peters and Ravel!  His dreams most definitely are coming true, big time, and as they are so are the dreams of his grateful country and, most definitely, mine.  He was far and away the winner of the Grand Prix, much to the surprise of many who were certain of the usual German triumphs. So what exactly happened to the German team?

For one thing, the home town queen, Isabell Werth, was, as everyone knows, not allowed to compete due to a provisional suspension pending the tribunal hearing. In the meantime, I have been very proud of all those people who have reminded people that she is innocent until determined otherwise by the FEI, and that she and her amazing career should be respected.  As for the rest of the team, my personal take on the situation is that this weakening of the German “machine” has been taking place over a period of time going back to Athens, 2004.  Did their team win there? Yes it did.  But the scores have been getting closer and on the Grand Prix Special day, had this competition alone determined the team medals, the United States would have won the gold!  And let’s not forget that the Dutch beat the Germans in the following World Championships as well. It just goes to show that even the strongest countries have cycles when older horses and riders retire, have health issues, or incur other circumstances which alter their standing in the world. But mark my words - Deutchland does not take defeat laying down and they will work harder than ever to put themselves right back on top as soon as they can.

The Dutch, on the other hand, even with Anky and Salinero just coming back after time off and not yet showing at their best, won even without Edward Gal and his new star, Totalis and Adelinde Cornelissen’s Parsival. From their Junior programs to their elite International ones, Nederland has it all goin’ on! And let’s not forget that they are breeding and keeping their best horses for their top riders. What a concept!

Also in the medals, even with some bad luck when Laura Bechtolsheimer’s horse got its tongue over the bit (I know exactly how that feels and it’s awful! ), were the British Team. I have a very good feeling they will do it again for the European Championships on their own soil at the end of the summer. With Carl Hester and Emme Hindle both putting in very good showings, I think Laura will do her usual fine job as she has all year up until Aachen and even give the German team a run for the silver.

I think the Danes will keep improving for a fourth place and, though I was sad to hear of the great competitor, Jan Brink, and his plans for retirement, the Swedes will probably place right behind them. I remember in 1984 when the Swedish team as well as the Russian and Swiss teams were all extremely strong. This, once again, speaks to the cyclical evolution of the sport in every country, but also shows which ones have had very strong and well funded programs in place to bring along new squads of riders and horses.

I secretly wish, as was the case some years ago when Lisa Wilcox was invited to ride in the European Championships, that our star, Steffen, could contend to become the European Champion. But as far as I’m concerned, he really just did that by winning the greatest Dressage tournament in the world - Aachen!

Cheers!

RD