So, my student, Gary, has an amazing sense of humor! He sent me another very funny piece and I thought you all would get a kick out of it. Enjoy!

RD

Just in case you needed something to chuckle about!!!! I notice that there are no quotes from riders.

Cheers,
Gary 
 

This is why athletes can’t have regular jobs.1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: “I wan’ all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan’ all the kids to copulate me.”2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: “I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.”3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the ‘Skin’s say: “I’d run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,” Matt Millen of the Raiders said: “To win, I’d run over Joe’s Mom, too.”4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: “He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings.”5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann: “Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.”6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh : “I’m going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.” (Now that is beautiful)7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: “You guys line up alphabetically by height..” And, “You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle.”8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison: “Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to  ” prison ”  for three years, not Princeton .”9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Black Hawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: “That’s so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes.”10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: “He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is.”11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: “My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt.” (I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player: “I told him, ‘Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?’ He said, ‘Coach, I don’t know and I don’t care.’”13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F’s and one D: “Son, looks to me like you’re spending too much time on one subject.”14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford: “I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious.”15. Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded: “Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye.”
 

We are now officially in the busiest time of our show season here in Palm Beach and CDI’s are also about to begin in California. I can tell you that the Canadians will have no shortage of competitions, which will include the many “dress rehearsals” everyone who knows me knows I am so fond of. For me, it is so important to have a high degree of confidence in both rider and horse which comes with knowing that they are completely capable of producing excellent results (over 70%) on any given day in each and every “sand box” they enter. This is the very best way to assure riders they will have the best chance to do exactly that well when it comes to doing the major CDI’s.
The thing is that Canadian riders just don’t get the chance to keep showing throughout the year as we who live in Florida and California can, or as the Europeans do year after year. So, not only are we working very hard to raise the bar on daily training, but we are going to keep on showing as often as necessary to gain the experience and exposure to produce a winning squad. I feel extremely confident after our first CDI that we will see the progress with each and every up-coming show.

Cheers!

RD

Listen, I know that I haven’t been great about posting new blogs recently, but let me explain. You see, I thought I was accepting a job which was to be “part-time” and allow me to carry on my normal, pretty relaxed lifestyle. So much for wishful thinking, eh?

Don’t get me wrong- I have really enjoyed coaching and giving technical advise to the Canadian High Performance riders. I just didn’t kn ow there would be so many of them! So now I am starting my days getting up at 6:00am and working straight through until between 4 and 5:00pm 6 days a week. But the riders and horses have been a pleasure and I am truly enjoying the creative process of building a medal contending team. And Canada is so supportive of my work and advise as a whole that this has also been very refreshing.
Still, there is a huge amount of work that is being undertaken by both staff and volunteers of Dressage and Equine Canada which govern the sport. When I took on the role of Coach/Technical Advisor, the organizations were both working together to re-build, from the absolute ground up, every facet of what makes up their High Performance division; everything from programs for riders from Juniors through International Elite Grand Prix are in the process of being created. Of course, this requires a very strong fundraising arm, and this also is, at this very moment, becoming a reality. We are working on holding multiple benefits for our riders and programs both before our Elite combinations leave for Europe in May to do a 4 show tour, and after to raise the necessary funds to send them with every possible necessity to Kentucky. I am very thankful to both the tireless staff at Equine Canada and the amazing volunteers of Dressage Canada who are, right this very minute, continuing to hammer out all the details which will ensure that our riders and horses have every possible advantage going forward to enable them to bring back medals at every level.
It’s now the end of the day and I am really exhausted and going to bed. We have another big day ahead with some of our horses doing the show at Jim Brandon to prepare for the both the Masters next week and the next CDI the following week. They will be great, just as they were last week at the show.

Cheers!

RD

Well, 2 days of R & R for R & R definitely did the trick as I feel like a new person, having had a great time down in Miami Beach. I can’t tell you how therapeutic waking up to the beautiful view of both Miami across the bay and the vast ocean from the other windows in our condo is. And today was so gorgeous on the beach that I could feel myself healing in every way.
Tomorrow is my wonderful boyfriend, Robert’s, birthday and the most amazing thing is that we will have been together for exactly half his entire lifetime. In case you need me to do the math, he is turning 44 and we’ve been together 22 years, which is only confusing a little as somehow I could swear that somehow he must have caught up and then passed me in age! Robert has been and continues to be that angel sent from God to love and protect me from everything in life which most probably would have gone wrong, had he not been there to help me navigate through too many times to mention. He has played such an enormous part in so many lives, most of them totally unbeknownced to those he helped, and this is just one of the things that makes him so special. While I was running around the world trying to fulfill my dreams as a rider, Robert not only followed me around, content to live in my shadow; he did so while doing everything from dealing with managing my barn to actually taking charge of the Dressage Team’s finances in Europe, probably the first time we actually came home with considerable winnings for the USET. Over the many years Robert became a very good rider of hunters and jumpers and an excellent instructor with a profitable business of his own. Still, he found time to run my business and keep me afloat. Most importantly, Robert has made so many life-long friends in and out of the horse world, and now the realestate world in which he has amazingly risen like a true star, and I think it is because of his wonderful heart and total honesty. If Robert is your friend you can bet that he will be there for you both in good times and bad. He is the reason we take care of 15 children in poor countries around the world and have given hundreds of toys to needy kids every Christmas for over 20 years here in West Palm Beach.

So as I reflect upon the last 22 years with Robert which seem to have gone by in a heartbeat, I am more positive than ever that each and every one of those beats have been because I was blessed to meet my soul-mate who I love and cherish more with each day that passes. To him I wish the most happy, healthy and joyous birthday ever and 100 more just like it!

Love,

Robert

How proud am I of Team Canada tonight? I feel like a proud father after having watched our riders win every CDI GP class! The fabulous combination of Ashley Holzer and Pop Art was not to be touched in either the Grand Prix or the Freestyle tonight where, but for Poppy being a little startled by the audience applause close to the end of his performance, the two put in what I believe was their best test to date! We expected Ashley to be the star but just about as rewarding was watching two other Canadians place 1st and 2nd in the Grand Prix Special this afternoon, as Belinda Trussell riding Anton won with over 68% followed by Victoria Winter on Cindy Ishoy’s Proton with over 67%.

Yes, I am very proud of their victories but I want to say that, though not all the Canadian riders had the tests they hoped for, they all showed exemplary class and grace under pressure. It is the very beginning of the season and, quite unlike Americans or Europeans, the Canadian riders just do not get to show very much, due to many reasons including a lack of competitions, distance to those which there are, and the weather, especially in the mountainous regions. So, considering this show truly was the first big outing for most of our riders in a long time, I know that with a very strong training program as well as a well planned competition schedule, more of our riders will begin to exhibit the same winning qualities seen in our victors this weekend. They are dedicated, focused, and hungry to become a medal winning team, and that kind of spirit goes a very long way. For sure as far as Kentucky!

Cheers!

RD

Barcelona is the only Olympics Herb & I didn’t attend. I believe the reasons were that it took 2 hours each way to get to the Dressage Arena, If you  could get housing. We didn’t go, but I will try to give you a picture of what the critics said was a terrific ride under very difficult circumstances. We were lucky enough to see his ride on TV & later in the magazines.
 Robert had a great year riding Walter & Mary Ann McFail’s horse Lectron, who looked like  he had a sure opporrtunity for a metal.
 Robert tested his bit, and bridle before they entering the arena. All of a sudden Lectron’s tongue came out over his bit. Robert told me you can’t stop or do anything physical to get your mount to put his tongue back into his mouth. It soon became evident Robert would have to control Lectron with his legs & seat. It was truly amazing to see how well it went. The score was around 65, enough to help the tean win the bronze.
  Next Atlanta.
                                    Robert’s Mom

One of my new Canadian students has a great sense of humor! He sent this in and I had to put it up.

Penguins….. I didn’t know that !!
 
Penguins 
 
 
Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica  -  where do they go?
 
Wonder no more!
 
It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an

extremely ordered and complex life.
 

The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life,   as well
as maintaining a form of compassionate contact with its offspring
throughout its life. 
 
If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of  the family
and social circle have been known to dig holes in  the ice, using their
vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird
to be rolled into and buried. 
 

 
The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and sing: 
 
 
  ”Freeze a jolly good fellow”  ”Freeze a jolly good fellow.”  
 

 
“Then they kick him in the ice hole.” 
 
 
 
 
You really didn’t believe that I know anything about penguins, did you!

Cheers!

RD

Ashley Holzer won the first CDI Grand Prix of the Florida winter season today with a very convincing lead and just under 72%. Watching my other Canadian friends, I realized again that there are some very talented riders and horses who only need a few more shows under the belt to up their scores greatly. Luckily, we have that time and we will use it very constructively with schooling shows and very targeted training. I expect vast improvement on the part of all riders and know they are up for the challenge. I’ll even bet I see far better rides tomorrow in the Grand Prix Special.

Cheers!

RD

Well, Gang, the first qualifier is upon us in Wellington with the jog taking place tomorrow at 3:00pm. Not all of the Canadian WEG declared combinations will be starting as some are choosing to wait until later in the winter/spring season to allow their horses to gain more experience in smaller shows before entering CDI’s. This works fine out here on the east coast where there are more than a few qualifiers, but I believe the Grand Prix this weekend will still be very well contested and feel confident Canada will be extremely well represented. I am looking forward to seeing the improvement already from those who are showing since their schooling show last Sunday with Gary Rockwell judging.
In two weeks from now Wellington will also be the site of The Masters, which will see many of the very best combinations in the world, including Edward Gal with Totalis, Anky Van Gruensven with Salinero, Steffen Peters with Ravel, and Canada’s Ashley Holzer with Pop Art. Added to the list are Belinda Trussell with Anton, Just home from a very successful tour in Europe with her trainer, Christilot Boylen, and Cheryl Meisner with Paganini who received just under 70% in their first show out in Florida a couple of weeks ago under Olympic judge, Gary Rockwell. It is going to be a very exciting show and I am excited to have 3 great Canadian combinations entered!

I am also flying out to San Diego to give a clinic at Dove Hollow on February 20th and 21st. In it will be WEG declared riders, Lorraine Chappell and Wendy Christoph as well as, I hope, other Canadian listed riders at various levels. It is a private clinic. And therefore first come first serve, so Canadians, if you are interested in training with me, I urge you to contact Alison Harding right away at 8584012668 before the clinic is full. (That goes for my American friends as well :))

Got to get to bed early as it’s going to be another very long day of hard work again tomorrow.

Cheers!

RD

Last week I was up to my eyeballs with posts, both positive and negative, regarding my thoughts on Dressage people needing to be more positive about our sport. It got pretty heated for a while and then my time got totally consumed by my first Canadian Training Session last weekend. I could hardly even see straight by Monday, but then it hit me.

That’s not really true. What really hit was an earthquake and where it hit was the capital of Haiti, absolutely one of the poorest countries in the world. Tens of thousand are feared dead and the rest of the world just can’t seem to get there with enough personal and aid to make the death rate slow down. And where their is human loss of life like this, naturally, the toll on animals of all kinds is equally devastating.

It, once again, makes me thank God for what I and my loved ones have; our health, safety, food and water, and shelter. Such perspective reminds us all that, but for the grace of God, that could have been us. So when we think to go crazy over a horse being behind the vertical or over the issue of a limited allowable use of NSAID’s, let’s remember instead of attacking each other, we should try to be kinder and gentler, for one never knows in life when things can change in a heart-beat and those cruel words may not be able to be taken back.

Let’s all do what we can to help the people of Haiti as well as the animals there which also need our help. Nobody has ever said it better then John Lennon in his song, “Imagine”!

Cheers!

RD