I am a true believer in miracles. I have witnessed so many I can no longer count them. Is that hard to believe?

Well, let me tell you that if you do not believe me, it may be that you and I don’t agree with the definition of a miracle. You see, I look at a beautiful sunrise or sunset, at a leaf on a tree, at ants on the 18th floor on a building, or at my Mom who was given 3 months to live almost 7 years ago and see in all of them a MIRACLE!

Naturally, my Mom is a grander miracle in my eyes than finding my keys after mis-placing them for a week, but it just goes to show you that little and big miracles are happening constantly, whether we observe them or not and whether we consider them as such or not as well.

And the power of our minds, both individually and collectively can, in my opinion, open the universe to give us what we desire, but also many times what we do not desire but rather actually need, even when it might be the opposite of what we wished for and even cause us pain.  So I have learned to ask for miracles I wish for, but also to ask for the miracle of understanding things or events which occur that seem counter to that which I desire. In these cases all  I can truly hope for is wisdom to comfort me.

I honestly want everyone to be healthy and happy, though I understand that this is just not possible for any of us indefinitely. Such is the circle of life. But that does not stop me for asking for miracles for my friends and loved ones who I wish continued good health or a speeedy and full recovery.

Therefore, I ask that you join me in praying to whatever higher power or greater consciousness you wish, for the following people:
Jean, Gene, and Ingred.

Thank you!

RD

Last weekend was Dressage at Devon, traditionally one of if not the most well attended show, especially by vendors and spectators. I have competed there for almost 30 years and have wonderful memories of riding down the centre line in the Dixon Arena on many horses.

I also have recollections of standing in the cold with driving rain and water and muck almost up to my knees while warming up students for their classes. Not so fun!

When it comes right down to it, nothing can be done about the weather, since holding a competition the last weeks of September is always going to be frought with the possibility of extremes. On the other hand, what is completely able to control is a show’s footing, regardless of inclement weather. No place on earth can have more rain during a show than Aachen, the greatest competition in the world for the sports of Dressage and Show Jumping, and regardless of how much it just keeps coming down on those arenas, the bases as well as the footing are made to withstand all that and more. I bet a veritable tidal wave could wash over Aachen’s show grounds and have horses compete comfortably 10 minutes later.

And guess what? Aachen is not the exception in European competitions. I would say that most if not all of the major outdoor shows have come to figure out how to ensure safe and excellent footing for the horses, which makes so much sense, since the ground they have to perform such difficult tasks on can be at the very least the cause for defeat and in some cases the cause of dangerous and even life threatening accidents.

Just as with other shows for which I have fond memories as well as friendships with organizers, I want to get defensive for Dressage at Devon, for I really love and admire all those who have continued to bring us our traditional competitions. But, and I’m truly sorry about this “but”, I’ve been chanting for years now that the bar has got to be raised on our shows, from footing to prize money and everything in between. Dressage riders, trainers, and owners need to get together and decide that, even if the managers say they will stop putting on the shows, we will stick together and demand better conditions or boycott until the problems are rectified. Remember this, if we don’t show they’re out of a job altogether.

Do I hate to sound abrasive and adversarial about this? Absolutely! But enough is enough and this kind of stuff has been going on for just too long. Something has got to give and it just cannot be our horses’ legs!

Cheers!

RD

The International Dressage Trainers Club is proud to have been a supporter or the Global Dressage Forum. Since 2001 the Global Dressage Forum has been the leading public debating platform for the international dressage world. The world’s top riders’ and trainers’ techniques are examined in both practical and theoretical sessions. Current political proposals which impact on the sport of dressage also have an airing and the latest developments in horse management and sports science are also presented.The 2009 GDF should be particularly interesting with the participation top riders Steffan Peters and Heike Kemmer. Ton de Ridder, trainer of many successful international competitors including the successful 2003 Dutch junior/young rider team, will also present a Master Class. Results and conclusions from the ground breaking Aachen Judging Trials will also be discussed.  Plus much more! A complete program can be viewed on the GDF website www.globaldressageforum.com.This year the International Dressage Trainers’ club will increase their support of the GDF by offering a 40% discount on the price to clients and students of IDTC members. All that is required to obtain the discount is to mention the name of the IDTC member when making your reservation. As the current economic situation has sadly caused the cancellation of several other dressage forums it is important to attend the Global Dressage Forum to keep abreast of latest developments and to have your opinions heard.

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I was so sad to hear that my good friend, Ashley Holzer’s Dad, Ian Nichol, passed away last week.  Ashley had been spending as much time as possible with him as his health declined and my heart goes out to her, her Mom, Moreen, and the entire Nichol/ Holzer family.

I remember Ashley and her Dad from the early 80’s and their relationship was absolutely wonderful. No person was every more proud and supportive of his child than Ian was of Ashley, both on and off her horse. Not only was he always there to be her greatest fan, Ian had a fantastic eye and could give an absolutely spot-on critique of her tests as well as those of the other riders (and the judges!)  But beyond that, Ian was always a great gentleman and showed tremendous class as Ashley’s horse’s owner and her mentor. I was always impressed by his style, carriage, and ability to articulate himself in public.  And nothing could describe how great of a person he was better than how fantastic his daughter turned out, for you just don’t get better than Ashley Nichol Holzer! And that’s a fact!

Luv ya, Ash!

RD

I love the fact that the Dressage community now has its first ever radio show called “dressageradio.com”, hosted by my friend, Chris Stafford. I enjoyed speaking with Chris today about various issues important to all those who love our sport.

If you would like to listen to our chat, you can do so on October 2nd by going to dressageradio.com. It will also be available on both iTunes and Zune as a free subscription to the podcast.

I hope you enjoy our conversation and look forward to doing it again soon. Let me know what you think.

Cheers!

RD

 I’m just back from my clinics in San Diego and L.A. and I can tell you that the only thing hotter  than many of the riders and their horses  I saw, were the surrounding acres which caught fire and spread quickly due to the heavy winds on Tuesday. I was also amazed by the calm and thoughtful way in which neighbors helped one another to both determine where and how severe the fires were spreading, and to evacuate, whenever necessary, horses our of the endangered areas.

I am always impressed with the standard of riding and horses I see on the west coast. It is special fun for me to help my friends out there, among whom are Olympians, Guenter Seidel and Christine Traurig, and Charlotte Bredahl as well as World Cup rider, Jan Ebeling and World Championships competitor, Maire Meyers.  Truly, all of the riders and horses were terrific and I hope I was able to help and encourage each of them as well as those auditing at least a bit.

Cheers!

RD

We are a year out from the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and I guarantee they will be extraordinary!
The organizers and volunteers as well as Kentucky’s awesome facilities ensure not only optimum performances from the athletes, both human and equine, but also a wonderful experience for spectators from around the world to enjoy.

And it’s about now that teams feel that surge momentum as well. They are strategising to do everything possible to bring their strongest riders to a perfect peak at the WEG’s - not an easy thing to do, especially if there are greener riders and horses among their group.
Where, when, and how much to show to gain the experience, exposure, confidence, and yes, political clout they absolutely require to assure a top place finish in Kentucky is as much an art as is doing the training of the horse itself.
George Morris has proven time and again to be a master of that art, as have the leaders of many German and Dutch teams in the past and at present.

So now is the time to build momentum- toward a great World Equestrian Games where the very best in the world will hopefully show this year’s preparation has brought them to the pinnicle of their careers!
Let’s break more world records! Good Luck to all!

Cheers!

RD

I am really disappointed! Not for the reasons some of you may suspect, because I am very happy with pretty much everything in my personal life.
No, I am upset because I found out today that only $4,700.00 has come in to Lendon Gray’s “Emerging Dressage Star Program”, quite possibly the greatest program ever designed to ensure a golden future for American Dressage!
Even more sad is that $4000.00 of that amount came from one very kind client of Lendon’s.

When I wrote and asked initially that people show their support for this fantastic project by sending $100.00 to The Dressage Foundation, I was certain that, from the hundreds of thousands of horse lovers in the United States, at least 150 people would recognize the importance of what Lendon is doing and chip in what many gladly pay for a dinner for two.
But then friends on Facebook said that perhaps it was smarter to ask people to send whatever they could, be it $10 or $15.00.
And even this obviously didn’t work!

So, now I’m asking my readers to PLEASE help me make this happen. We need another $11,000.00 to get The Emerging Dressage Star Program off the ground so it may begin searching for, finding, and nurturing our kids whose greatest hopes are to one day represent the United States Olympic Dressage Team.
Please contact Lendon at
graydressage@optonline.net or send checks to The Dressage Foundation (address can be found on this site in former article on the EDSP)

Cheers!

RD

I don’t know about everyone else, but these past couple of years have made me keep asking the question, “What’s it all about?” I know that everyone has phases they go through in life - 20’s are about finding one’s self; 30’s are about achieving; 40’s are about grasping for youth; and as far as I can tell, 50’s seem to be about trying to figure out  why so much time during the previous decades was wasted on all those other phases!

I mean, it’s not that I don’t haven’t had great times throughout all those years. I have had an absolutely wonderful life full of every possible blessing  for which I am always grateful. But knowing that there’s probably less time left in front of me than behind, what I most value now has changed.  The notion of  “success” no longer is about accumulating “stuff”, money, fame, or titles.  Now, more and more, it is about having the choice to spend my time with friends and loved ones having FUN!  Whether at home playing with my dog, Simon, or going on a cruise with Robert and our friends, it is now all about making the one thing that I know I want to have more of as I get older - MEMORIES!

Cheers!

RD