Joe Zada is hitting the front pages of both the Detroit Free Press and the Palm Beach Post again, this time  reporting the judgment against him in favor of Serge Federov in the amount of $60,000,000.00!  Just yesterday he was still telling one of the few people who he still speaks to from the approximately 30 we know  he admits to owing money, that the funds are now finally in his account. But, he says, the receiver who has been appointed by Federov’s attorney’s is impeding his ability to disburse the funds to those he is indebted to. At this point, practically all of us “victims” have become aquaintances if not friends, an intersting bi-product of having one very big thing in common with each other.  Not only do we speak together often, but many of our attorney’s have also been in contact and most are  speaking as well to the authorities.

If Joe is being honest, though I honestly do not believe it any more than I believed the last 20 times he said the money was now here and payment was imminent, it would absolutely be in his best interest to give us all proof , verifiable by his bank. It might not stop the authorities from proceeding against him, but it certainly would induce all of us who have brought suits against Joe or couldn’t afford to do so, to show some restraint and renewed patience. So far, my multiple calls and E-mails to John Whittles, Joe’s lawyer here in West Palm Beach, have not been returned, dispite the fact that his secretary told me he would call me back 2 days ago.

Joe also wrote in his Zadaresponds.com that Diana De Rosa, a prominent journalist in the equestrian industry, refused to allow him to respond to the allegations against him or to tell his side of the story. In fact, though she received a letter from Whittles saying Joe wanted to meet with her along with him weeks ago in New York, her many attempts to set the date and time during the last several weeks have also gone unreturned.

Here is what I do know. The truth is coming out more and more with each day that passes, and justice ultimately will be done, though possibly not with the financial results that we who have lost so much wish. Oh, and Joe, if you wish to post a response and fill us all in on exactly where our money is, please feel free to do so. We would all love to know!

Cheers!

RD

Nobody in the United States has done more in recent years than Lendon Gray for the young  people in our Dressage sport. Her fantastic Youth Festival has become one of the most wonderful and inspirational annual events I have ever participated in. I was so upset this year that the flu and bronchitis prevented me from going back to judge the kids! Maybe, if I’m lucky, next year.

I also sat down with Lendonat the World Cup in Las Vegas last April and we discussed ways to further help our Juniors and Young Riders. The timing could not have been better as, earlier in the year, Ronnie Beard, one of America’s top Jumping trainers, described to me what he and Melanie Smith had created for that industry’s youth - The Emerging Athlete Program. I was so excited to explain to Lendon what they were doing, knowing it was the perfect model to duplicate for our sport of Dressage. We only needed a name, which was easy - The Emerging Dressage Star Program.

The goal of the program will be to search for, find, and nurture our country’s brightest young talent, through clinics, training camps, and eventually even funded competitive tours abroad. Nothing could be more needed in the United States right now than such a comprehensive program to ensure the successful future of the U.S Teams.

When I brought up The Emerging Athlete Program to Sally Ike, Director of Jumping, at Gladstone in June, the most amazing smile came over her face as she responded emotionally, saying it was the greatest program she has ever been a part of. And let me  tell you, that is saying a huge amount, as hardly anyone has been through and experienced more than Sally has in her sport! With that I became even more positive that The Emerging Dressage Star Program will help revolutionize Dressage in America.

All we need now is seed money to get it off the ground. And here is where I am asking my friends to help, as much as you are able. I know that money is tight right now, so on Facebook I asked 1000 of my friends ( of which I’m lucky to have a lot!) to each give $100.00 to the program for the kids. What I found out was many people just could not give that much right now, so I amended my request to 2000 people each giving between $10.00 and $25.00, with the sincere hope that this is more “doable” for most, and my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who gives even a little.  For truly, every little bit helps!

If you would like to help sponsor this wonderful program, please send your checks or money orders to Lendon at:
The Dressage Foundation
Wells Fargo Center, Suite 732
1248 O Street
Lincoln. NE 68508

Please make checks payable to The Dressage Foundation and note that they are for the Emerging Dressage Star Program. Lendon and I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your support for this great new project!

Cheers!

RD

I was very saddened to hear of the death of my friend, Klaus Fraessdorf, who succumbed to cancer yesterday, after a long and hard-fought battle. Klaus was many things to many people and one of those was absolutely not a “weakling”!

I met Klaus 38 years ago when my family moved from the Bahamas to Florida. A young teenager with a 3rd level horse which I also evented and Pony Clubbed, Klaus introduced himself to me and we became pals. Klaus ran a dressage stables in the Orlando area and I would see him when out competing. My family decided to move to Atlanta and, once there in training with  Elisabeth Lewis, I decided to sell my horse, Somerset Son. Now a 4thlevel horse, when Klaus heard “Sonny” was for sale, he called  and ended up purchasing him from me. From that day forward, Klaus has played an enormous role in my career and that of countless dressage enthusiasts. Yes, he taught and trained for many years, but then he began organizing  competitions and, along with his wonderful wife, Maria, running shows including many CDI’s, Olympic and World Championship qualifiers and even Final Selection Trials.

Now, when it came to rules, Klaus was a pain in the ass sometimes, but sadly, he was always right, even when we were sure he could not have been. And when it came to complaining about one thing or another, as I could do with the best of them, Klaus would listen (unless he saw me coming first and found a way to jump into his golfcart and get away )and try his best to find a solution. Without Klaus, the Florida circuit would never have happened as it has, and American Dressage sport would be decades behind. I will miss seeing him at the ring and having to endure one of his corny jokes which he never ran short on.

There will never be another Klaus Fraessdorf - he was most definitely one of a kind! He will be remembered as long as there is Dressage sport in Florida - forever!

Cheers, Klaus!

RD