The universe never stops trying to teach us how to best live our lives, but that certainly doesn’t mean we are always listening.  So many times I find I am listening to the wrong voices, some of them from others but mostly those coming from places in myself that were speaking so loudly I couldn’t or wouldn’t hear my own heart.  Of course, it’s always easier to blame everyone else for those things you do or say which don’t live up to the very best part of ourselves, but the truth is that we are all responsible for our paths, even when we believe them to somebody else’s fault for getting us there.

During this time of so much hardship for so many, we have all been tested and perhaps nobody more so than President Obama. No matter how many people try to bring him and his policies down, he makes me ever more proud by the fact that he continues to stand by the truth no matter how many times he seems to have to repeat himself to those determined to hear what they choose to hear. He most definitely knows what is in his heart and will not be detered by those unwilling to see his goodness.

I wish I were that smart but luckily for me, not only do I have loved ones who are, I also have learned that if I become very quiet - so quiet that I can hear my own heart - whether you choose to call it the Universe, Mother Nature, or God;  it may take a while but eventually, He, She, or It always steers me onto the right path!

Cheers!

RD

No matter how long it’s been since my Jack Russells, Half-Halt and Pirouette died, the feeling of terrible sadness returns the second someone tells me of having to put their pet to sleep. And so it is again today since I spoke to my great friend and teammate, Guenter Siedel, and he told me that he and his partner, Sean, are having to have their 16 year old pug, Oprah, put to sleep this afternoon. I remember when Guentergot her and she was a tiny black ball of craziness. She has had a wonderful life but, as Guenter said, it is so awful to have to make that decision, regardless of how clearly right it might be.

When Half-Halt was 18, he had both heart and kidney problems for 5 years and only because of my great vets and the constant care Robert and I gave him did he last that long. I will never forget the last day of his life when I called the heart specialist and asked her if there might not be some miracle to keep him alive.  Her response was, “Robert, the dog is 18 years old. That’s already a miracle!” He was only a shell of his former self and could not even hold himself up, and when I walked into the vet clinic, the doctor took one look at me and said, “Robert, I know you. Now hand me Half-Halt and turn around and go home.”  He knew that not only I, but probably the clinic could not have survived my staying to be with him at the very end.
And they were so right! I went home and mourned for the next days ( OK, maybe it was more like months) and one night I remember praying and wishing that Half-Halt could let me know that he was in “Dog Heaven” and fine, and I swear that at that precise moment Pirouette, who was asleep at the foot of the bed, began barking while having a dream. And that was it - I am positive that was my sign that all was well with my beloved pet on the other side.

So though the pain that Guenter is feeling is so palpable to us all and it brings me to tears of empathy, I also know that our pets tell us when they have had enough and we are keeping them around for our needs more than their own. Our gift of setting them free from their bodies becomes just that, but it still doesn’t soften the hurt and sadness. So I send out my love and thoughts to Guenter, Sean, and of course, Oprah, as they go through this day that no animal lover ever wishes to have, and know that their other Pug, Bentley, will give them the extra love they need to get through the transition.

Love,

RD

So here’s the thing - I’ve been home for 2 days and I’m just now having the first moment to go on Dover’s World to talk to my friends! Is cloning really that complicated?

As I said when I was there, Aachen, for me, was a huge success. Now, that is not to say that every trial was a perfect 10 (Remember, a 10 is only “Excellent”, anyway), but even the gorgeous weather seemed to be an omen of great things to come for the sport of Dressage. I will predict now that several of those items tested will become standard for our sport in the near future. But since I am a member of the Task Force and understand that our report must first go to the FEI Executive Board as well as the full membership at the General Assembly in November, the best I can do is tell you to guess which ones you think “passed the test” and I’ll nod my head if you’re right. OK?

People have been asking where my Out For Good Hero for September is. I promise I’m working on that and will be posting that article in the next few days and letting you know who it is.

And since I am telling you about stuff coming soon to Dover’s World, I am please to report that my webmaster, Julian Forero, will become a new contributor to the site with his own blog geared toward college students around the world and all of the things they are interested in. Now, to be totally honest, it’s been so long since those days for me that the whole thing is only a haze, so I will be very interested and intrigued, I’m sure, with Julian’s take on everything “university”. Wow, maybe his blog should be titled, “The University Universe”, by Julian Forero. I’ll float it by him but let me know if you can think of a better title.

And while you’re at it, if you can think of any other special topics deserving of their own blog, let me know. Maybe I will start it and, if so, I will send you a Dover’s World autographed T-shirt as thanks.

Well, it’s time for my next appointment, so that’s all for now. I promise to do better in the future.

Cheers!

RD

The final day of the FEI Judging Systems Trials concluded with a round table discussion including many judges as well as trainers, riders, and the FEI Dressage Task Force members and staff. My opinion is that everyone felt the 3 days brought extremely positive results, though no absolute conclusions may be made until the FEI receives and decides upon the merits of the report which the Task Force must deliver in approximately 6 weeks from now. Among our 5 tasks given to us was the one on “Judging” and this was the reason for our Trials event the last 3 days.
David Strickland did a wonderful job of presenting a statistical analysis of each of the trials tested and did a fantastic job making them understandable and visually clear.
Without Frank Kemperman the event could never have been such a success as his staff and the incredible Aachen facilities provided the perfect location for our needs, while also giving many riders and their horses a unique opportunity to “school” in the best show arena in the world!

Remembering that final conclusions from these trials and discussions must wait for some time to be determined, when I get home tomorrow from Germany I will give some of my own general opinions on things I preferred and those I did not.

Cheers!

RD

The secnond day of the Dressage Judging
Systems Trials held by the FEI Dressage Task Force in Aachen was another big success.

The first test was of dividing the tasks in the standard Grand Prix. Five judges scored exactly as normal, giving marks as well as collective marks for the purpose of a reference. Five other judges gave collective marks according to a newly designed test sheet.
The test was designed to determine:
a. If the total marks willbe higher or lower than in the case of the present way od judging
b. to determine if the variatiion between average marks for a movement and average marks for collective marks will be higher/lower than when judged in the present way

The next trial was that of dividing the tasks for the Freesttyle in which the Grand Prix level was used. In this test, 4 judges judged the technical part from H,C,M and B and, as always, were able to give “half marks” for final marks per movement. 3 judges sitting at E, between C and H and between C and M judged the artistic part with half marks as normal and have the possibility to give more detailed remarks to the competitor. This test was to determine if:
a. the total marks will be higher or lower than when judged in the present way,
b. if the variation between the average technical marks and the average artistic marks will be higher /lower than with the present system

The final trial was to see if judges sitting close together and therefore all having the same view of the riders would change positively or negatively the outcome. In this test, 5 judges were placed in booths side by side on the short side while 5 more were placed side by side with larger widths in between the booths on the longside. We also placed one judge in a new locatiion which was directly behind the letter M, where no judge normally sits. This test was to evaluate how much the placement of the judges truly enhances or detracts from there ability to see all positive and negative aspects of the rides, and whether or not this leads to faulty placements of the horses and poorer scoring.

We continued to have wonderful discussions between the judges, the Task Force and the FEI Staff, especailly with regard to the positive results of creating a Judges Supervisory Panel for major competitions which will offer oversight to ensure there always be fair, compitant and honest officiating.
tomorrow will be our final morning of discussions by the Dressqage Task Force and I will report on these directly after.

Cheers!

RD

It was a very long day of testing various methods of judging and scoring dressage, beginning at 9:00am for us, the FEI Task Force members and ending at 10:00pm. Thanks to the many riders who have volunteered to come and show in their full dress, despite the extremely hot and sunny weather (which I kept thanking GOD for!), as well as the judges and everyone from Aachen who are doing so much to make everyone feel welcome, as usual. It never ceases to thrill me to walk onto these show grounds, even when there seems to be only us very few fanatics instead of the 65,000 normally in attendance for a real show. There is truly no place that compares to Aachen!

The first test was devised by David Strickland and Wayne Channon and concerned separating the judging tasks into each only scoring 1 or 2 main parts of the training scale throughout the Grand Prix. 7 judges judged; the first scored Impulsion; the second, Rhythm; the third, Contact and Suppleness; the fourth, Precision;, the fifth, Submission; the sixth, Collection; and the seventh, Straightness. Once again, the results of this test will require some time before we can ascertain whether or not this method shows promise.

The second trial consisted of a comparison between 5 judges judging, 7 judges judging with all scores counting, and 7 judges judging with the high and low scores dropped out. Analysis of this trial will require a couple of days before we receive the data to determine what, if any, value might arrive from either change.

The third trial used a total of 10 judges, 5 who judged as normal and 5 who judged using .5 points. the logic behind using 1/2 points is that many times a judge would like to give a “big 7″ or a “little 8″ but they may not and they therefore stick to the rounded score. In many cases, being able to give the extra .5 would change a final score by several percentage points and therefore alter the placements of that competitor. Marabel Alonso, sitting at C, discussed her feeling with the audience saying that, although at the beginning it was a bit disconcerting to have to ‘think differently”, by the end she began to feel more comfortable with this method and could imagine judges getting used to giving half points and it becoming not a problem.

This took us to the dinner hour, after which Katrina Wuest first did a magnificent job of explaining, along with a wonderful presentation, how future judging of Dressage may work with dividing the tasks while using new formulas and technology to enable judging to truly move into the 21st century. It will require more time to work out the kinks and secure the software necessary for it to work, but shows amazing promise and the obvious countless hours of work she put into this. Katrina then used video of rides from the European Championships in Turin, Italy, to show how, using test sheets which she created and the Task force approved, judges could separate the technical from the artistic tasks, some only doing the one while others only do the other. The most positive thing about this is that those judges doing the artistic judging could, for the very first time, sit back and have the luxury of simply watching the entire test before giving marks for that part of the performance. With as many as 25 I and O judges in attendance, there was much very good discourse and tomorrow we will try this method using live horses and riders and see how it goes.

I will certainly report back tomorrow evening with all the news from the day. And now this jet-lagged lover of Dressage is going to sleep!

Cheers!

RD

Well, I’m at the Holiday Inn in Aachen and ready to begin tomorrow’s 3 days of Judging Systems Trials. I am very excited, as are the other members of the FEI Dressage Task Force, to produce this study to determine if new methods of judging, scoring, and the use of technology might positively modify and modernize the sport of Dressage.

I have also been happy that my challenge to bloggers has seemingly opened up greater channels of communication between Dressage enthusiasts and myself, both as a member of the FEI Task Force and a fellow lover of the sport. Still, while there has been a steady stream of questions and comments coming in, it is nothing compared to the 144 posts people have placed on another site about my very challenge. I am happy that some of those applaud my willingness to discuss issues they are interested in, but some people think I should “come to them” to talk about their concerns and even more continue to “answer each other’s questions” as if they sat on the committee next to me and know first hand what our motivations and end-game desires are. As to going to the other blog-sites, I honestly have hardly enough time every day to deal with my own.  Build and maintain one yourself and you will see what I mean. So. sorry, but if you want to have an ongoing conversation with me on any and all issues, it will have to be where I have a built-in responsibility to go to every day - DoversWorld.com.  But, every once in a while (or when a friend tells me I must), I will peruse the other sites to find out if I really am going to be on Dancing With The Stars, since I never got the notice, or to see what those “herd members” are saying about issues I have a passion about.

Know this - I love talking to you and promise to always give my honest opinion on any issue you ask or comment about.

Cheers!

RD

Hi Gang.

I feel bad as I have not answered all of my friends who have so kindly sent in comments and questions to Dover’s World this week. I have just been swamped and now I am needing to pack for my trip tomorrow to Germany.

I promise I will keep trying to catch up as well as post daily blogs about the Judging Systems Trials.

Cheers!

RD

So here’s the thing - August pretty much sucked!  So  rather than whine about things that made me unhappy, I will look forward to those which bring me joy or a grin on my face.

I’ll be travelling a great deal in September - first to Aachen for the Judging Systems Trials where many of us will work together to modify and modernize, where necessary, the judging of Dressage sport. The trials will take place from September 7-9 and  are open to the public. I will post a blog daily to try to keep my readers informed as to our progress.
On September 19th and 20th, I will be conducting a clinic in San Diego and then do two more days (21,22) in Los Angeles. Information about these two clinics can be found on this site under my Farewell Tour heading.  I love seeing my west coast friends and their wonderful horses!

I am very excited about Lendon Gray’s new “Emerging Dressage Star Program” which will hopefully revolutionize our industry by searching for, finding, and nurturing our brightest and most talented young kids - truly our greatest hope for future Olympic medals!  Please read my post on this fantastic program and give what you can to make sure this dream becomes a reality.

A Zada news flash!  The producers of “Riches To Rags” have uncovered over 60 minutes of never before seen footage of private interviews with Joe Zada by the director.  I can imagine it will make for both entertaining and enlightening  viewing!

I have to say, summers down here in Florida are not nearly as uncomfortable as many seem tho think. Of course, we at Tuny Page’s Stillpoint Farm are spoiled by the gorgeous covered arena and airy barns. And I am so fortunate to be able to go down to South Miami Beach to our condo on the water on our days off. At the moment, the ocean water is right around body temperature and you would think, by all the people having fun, that we were in the height of season and not the beginning of September. I love it!

Simon, our Schnoodle who is now a little over one year old, could not be a more wonderful dog. I absolutely adore him, as do Robert and my parents. And even with my folks’ health struggles, they are keeping strong and I am so blessed to live close enough to be with them often.

And that’s my life in a nut shell right now. We will be adding some new and exciting things to Dover’s World next month, but I’m keeping them a secret for the moment.

Cheers!

RD

Dear Rhonda,
How do I encourage my co-worker to make better dating choices? She meets total losers in bars and they make her life miserable. When a fellow co-worker wanted to ask her out, she wasn’t interested. He is a decent person with steady employment. I am always a bit speechless when she goes on and on about the total losers making her life miserable.
Sincerely,
What is a Friend to Do

Dear Ms. Do,
What would a girl do without a friend like you? You’re there to listen and you’re there for advice. But you know what you’re mostly there for… to enable her. That’s right!
Now, I hate to be judgmental (not really), but I have met tons of wet mops like her and they all drive me batty. But hear me out on this. As long as you keep giving her attention she will continue dating these losers. It is a viscous cycle and these bad relationships are her identity. Of course she doesn’t want to date a decent guy! He would be nice to her and she would have nothing to talk about.
Your only recourse is to stop listening. Your listening and enabling is the oxygen that fuels her fire. Cut it off. Just tell her that you are her friend, but you are tired of listening to the same old story time and time again when she really has no desire to change. You may have to do it as an intervention with a few other friends to make it meaningful. If you don’t she will trash you and move on to someone else. Kinda like a virus. Anyway, good luck with this losing situation.
Best,
Rhonda
p.s. You must not be in sales because your description of the fellow co-worker being “a decent person with steady employment” was about as enticing as a day-old tuna fish sandwich laying out on a sun-drenched picnic table in the middle of August. I would hate for you to write my match.com ad.