After hosting family and friends all weekend at our place in South Beach, I am off tomorrow to Calgary, Alberta for the next leg of my cross-country talent search.
I will see 10 combinations for 2 days and am looking forward to it. I will report from Calgary on how it goes.

Cheers!

RD

I love Thanksgiving for so many reasons. Families and friends come together to share a wonderful meal prepared, in our house, by Marcia of Top Notch Caterers. (It doesn’t get any better than Marcia!)
That being said, I actually did more to prepare this Thanksgiving meal than any in years, since I was solely in charge of re-heating everything and baking the rolls and setting the table. OK, so I’m sure that most of you are now rolling your eyes and thinking, “Is this guy for real”? The answer is, sadly, yes and I am the first to admit that. Other than one or two things in life, the only thing I am certain about the rest is that I have no idea for sure about any of it! And that includes food preparation.

But here is what I do know- the love that abounds around Thanksgiving is a good thing, and remembering those feelings for the day after when we get to eat the leftovers is another good thing. And when there is still enough pumpkin pie for the 3rd day- well, that just tops it off and is definitely the reason why Thanksgiving is one of America’s, and my, favorite holidays.

Cheers!

RD

It’s that time again for me to tell it like I see it, which I feel pretty sure is going to land me in trouble with at least some of my readers, as it usually does. Of course most of the time I would not know I was actually in trouble since those who are angry at me tend to vent their thoughts on those other websites. :)  Like I said many times, I’m totally happy to discuss most anything on my site, provided I know the name of the person I’m debating.  So please, if you feel provoked by what I’m about to say, let me know how you feel. Perhaps we can actually learn something from each-other.

So here’s the thing.  My friend, Astrid, from Eurodressage.com asked me to give my opinion regarding the new rules pertaining to the limited use of NSAID’s such as bute and aspirin in regulated doses. She wondered if both human athletes who become sore, or equine athletes having the same symptoms are not simply the result of being pushed beyond what is reasonable, Possibly both 2 and 4 legged athletes in this scenario would be better off being put quietly out to pasture?

Interestingly, when I reflected upon her questions before giving my answers, it brought me back to the 1970’s when there was a big fight going on between trainers as to whether leg-yielding should be a movement or just an exercise and included in lower level dressage tests or not.  Let me tell you, this debate became red hot as the press took hold of it and found those on both sides, some saying that only a shoulder-in done on 3 tracks is classical and all other variations is nothing more than circus. And me? I found the entire discussion laughable. How absurd to have people fighting over whether teaching horses to yield away from the leg, are doing so with good or ill intent.

What I have decided over my many years listening to horse people fighting over things like whether a canter pirouette is done in a 3 or 4 beat canter or if a piaffe is actually not done in a true trot, or if giving a horse a low dose of aspirin is against the welfare of the animal, is that most often the loudest people in the fight are the ones who simply have too much time on their hands and the least understanding of this or pretty much any sport for that matter.

I’ll tell you what I think. Leg yielding went on to be put in lower level tests and no horses that I know of had their careers end because of it. Every movement in the canter should be done in one of 3 beats, even if that seems almost impossible to achieve, and the same goes for the piaffe being ridden in a true trot. It does no service to anyone to think and train otherwise, so keep those pirouettes in a true gallop if you can and the piaffes bouncing from diagonal to diagonal if there is any way to do so. For then you can know that you are doing your best to achieve the perfect goal, as opposed to changing what you believe to accommodate for a thought more mediocre. The trainer who thinks like a horse clearly understands that the piaffe should not be divorced in the animals mind from the trot and that holds true of the pirouette within the canter.

And now to the new drug rules. Ask any athlete at the top of their game in any sport, in or out of the Olympic family, if they have used anti-inflammatory drugs during their lives for training and competition. You are going to hear a resounding YES! It just goes without saying that to achieve the very best performance requires the exertion of muscles on a daily basis, and this has the affect of making us, on occasion, sore. Did you ever hear the saying, “NO PAIN - NO GAIN”? This is a truism on many levels. Muscular development is a result of inflamation which produces added scar tissue and layer by layer, the build up of this tissue becomes the weightlifter’s biceps, the runner’s legs, and the dressage horse’s beautiful physique. But inflammation is felt in the athlete, human or equine, as soreness. Now, this is different from a true injury which, even with  low doses of NSAID’s, cannot be masked and should not be, but rather should force one to deal with their or their animal’s infirmity by stopping competing and doing all that is necessary to completely heal the issue. But the soreness which is just part of the everyday life of the athlete is dealt with by a combination of ice, heat, massage, and yes, anti-inflammatory drugs. Every human athlete at the Olympics knows exactly what is and is not allowed, and understands very well the difference between performance enhancing drugs and those legal and used wisely to take out inflammation that comes with the territory on a daily basis. Do you think Carl Lewis or Edwin Moses got through all those games and achieved such greatness along with longevity from having a zero tolerance for every drug including those now allowed for horses? It would be absurd to even consider it. Provided we respect the rules and live by the letter of the law, I guarantee you, just like with leg-yielding, 30 years from now someone is going to write about the time people were actually fighting over whether it was acceptable to give low dose aspirin to horses in competition, and say that only good came from it. And I hope that, because of my always taking one baby aspirin a day for my adult life, it will be me that writes that article too!

Cheers!

RD

The American Thanksgiving is upon us once again and it gives me pause to reflect on all that I am so truly thankful for. It’s not that I have not had my share of difficulties and setbacks this year, which I recognize and am fully aware of, but even these bumps in the road can, with a little change of perception, be looked upon and even embraced as life’s way of showing us a new opportunity to learn something.

I feel so fortunate to have my loved ones celebrating Thanksgiving, though not all together, still together in spirit. My Mom and Dad will be coming to our place in Miami Beach along with Robert’s Mom, Julie, and some of our best friends to share a nice meal (yes, Marcia of Top Notch Caterers will be doing the cooking as I would never want to be accused of poisoning our guests) and enjoy one another’s company. Just having another year go by with my parents still alive and well enough to share Thanksgiving dinner with is a miracle for which I give daily thanks to God. Also for Robert, my family and friends, my dog, Simon, and the horses in my life are all reasons to be thankful.  And then there is the fact that I am blessed with the ability to try to help others to have better, healthier and/or more successful lives. This is truly something that brings me great joy and makes life worthwhile.

I wish all Americans a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving and hope everyone everywhere reading this post has cause for great joy and thankfullness in their lives every single day of the year!

Cheers!

RD

I know that I have spoken to many of you Canadian riders about your plans to head south for the winter/spring season for the WEG qualifiers. I mentioned that Dove Hollow has graciously offered their facility as a home base for me to conduct training sessions without charging us to do so and this is fantastic as it boasts both outdoor and covered arenas. I don’t have to tell you how great that is, both to stay out of the baking sun and to be able to ride when the rains come. The thing is, the number of available stalls at dove Hollow is limited, so if you’ve been sitting on the fence you had best climb off and make plans with Laurie at 619-885-3917 or Allison at 858-401-2668 for stalls.

Looking forward to seeing you all in San Diego.

Cheers!

RD

Dear World Equestrian Games Hopefuls, Now that I have traveled across Canada and seen most of you and your horses with which you hope to try out for Kentucky, I have given strong consideration to our present status and what I believe in my heart is required for us to build a squad of riders and horses which truly have the possibility of contending for a medal. I must say that I have been very impressed by how enthusiastic and determined you all have been to achieve your goals. That being said, even the best of intentions does not necessarily a medal team make. Here is the good news - Canada has more excellent riders with world-class horses than I initially thought.  I feel quite confident that there will be, shortly, even more top combinations coming out at the Grand Prix level. Our challenge is to be certain that both the daily training programs as well as the competition strategies leave no stone unturned in producing a squad of extremely confident and brilliant horses and riders who march down every centre-line believing in their ability to win with scores never below a 70%. My personal goal is to have a minimum of 7 combinations doing just that by mid-April.  To that end I am making this promise. I will be at your qualifiers during the winter/spring season 2 days before and throughout the competition at your and your personal trainer’s (where applicable) service to support your effort. I will always be positive but I will never lie to you. If I feel that your training system is showing a weakness which is preventing you from attaining the 70% threshold which I mentioned earlier, I will meet with you and your trainer to discuss this and how to improve your scores. It is not my intention to usurp anyone’s client or undermine a rider’s confidence in their training system, but the scores will, for the most part, speak for themselves, and I am here to help in every way I know to bring them up as high as possible. After 30 years doing this and 12 consecutive Olympic and World Championship teams, while I freely admit to knowing very little about almost everything else in life, producing medal winning Dressage teams is the one thing about which I am very secure and confident. Creating a winning team requires more than just having individuals going out and becoming stronger competitors with their horses. It also requires that the players start acting like a focused, cohesive, and confident TEAM, and I am truly hoping that with time you will all trust me that I will go to the last mile to ensure you have every asset needed to get you to that podium. This is why I also want you to know that, only for Canada’s WEG’s declared hopefuls, I will make myself available privately at either Tuny Page’s or Ashley’s farms in Wellington as much or as little as you would request of me when I am in town during my work week from Tuesdays through Saturdays. I believe in the talent of Canada’s riders and horses, but to be very honest, most of you need stronger training systems which not only bring up your game on a daily basis but also bring about a far higher confidence level as you go down the centre-line. By making this commitment I am truly hoping to help riders achieve far greater things than they even believed themselves capable of realizing. If this means helping by riding and showing you ways of improving your horse’s training, presenting a movement in a slightly different way, or simply teaching from the ground and giving both encouragement and, yes, sometimes even a kick in the butt, I will be there for you to do this. I also want you to know that you can always talk directly to me and never be afraid to tell me what you are thinking, even if it is that you are unhappy with me. We need to help each other, push each other, and support each other in our common goal of making Canada a top world power in the sport of Dressage again, and I absolutely know that, provided we all work together, we will do it! 

Best Regards.

Robert

In follow up to the below e-mail please find a list of WEG qualifiers scheduled for Florida and California between January and May 2010.‬‪ ‬
West Palm Beach FL USA  22/01/201024/01/2010  
CDI-W, CDIY
Wellington FL (D )USA  04/02/201006/02/2010  
CDI5*, CSI2*
Indio CA USA  11/02/201014/02/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY
West Palm Beach FL USA  12/02/201014/02/2010  
CDI-W, CDIY
Burbank CA USA  26/02/201028/02/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY
Loxahatchee FL USA  04/03/201007/03/2010  
CDI-W, CDIY
Del Mar CA USA  12/03/201014/03/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY, CPEDI3*
Wellington FL USA  18/03/201021/03/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIP, CDIY
Burbank CA USA  31/03/201003/04/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY
Rancho Murieta CA USA  08/04/201011/04/2010 
 
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY Lexington KY USA  20/04/201025/04/2010  [CCI4*-HSBC] (21/04 - 25/04),
CDI3* (20/04 - 22/04) Del Mar CA USA  30/04/2010         02/05/2010  
CDI3*, CDIJ, CDIY

Last week I put up a music video of a young lady who works for her aunt in a barn in the Toronto area, named Elizabeth Elming. I have been hearing back from everyone who has listened to her voice that she is as wonderful as I believe her to be. If you haven’t heard her yet, please scroll down right now and I promise you will be very glad you did, so you too will someday be able to say, “I heard this lady sing on Dover’s World when she was just grooming in a stable!”

Another treat that I hope you will give yourself is to go see Sandra Bullock in Blind Side at the theatres. She is amazing,Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates are also outstanding, and the rest of the cast is great, and this true story of Michael Ohr and his rise from the projects to football fame through the goodness of one family’s hearts will bring you to tears and make you walk out of the theatre feeling great about being alive.
Let me know how you rate both Elizabeth and Blind Side, OK?

Cheers!

RD

  Mom’s Brain Teaser! 

1)Which nine-time Emmy -winning actress has played Nancy Pelosi, Suzanne Somers, Judi Dench…and Andy Rooney?

2)What older western singers foundation fights for benifits for pioneer R & B artists?

3)What Emmy-winning TV star who played in a political drams  used to fib she was a National Geographic photographer?

4) What Golf legend worked in cotton fields starting at age 5?

5) What Former Family tot spent two years in Portugal as a Mormon missionary?)

6) What drug-plagued One Day At A Time star’s memoir is ” High On Arrival”?                                                                       

Good luck!  If this e-mailing  quiz doesn’t land me in Jail I will post the winner a week after it appears.                                                   

Robert’s Mom

Just in from the FEI General Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, I can report to you first that the new Dressage Committee has been elected and announced.
1) Chairman - Frank Kemperman from Holland (past chair of our Task force, this will provide great continuity)
2) Anne Gribbons from the United States (both an O Judge and trainer/rider, Anne will also be the Chief Judge at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky)
3) Elisabeth Lundholm From Sweden - Elisabeth is a well acclaimed trainer from Flyinge as well as the Chef d’Equipe of the Swedish Team
4) Margit Otto Crepin from France- Chair of the International Dressage Riders Club and top world-class competitor
5) David Hunt from Great Britain- Chairman of the International Dressage Trainers Club
6) Thomas Baur of Germany - Chairman of the International Organizers Club

I congratulate these six people and know their wisdom and influence will bring about great change for the sport of Dressage for which we on the Task force worked very hard during the past year to initiate.

Further news is that the Task Force’s proposals on the format for the Olympic Games was adopted as well as the initiation of our Judging Systems in pilot programs throughout next year. I am personally very gratified that the membership recognized the value of the efforts made by the Task Force to produce a more fair, transparent and understandable sport which the world will embrace and assure the future of within the Olympic family.

You can read all of the other topics being discussed and voted on at the GA by going to FEI.org.

Cheers!

RD

So here’s the thing. I travel all over the world and get to watch mostly riders and their horses going around an arena. But every once in a while I meet up with a person who draws me in from having a totally different though just as captivating talent. I met and got to listen to Elizabeth the other day during my training sessions in the Toronto area. Though her day job at the moment is in the stables, I predict right here and now that this girl is going to be a big star, provided she gets the chance. Sadly, American Idol has not translated so well in Canada to produce the stars we have seen in our country, so I’m hoping that one of you, my loyal readers, who just may have some pull in the music industry, will see and hear Elizabeth and give her the big break she deserves!  Take a listen below.

Bio

Elizabeth began singing at the age of seven - training classically until the age of eighteen. During that time she completed two seasons with the youth chorus of the Canadian Opera Company, as well as lead roles in various professional theatre productions, including “Annie” in the play of the same name, and “Dorothy” in “The Wizard of Oz” for the Sunshine Festival Theatre company and the Stirling Festival Theatre Company, respectively.

She has soloed twice at Massey Hall in Toronto, performing the Canadian Premiere of “When You Believe” from the Dreamworks animated movie “The Prince of Egypt” and Gabriel Faure’s “Pie Jesu”. After living and performing in England for two years, she has returned to Canada to write and record with producer Rob Wells, in Toronto.