While it’s customary for me to only name one “Out For Good Hero” each month, I actually missed one in September this year and, therefore, am very pleased to announce I have not just one, but two more Heroes for December, my Mom and Dad, Herb and Jean Dover.   They are both extraordinary people who have had their own careers while also being parents who have raised a great family and done so many things for so many people over the decades, they are too numerous to mention. Suffice it to say that my folks are still giving to many charities and doing their best to help out those less fortunate, even as they cope with their own health problems.

It just so happens that both my father, Herb, and my Mom, Jean, have birthdays this month. My Dad’s is the 21st and my Mom is a New Year’s baby!  He will be 86 and my Mom 82. What makes their birthdays more special is that he has Alzheimer’s now which began to appear about the same time as my Mom’s second breast cancer returned in 2003. That event began a roller coaster ride for us all which has now gone on for close to 7 years, six and two-thirds of which my Mom was not  even supposed to be around for, from what we were told at the time.

That’s right - my Mom was given 3 months to live 7 years ago!  Since then she has gone in and out of miraculous remissions while taking care of my Dad who himself hashad both good and bad times as his health diminished. For a long time each could help the other to be strong where the one was weak, but as time has marched on, both have needed more help and I am very glad that Robert and I as well as my siblings have had the ability to be there for them, just as they were always there 100% for us.

If anyone thinks getting older is at all easy, they are probably under 30!  All I can say for sure is that my Mom and Dad show more courage and class every day as they proceed on their journey through this phase of their lives than I can even imagine myself  ever having .  My Mom always reminds me, “None of us are getting out of this one alive”.  She has no fear of what happens after we pass, and my Dad, who is right now babysitting (along with his care-taker) my dog, Simon, while my Mom and I are having the cancer in her eyes checked to see if the drugs are working, is always pretty happy in the moment, although each may seem a new one for him. And after a long day with the specialist, I am very pleased to report that my Mom’s eyes are under control which means the chemo is doing its job, thank God!  On to thinking about birthday parties for each of them - a very good thing!

So, I am a very lucky son and with pride and love I very appropriately name my folks, Herb and Jean Dover, as my “Special Out For Good Heroes” for December!

Love,

Robert

Here is the manuscript of Korea 1988

So picture this. It is 1998 and Robert has qualified for the Korean Olympics, not only on one horse, but on two horses, Federleight & Juvel. Robert bought Federleight with his own money, and soon trained him to Grand Prix. My customers (I was in the jewelry business) asked if I was going to Korea to watch him ride. Oh sure I said, as I thought my going to the moon was just as likely. That night while I sat in bed reading, the telephone rang. A nice man said, “Hello, I represent Seagrams of Canada. They want to send a parent of each American athlete to Korea to watch the Olympics. Would you like to go to the Olympics for 18 days, all expenses paid?” Would I like to go! What a question! And so the fantasy of a lifetime would unfold.

Back in my shop a thrilled customer said that if I would buy a jacket she would embroider & jewel it with Robert, his horse, and the American flag. I was delighted. She even personalized a shirt, too. I still have both.

And so the time arrived to live the dream. I flew to L.A., where my cousins Ethelann and her dear husband, Sonny, met me and we proceeded to the Seagram Bon Voyage Party in a huge room. It was filled with 350 parents, family and friends. All were feasting on delightful food set up all around the room.

When it became time to get on the plane, the Marine band piped us aboard. Everyone was treated like first class passengers. Wine and champagne flowed. Napkins were placed on our tray tables, and a delicious dinner was served. If I remember correctly Michael Polin sat next to me on the plane. We had a nice chat & he said he knew Robert well. We flew over Alaska and stopped to refuel there. You lose a day going west and gain it returning. I was too excited to notice.

We were whisked off to our Olympic Family Town. It had 14,000 residents at that time, living in the high-rises the Koreans had built just for the Olympics. They would become permanent apartments after it was over. Oh my! Each apartment had 4 master bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and large living room. Every morning volunteer ladies came in and scrubbed the floors on their knees! Just like here, right? They gave us clean sheets daily, towels and a clean robe.. As we walked into the apartment we saw a cupboard for shoes and paper slippers to wear indoors.

Next door to the living quarters was a huge dome-shaped building that housed a large cafeteria. As you walked down the path and into the building, lovely young ladies dressed in their native garb greeted you and welcomed you with a deep bow. The choices were as varied as the countries represented at the Olympics. You had but to choose your choice of food. Seagram even paid for that. The only food I never got the courage to try was kumchee. Every Korean eats kumchee. The odor comes up through the sewers. The odd thing is that just the other day I saw some in one of our supermarkets that cater to all the new immigrants that have come to our wonderful USA.

Seagram supplied us with 5 helpful words and phrases to help us communicate. Hello…Yobuseyo, Do you have…? I issumnikka, How much does it cost…?, Please take me to…ro kapshida, & here is the address…Igoshi chusoimndia. Seagram also gave us currency converter so we could spend the thousand dollars they gave each American. They also hosted a lovely outside cocktail party for us. We were made to feel very special. There were guides all over in green jackets. If you felt lost, you had but to ask and they took you where you needed to go. There were guards (all handsome by the way), posted on each corner and on the roof of every building with rifles at ready. Every corner also had a pyramid of beautiful flowers. If you looked closely you saw a rifle sticking out in every direction. They weren’t taking any chances with our lives. I never did get to wear my beautiful shirt and jacket because the authorities didn’t want us to stand out due to animosity left over from the Korean war.

They gave us all kinds of pins to wear. One of the pins said, “I helped send American families to Korea - Seagram’s Coolers,” since that was the only liquor they were allowed to advertise because hard liquor was not allowed at the Olympics.

The opening ceremony was beautiful. Many peace doves were released into the air. The Lamp was lit. It was a thrill to watch all the smartly dressed Olympians marching by. I was excited to see Robert looking natty in his red, white, & blue. I believe Robert and Federleight came in 12th. An article appeared in the daily paper in Seoul. It said “After his ride, Robert Dover, now 32, worked hard on the European circuit, and the effort showed in his Olympic rides. If Dover continues to grow, the USA has a strong shot at a medal in Barcelona.”

Now I must tell you about the stadium used for Dressage. It was huge. We were a long way from the ring. The Koreans had bussed in thousands of schoolchildren who had no idea what was going on. They walked around, amusing themselves the whole time. So much for a quiet arena. Herb came over for a week to see Robert ride and we really enjoyed very minute of his stay. We took Jessica Randhousen & Robert out to a lovely hotel for a delicious dinner.

The Flea Market was to die for. There were just too many things to choose from. I shopped for all our children and friends. Knock-offs were as beautiful as the real thing. Jackets were jeweled in gorgeous patterns. I spent two days on my own there, then dragged Herb along. He didn’t want to go but soon changed his mind when he spied the customized jackets. His jacket says, Seoul Korea Olympics 1988, on the back, and on the front it says his name in Korean and English. Isn’t that neat? He still wears it to this day. I was sad to see him go, but I knew I would find interesting ways to spend my time.

One day I decided to take a tour of the surrounding areas. I called the Korea Travel International which was provided in our “what to do” booklet. I told the young man who answered that I would like to book the afternoon tour that day. I arrived on time to be greeted by a handsome young man dressed in a suit and tie.. He bowed and introduced himself as Kwang Rak Kim. When I found I was the only one booked for the tour I said, “Oh you don’t have to take me.” He replied, “Madam, it would be my pleasure to take you.” So there I was on a tour bus with my own personal guide.

We saw the city, which was much like any other industrial city anywhere. Then we headed into the countryside which was lovely and green. The tour bus stopped at the Korean Folk Village where everything from older times was on display. I hadn’t realized it was a national holiday. There were many Boy Scouts around. I found myself surrounded by them, all wanting my autograph. Kang explained that they thought I was a movie star and had never seen a white woman before. Then a young girl approached me and asked if she could touch my skin. I said yes, if I could touch hers. Next an old lady asked. I smiled and took her hand and she touched my face. She bowed thanking me.

Kwank said they wanted to know what I did in America. I said I had a little jewelry boutique in a nail salon. Just think how many nail technicians later came to work here. It took a little courage to ask me how old I was. I said, “guess.” Of course they wanted to flatter me by saying very young ages. I finally said 60. You should have seen their faces. Not at my age, but the fact that I was still working and going on tour by myself. Later Kwan told me in Korea a women my age no longer worked.. Her daughters and daughters-in-law took care of everything. I don’t know if that is still true, but I thought what a lovely idea!

On the way back we stopped and had a late lunch at E. Won, a Korean restaurant. There was a table of young men and so the questions of who I was started again. One young man asked for my address in case he ever came to Florida.. I wish he had. It would have been fun to show him around. I was sorry to arrive back at my living quarters, knowing I would never be better treated than I was that day. I tried to give both Kwan & the bus driver a tip. They acted insulted so I left the money in an envelope on the seat.

One more thing I want to tell you. The Koreans were warned not to eat dogs while we were in the country. I saw one man carrying a puppy in his arms. He smiled as he walked by me. I thought to myself, “Oh dear that puppy was his dinner.” Some things change as years go by, some things never do.

Thanks for sharing these 1998 memories with me.
Love,
Robert’s Mom

Every year around this time, Barbara Walters chooses her 10 most interesting people of the year to interview and I try never to miss this show. Not only are her choices of celebrities generally really interesting, but it Barbara herself who constantly shows such tremendous class and makes very clear why people from around the world have fallen and stayed in love with her for so many years.

In the last years, Barbara’s stand in support of Gay Rights has been stronger than ever and her speech at the GLAAD Media , Awards brought me to tears, as she spoke so eloquently about her feelings about her gay and lesbian friends and loved ones.

This year’s ten most interesting people included both Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert, two entertainers who are both extremely talented and incredibly open about their sexuality. Great that she is so open and supportive of gay and bi-sexual people, but even more amazing is that Barbara is able in the next interview to sit across from Glenn Beck, who is so outrageously idiotic in the crap he spews and be just as elegant and gracious with him as she is with the First Lady. That is nothing short of genius!

So when it comes right down to it, I LOVE BARBARA WALTERS!  And that is why she is my Out For Good Hero for December.

So here’s the thing - I admit to being hooked on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance! I am so happy that many of the Idols have been given chances they would never have received had it not been for the show. And, thanks mostly to Ellen, despite his train wreck performance on the American Music Awards, Adam Lambert’s star is as bright as ever. Mark my words (which I said from his very first audition) - he will be HUGE!
I must also say that I will miss Paula and am not quite sure how adding Ellen (though I love her) to the mix is going to truly help pick the brightest talent on the show. But I still can’t wait for it to start again in January!

And now to my other favourite show, SYTYCD. I have been amazed by the top 20 dancers and wish the show didn’t race so quickly to the finale this year, with the top 6 instead of the top 4 as in previous years. Worse than that for me was the departure of my absolute favourite choreographer, Mia Michaels. I have really missed her genius as have undoubtedly millions of viewers, all of whom, like myself, wish we knew what caused her to quit the show. I actually am not at all worried for her career and just want to know that she has her good health and is happy.

Lastly, I really am not sure how Molly was thrown off tonight as she was so fantastic last night and through the recent weeks. I would have kept her and lost Ashley, myself. But then, it does make for good TV to have the first husband and wife couple on the show finale, I guess. What they should have reminded everyone is that all of the top ten will go on tour so it is definitely not the end for Molly or Legacy or the others from the group. They are truly supernatural and such an inspiration, not only to young dancers, but to people who aspire to greatness in all endeavors in arts, sports and, yes, life.

Cheers!

RD

Hi Gang.

A couple of days ago I had a great conversation with Barbara from her super website, “Barnmice”. She was kind enough to send me the article and I believe we will be working closely together to get the word out to as many of you readers as possible about everything going on in the Dressage world. Naturally, special attention will be given to all that is about Dressage Canada and its evolution toward “Owning The Podium!”
I hope you enjoy the article.

Cheers!

RD

http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/robert-dover-talks-about-his

RD

So here’s the thing- I’ve been a loyal Blackberry user for many years now; all the way back to the first blue ones with the track wheel on the side. Then came the faster “black” Blackberry and so I naturally upgraded. Soon, though, there came the “curve” which was much smaller and far superior to the old dinosaur that I was using, so I just had to have it. I was sure I would just love it - that is until the fancy new track ball in the center decided that it would no longer send me to all the icons. Sure, it would go side to side but absolutely refused to go up and down. And that is when I found out that I could simply call the warranty number and wait for, say an eternity, to speak with an actual human being who was very nice and said she would overnight a brand new Curve to me provided I would send her back my broken one in the pre-addressed envelope she would enclose with my new phone. Simple, eh?

I was so happy when, 2 days later, I got my new Curve and did the responsible thing of immediately returning my old phone as requested. Well, within about 4 weeks the track ball on my new Curve did the exact same thing. Have I mentioned how frustrating it is to keep wiggling that stupid ball around trying to make the cursor move other than side to side? Even just one icon up or down would have been something. But not a chance!
And that’s when I heard about the new Bold. The salesman said it was faster, had 3 full G’s, and you know how important G’s are to us horse people. So I upgraded again. Life was good …. for about 4 months, anyway.

So now 2 more broken track balls and one misfortune of falling into my swimming pool while trying to save a snake from drowning ( the snake survived but my phone didn’t making it a very expensive snake!), and this weekend it happened again. The track ball now would not go to the right and this, on top of the fact that my loud speaker also failed to “speak up”, had me back to the at&t store again. I thought I could just drive an hour to a special store where they would take my broken phone and give me a new one. But since all my efforts to move the stupid track wheel caused the little plastic piece surrounding it to come apart, the very nice if somewhat self-important lady behind the counter told me she could not even take the phone back without charging me $425.00 for obviously abusing my phone.

But here’s the good news. There’s a brand new Blackberry Bold 9700 which is smaller than the old Bold though the screen is actually bigger, and best yet, it no longer uses a tracking ball! Now, there is a little mouse where the ball used to be. Oh rapture!

So, friends, once again I am in love with my Blackberry and shall care for and protect it with my life, as would any “Crackbarry addict”. That is, until something on this new  phone decides to break on me again. Like, for instance, it saying that I have no SIM card in it even though it was working  just fine five minutes ago. I think I’ll just go to bed now and hope it works again when I wake up in the morning, by some miracle. I do believe in them you know - miracles, that is. Not necessarily Blackberries.

Cheers!

RD

For the last year I, along with the rest of the members of the FEI Dressage Task Force, had the privilege of working with David Holmes, Director of Sport. David had come on in his role with the FEI shortly before we were all appointed to fulfill our 5 main tasks. David was not only extremely passionate and helpful in every way, but the fact that he came from the Dressage community in Great Britain was a huge plus as we undertook our responsibilities.

Like all businesses these days, the bottom line is causing cuts in personal, many times those being at the higher end of the food chain. While this seems odd to some, one friend of mine who is a top executive at a major company explained that, if it is possible to give less people more responsibilities and make them work harder, it would make sense that cutting those whose salaries cost the companies the most money is actually logical. Sadly, this practice is occurring more and more often and people who were sure their job could not be in jeopardy are finding themselves suddenly out of work.

I know that David will be fine as he is a top professional with expertise hard to find in our business. I want to wish him all the best and let him know that we could not have produced the successful results we did without his help. I hope you will all join me in letting David know how thankful we are to him and that we are all there to support him in whatever path he takes in the future.

Thanks David and all the best!

RD

Well, I’m back home again from my final trip of 2009 to Canada on my “Talent Search” and, if you haven’t already noticed, I’m stoked!
Everyone who knows me will tell you I love a good challenge, but nobody could have convinced me that there was so many amazingly gifted riders and horses just over our border. But let me just say that life is looking up in a very big way, Canadians!  The World Equestrian Games Declared Hopefuls list is growing daily with combinations that I feel certain have the capability of going well over 70% in the Grand Prix. It is going to require their full commitment and absolute dedication to doing everything necessary to grow and mature themselves and their horses into world-class pairs.

As I have said repeatedly, I will give 150% to support  and be there in every way necessary for them to realize their dreams, but greatness will only come if they are resolved to give 100% as well. It won’t happen with even the best of intentions or from merely regular lessons with top personal trainers or myself.  They have to live, breathe, eat and sleep with full commitment to the process, both in training and in life. The journey is now underway and as my mentor said so many years ago so eloquently, “The gaits to brilliance are surrounded by a cloud of sweat and tears”.

Of course, while on our path I am truly hoping for far more joy for everyone involved than tears, but I can guarantee the sweat without a doubt.  Just remember that I have great faith that we can do this, Canada, and be a force to reckon with in 2010. I am extremely excited to be on this journey with you all and am looking forward to our next training sessions  in Southern California and here at home in Wellington.  In the meantime, keep up the great work!

Cheers!

RD

I am sitting in the airport in Calgary waiting for my flight to Houston where I will overnight and then fly back to Wellington in the morning.
Make no mistake about it- Calgary is very cold! But the great news is the arena was lovely and heated and the only thing warmer was the crowd of lovely dressage enthisiasts, some of whom had travelled a full day to take part.
Best of all was how super some of the horse/rider combinations are! I have to say that neither the east or the west has anything over the “mid-west”, meaning I have seen not just good, but great WEG prospects all over this amazing country.
And now that I have seen and talked to most of the candidates for next year, and helped them to develop strong plans for training and competing in 2010, I am truly excited to begin the winter season with our group on both coasts. In the next few days I will be laying out my plan for training sessions for the WEG’s hopefuls as well as describing new and exciting programs in the works for Canadian riders and horses at all levels.

So stay tuned, Team Canada, ’cause this train is leaving the station and our final stop is on a podium!

Cheers!

RD