Mom’s Corner - WEG
THE 1990 WORLD EQUESTRIAM GAMES
Stockholm, Sweden
Here is one of many pictures of beautiful Stockholm.
Since the 2010 World Equestrian Games are upon us I thought it would be fun to write about the few that I & Herb attended.
One of the most exciting parts of being Robert’s parents is that we got to see countries we would never have had a chance to visit. As with every Olympics, we were thrilled to be going to Stockholm, Sweden for the 1990 World Equestrian Games. Robert would be riding Waltzertakt owned by Walter and Mary Anne McPhail. The rest of the team was made up of Betsy Steiner on Unanimous, Marie Meyers on Demitrius, and Carol Lavel on Gifted.
When we reached our hotel we had to wait for our room to be ready. We sat down in the lobby and began chatting with a lovely young lady. She said her name was Mary Phelps. She told us she was a sports photographer. Mary became a life long friend, and saw me through many tense moments when Robert rode. Herb invited us into the dining room and we had our first taste of truly great smoked salmon. The difference between what we eat here and what they serve there is amazing. She is still a famous photographer of sporting events. Now we are praying for her speedy recovery from a terrible accident.
Stockholm is a lovely city with its antiquity, fountains, beautiful seaport, with ships in docks.
Here is a picture of an old side street still in cobblestone.
One day we had time to visit the Vasamuseet Nautical Museum. It was very impressive. There was a authentic old sailing ship. The crew you see are carved out of wood.
One more thing Stockholm is noted for is its handsome men and beautiful women. The people are very friendly and they didn’t mind answering questions like “how to get somewhere” or “what does that sign mean?”.
Stockholm, being on the water, fresh fish was abundant. One night Herb & I were strolling from our hotel and we saw a sailing ship that was converted to a restaurant. It was called Eriks Fixk Restaurant & Ostronbar. We went in. It was very nautical and lovely inside. We were seated where we could see the water. Portions aren’t large as they are all over America. I liked that, and our fish was delicious. I don’t drink, but Herb had a Scotch. Our bill was $200 American money!
The most unusual restaurant I have ever been in was called The Shrimp Boat. We walked in to see rows of tables. Between each row and going around the end was a waterway flowing around like the real thing. The waitress came up to take our order and she explained that it would be delivered via sailboat on the water. I thought, wouldn’t it be fun and profitable to have a restaurant like that in Florida. After all, every parent and especially grandparents, would definitely want to take their darlings to eat there. Well it never happened back home. Building a restaurant and running it are very different from visiting one. I am so sorry I didn’t have my camera with me that night.
Here is a picture of Herb buying a hot dog for 20 American dollars. Notice no plate or French fries. I had a 30 dollar hamburger on a bun. During the show I became very thirsty and went to a nearby stand to get a glass of water. I got a funny look, but was handed small cup with warm water in it. 8.00 please! I said “do you have any ice?” She answered “No, it is too warm for ice!)
Robert’s memories of the ride are as follow:
“I believe we placed 6th as a team. I was unable to work my horse for a week before the jog because he had strained a tendon. He was very difficult to get into the arena at all, no less have a good test. But he was good enough to make it to the 2nd round of the Special as I recall. I was after a break and the band was playing and they were watering the green fiber-sand arena with huge fire hoses when I arrived to enter the oval and I could not get him to go in. So I turned him around and backed him in and then swung him around and began cantering forward so he couldn’t stop. I think he had somewhere around 65%.”
Here is a picture of the dressage arena at the games. We were very impressed when Queen Beatrice and her Consort drove by in their carriage.
I always make an album of each event but unfortunately I didn’t write what each building and area was.
Hope you enjoyed my memories of Stockholm. Next will be the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague in Holland.
Bernie Hewitt — August 30, 2010 @ 6:22 am
Hi Robert’s Mom,
Lovely to read your reminiscences of Stockholm. That was the year before I started writing about horses, I hadn’t even thought about it then, but a great friend of mine, Carl, made his debut on the British team, so I was really proud of him. I remember Carl saying how terribly expensive everything was!
I went to Stockholm yeara later for the World Cup Qualifier. It was near Christmas time and there was a wonderful Christmas market. A beauitful city, if a little pricey!
Hope you are doing well,
Love,
Bernie
Jean Dover — August 30, 2010 @ 11:18 am
Dear Bernie,
It was fun to remember Stockholm. Next I am going to do the Hague. I have about 40 albums. All are marked with the year. I have taken all off the shelves trying to find 1994! Curses! The books are lying on the floor waiting for me to have the strength to put them back. I may have to recruit Herb to help.
Here is an amazing Herb story. A few weeks ago I gave him 80 dollars to take 2 of our friends to a Chinese restaurant. We spent 40.00 and I knew he still had more then 40 in his pocket. He couldn’t ever account for the money. We looked everywhere money could be in his room. I had forgotten all about it. Last night Herb came to see me and said “The most amazing thing happened just now” “I was sitting in my lounge chair when it said to me, look under the chair.” So he picked it up and there was his money. He of course has no idea how it got there. That is one of the things about Alzheimer’s, They thinks everyone is steeling from them, and so they hide money behind pictures, everywhere you know no one will look. I once was looking for 100. I moved a picture of Robert and down fluttered 10, 10 dollar bills.
As for me, I am doing well for someone whose body has been filled for 7 & 1/2 years with drugs that make you sick, trying to make you better. I am not as strong as I was , but hey, I am still here.
Thanks for asking, and for taking time to e-mail.
Love, Robert’s Mom
Jean
Jessica — August 31, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
Hi Jean! You have the best memories of all of your travels! I am so jealous as I’ve only been out of the country three times in my life- Canada, Jamaica and the Bahamas! I desperately want to go to Europe! Isn’t is so sad it’s so expensive there! The cobblestone street is beautiful!
Love Always - Jessica
Jean Dover — September 13, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
Dear Jessica,
Thanks so much for again taking time to e-mail me.
I have been having a lack of energy, but hope to get our Hague experience up soon.
Any luck with a new job?
Love Robert’s Mom
Jean
Kathy Farris — September 20, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
Jean,
I don’t know if you remember me but I sat next to you at the Atlanta Games in 1996 when Robert rode Matallic owned by Anne Gribbons. I gave you a poster that I had purchased of the team and you wanted one…I so enjoyed talking to you. I saw Robert when he first started riding Dressage at Potomac Horse Center in Herndon, Virginia…I know I am giving my age away
I graduated from Morven Park International Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, Virgina under the training of Colonel Mark Darley and was writing for one of the judges that day, had my students working as score runners, etc..I hope I get to see you again at the World Equestrian Games, I will make it up to the games to see the Final Freestyle event, take care and I hope to see you in Lexington, Kentucky….I am on facebook…I have media contacts in Europe and would love to go someday!!
Jean Dover — September 25, 2010 @ 7:51 pm
Hi Kathy,
I still still have the poster. I was able to have all the riders sign it. The other day I was cleaning out my extra pictures drawer. I also have about 40 albums. I love them. You can’t show people pictures on the computer, but you can take out an album to show them. I unrolled it and enjoyed seeing it again. It brought back great memories. So thanks for that.
Kathy, I sure wish Herb & I were coming to the WEG. Unfortunately neither of us is well enough. I hope it is streamed into our computer as it happens. I watched Gladstone that way. I will check with Robert.
I am not on facebook or twitter Kathy. I spend too much time on the computer as it is answering mail and writing articles.
We were lucky to see many countries in Europe thanks to Robert riding there. You have to make time to go, maybe to one of the big shows.
Say hello to Robert when you are there. I know he will be glad to speak with you.
Thanks for writing.
Love,
Robert’s Mom Jean