Counting Down To 2010
As 2009 comes to a close, I cannot help reflect on all the many things, both good and bad, which transpired during the year. The overwhelming truth though is that, despite all the controversies in our little Dressage world as well as the “real world” out there, I feel certain that there is more to be thankful for and look forward to then ever.
I continue to have great belief in President Obama, no matter how vocal the right wing fanatics get in their desire to see him fail, even at the expense of the American people. I trust him and his administration to keep bringing us back to the place of financial security which we enjoyed during the Clinton Presidency, while also doing his best to resolve wars he inherited and bring health-care to every citizen in our country, a right everyone deserves.
Robert and I celebrated my Dad’s 86th birthday last night and will do the same for my Mom’s 82nd next week (She’s a New Years Baby!) and nothing could make me happier than knowing my folks are well enough to toast their special days and the coming New Year once again! And I am excited and hopeful that Robert’s Mom, Julie, and possibly his brother. David, will be moving out to our area in West Palm Beach from California so we can all be closer together.
Simon , our Schnoodle, is now one and a half years old and could not be a more loving, sweet natured pet. He is pretty sensitive and has had some skin and digestive problems and each time I take him to the vet makes it ever more clear that I adore him. In other words, he had best live to be very, very old! 
It seems that everyone involved as a victim of Joe Zada has received a letter from the FBI recently letting us know our rights as victims of a crime which they are prosecuting. I feel pretty certain that justice is about to be done, finally! It won’t necessarily ever bring back all the money which so many of us lost, but will hopefully ensure that he and others like him, of which there are unfortunately way too many, cannot harm any more people the way we were harmed.
I am also very hopeful for the direction of the sport of Dressage. Having sat on the FEI Dressage Task Force for the last year along side some wonderful colleagues, we all shared the common goal of making our sport healthier and better embraced by the public. There is no doubt that a part of this change is in the judging of Dressage and I personally am thrilled to finally see scores for the very best combinations in the world averaging out to be commensurate to a “Very Good” ( 90% or over). I firmly believe that during 2010, we will see scores, at least for the artistic part of the Freestyles, earning 10’s. Remember that a 10 means “Excellent”, not “Perfect”. More and more we will see excellence being rewarded as it should have been for so many years, but for the thinking that by doing so we risked something. What, I have no idea!
I have been working very hard on many fronts to help create an extremely successful Canadian Dressage Team. The process has been most rewarding, especially due to the wonderful support from really everyone: riders, trainers, owners, sponsors and officials. I feel very confident that 2010 will bring in a new era for Canadian Dressage on all levels, as there could not be greater commitment than what I have been witnessing as I travelled across the country.
We have lost some dear friends in 2009 and my prayers and thoughts continue to go out to their families and loved ones. We miss them but I know they are in the most peaceful and beautiful place imaginable.
To all my friends around the world, I wish you the Happiest of Holidays; full of peace, good health, prosperity, joy, and
L O V E !
Cheers!
RD
