My Dear Canadian Friends,

Below is the official statement prepared and agreed upon between Equine Canada and myself regarding the future. I would only like to add that it has been an enormous pleasure and honour working with and for you all!

Dressage Canada regrets to inform the dressage community that it has been unsuccessful in its bid to retain the services of Team Technical Coach/Advisor Robert Dover beyond the one-year contract that expired October 15, 2010. While efforts have been made over the past several months to extend this contract, the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement for this position due to financial contraints and time commitments.

Dover has done a formidable job as Technical Coach/Advisor, working tirelessly in support of the Canadian Dressage Team. He was instrumental in their success on the European Tour, and best ever placing at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. In addition to this, Dover conducted clinics for Dressage Canada for listed riders nationwide.

There are currently efforts underway to maintain Dover on a consultant basis, which is welcomed by riders given the forthcoming 2011 Pan American Games and 2012 Olympics. Canada’s athletes are welcome to contact. Robert privately for help or coaching in the future.

Equine Canada/ Dressage Canada
Robert Dover

What could be better than a great cartoon a coupleof days out from mid-term elections?  Here’s a great one that my friend, Ashley, sent me.  It’s called. “Hi. I’m a Tea Partier”. Look it up on youtube.com.  It’s worth it!

Cheers!

RD

Does New York City’s First Avenue run uptown or downtown?

What Broadway circus musical gave the world the song The Most beautiful Girl in the World?

What British sex scandal saw the suicide of Dr. Stephen Ward?

Which of Mary’s arms supports Jesus in Michelangelo’s Pieta?

What color are the flowers of the houseplant called crown of thorns?

What indoor sport saw the phoenix Inferno became the phoenix pride on July 14, 1983, when the temperature hit 111 degrees?

Have fun. I hope you enjoy this twister. Don’t forget if you win, you get a prize!

Well’ it seems that my delving into the controversy of Horse-drawn Carriages in major cities like Manhattan has created quite a stir within both the communities for and against such practice. I am continuing to do research on the subject and am planning a trip to New York on Nov. 18th-22nd during which I hope to be invited on a tour of the stabling and to meet the drivers and caregivers. I habe never come out against the use of Carriage Horses and truly love them and hope that the reform already in place which Stephan spearheaded, will be a big step toward improving the lives of these service animals.
But, I was somewhat taken aback when I read the following comment from someone with a blog who seems to go by 3 names, Michaleen, Donna, and Eva (not sure what that’s about). About me she said: Eva Hughes OK, this one is REALLY getting under my skin - this nimrod considers HIMSELF part of the “equine community”, but not US….and he has done “considerable research” on our industry?? All evidence to the contrary! And some of the comments are JUST as galling, aaarrgghh @@

Dover’s World » Horse-Drawn Carriages In Major Cities - Share Your Opinions, Please.

doversworld.com

I have been really enjoying doing my radio show every Tuesday evening at 6pm, “Dover’s World”, on WBZT(AM1230, Clear Channel) from Palm Beach to Miami and live-streamed around the world at DoversWorld.com. On November 30th, my show will deal with the abuse of and endangerment of horses used for pulling Carriages in major cities.
To be fair, I should have used the words, “Accused abuses” as this is yet to be proven. So, while I apologise to Donna, Eva, and Michaleen (not necessarily in that order), I respectfully ask that you reconsider your use of wording pertaining to my career as a U.S. 6-time Olympic equestrian with 4 Olympic Bronze medals, 4 World Championship (One Bronze), 7 U.S.Grand Prix Championships and 7 World Cups. I also have trained the U.S. Teams since ‘88 and the Canadian Team last year for the WEG’s. So, in fact, I believe I can call myself something of an “Equestrian”. But perhaps, in this case, you are the one who did not do your research. Just a thought. Still hoping to meet you in person when I come up to N.Y. On November 18th and do a tour of the stables and meet drivers and caregivers of Carriage Horses to see first-hand how they live.

Best regards.

Robert Dover

It’s almost Halloween and the end of the month of October, which means that first we’re all going to run around in wierd costumes and then we’re going to vote Tuesday on the direction our country is going to take for the next 2 years.  I have to say that I’ve been amazed once again,though I don’t know why, that there is still such a large group of Americans who would prefer our nation to turn back Roe v. Wade, stop stem-cell research, take away peoples’ constitutional rights, and put fear and hate ahead of LOVE and COMPASSION.  But beyond that, I just don’t see how anyone can think that we were better off as a country during the 8 years of Bush and Republican rule.  It is sort of like watching Dressage being judged sometimes when there are 10 percentage points between the Judges and I ask the question, “Were we and the Judges actually watching the same ride just now?”  I mean…. we were taken for the wrong reasons to war, we were brought into the worst recession since the Great Depression, we ran up government spending into the trillions (something that no Democrat has ever done in the history of this country, and which President Obama has reduced, if just by a small percent so far), and we were seen as a nation by much of the rest of the world, not to be the “Grandest on the face of the earth” for the first time in my life-time.  Well, I for one truly believe in this President, and I know from travelling around the world that most people in other countries agree with me.  I only can hope that logic wins out and people give this President and his administration the time he needs to fix something we all knew was totally screwed up when he was elected.  Or, do you really want the likes of Rush Limbaugh preaching in between snorting Oxycontin to direct our nation along with the rest of the whack-jobs who call themselves the Tea Party.  I say let the Tea Party all get dressed up and have their shindig on Halloween and then let’s get back to having the “ADULTS” deal with the business of leading America.

Cheers!

RD

Be prepared to be educated about everything to do with saddles and how they can and must be made to be totally comfortable for both the horse and rider for each to be able to do their best, in and out of competition.  Jochen Schleese has made it his life’s work to produce a saddle for each particular horse and person in mind, and he will be giving us his thoughts on this as well as his latest project, HIPPOH ( Horse Industry Professionals Protecting Our Horses).  I promise, this will be interesting!

I will also have famed Olympic rider from Great Britain, Carl Hester, on the show. We all know just how talented this man is as is proven by his longevity at the top of the sport as well as his medals, but did you know that he could also be a stand-up comedian?  Well, after this Tuesday evening, you will be sure of it!

Please tune in and call in to “Dover’s World”, every Tuesday at 6:00pm EST, on WBZT(AM1230), from Palm Beach to Miami and live-streamed around the world right here on DoversWorld.com!  The numbers to call in are: 561-844-6167 in South Florida or toll free from everywhere else at 1-800-889-0267.  Hope to hear from you!

Cheers!

RD

I have been really enjoying doing my radio show every Tuesday evening at 6pm, “Dover’s World”, on WBZT(AM1230, Clear Channel) from Palm Beach to Miami and live-streamed around the world at DoversWorld.com. On November 30th, my show will deal with the abuse of and endangerment of horses used for pulling carriages in major cities, including Manhattan. I am very interested in knowing your feelings on this issue.
Naturally, I am not against horses pulling carriages, provided they are cared for with the same love and concern we in the equestrian community afford our horses. But in the middle of traffic, with the number is accidents annually occurring that injure and even kill innocent animals, something must be done to either create an independent agency to oversee the housing and care of carriage horses, or in the alternative, the industry should be abolished altogether.
That is my opinion, having done a great deal of research on the issue. I would be very interested in yours as well as the opinions of all riders and drivers who are concerned with the welfare of horses and all animals. Please write in and share your feelings with me prior to my show and remember to tune in and call in every Tuesday. I very much want to hear from you!

Cheers!

RD

Last night the world was hearing about the latest in what I can only call “hateful words” from the same kind of bigot that wore white robes and pointed head-covers to keep their crimes against people of color anonymous.  But here’s the thing - this man, Clint McCance, is a member of the School Board at the Midland School District in Arkansas.  In other words, this person who spouted phrases like, “Seriously, they want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide? The only way I’m wearin’ it for them is if they all commit suicide.” is in charge of working with the children of his district.  He also said , “Being a fag doesn’t give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives.”.  Need I say more?

It is so hard for me to believe that I live in the greatest country in the world, but we are still fighting for equal rights for all our citizens, something which was guaranteed in our constitution but cost the lives already of unfathomable numbers of African Americans and now seems to divide our nation over discrimination against the GLBT community.  Before my radio show airs each Tuesday, I began to listen to Randi Rhodes, who does a political show very much leaning to the left and I find her extremely smart if a bit on the ranting side.  Regardless of her enormous pas ion for stripping away all the crap from what is real and true ( and she does this with incredible fervor), some of her message gets lost by her being, shall we say, over the top.  Still, the common ground I share with Randi and I hope the vast majority of Americans, is that I want to live in a country I am proud of ALL THE TIME!  This means a country where I don’t have to be afraid of being who I was “BORN TO BE”!  That’s right, for any of you out there who, like Mr. McCance, thinks we are an abomination and “chose” to be as such, I first ask the question I did on my radio show the other night; ” When was it exactly…..what day and date……did you make the absolute and defining decision to be straight?”  I am going to wager that you can’t answer that one…….because YOU NEVER CHOSE!  And neither did we, any more than one decides whether to be white, black, brown or any other color in the rainbow.

Sean Maloney, on my show the other night, proved again why I called him my “Dover’s World Out For Good Hero” when he spoke so eloquently and reminded everyone that this was and is really not about whether or not anyone, even Mr. McCance holds or even speaks about whether it is OK to be gay.  He has the right to his opinions as do we all.  The real question is whether he or any group may be allowed to determine who may or may not receive ALL of their constitutional rights which the first and very wise leaders of our land wrote into history.  And in the end, does any rational person truly believe that by giving everyone equal rights will make them LOSE ANYTHING…..at all?  Even people who are at first against Gay Marriage, when asked that question directly ( Do you believe that if gays are allowed to marry, that your life will be changed in any real way?), they think about it a minute and say, “Probably not”.

Not just “probably not”. Definitely not!  We are already here, folks, as we have been since the beginning of time. Even when, in the time of Socrates, it was “normal”.  We have and continue to be your brothers and sisters, parents and children, teachers and artists, builders and doctors….. and yes…. professional and Olympic Athletes in almost every sport on the planet.  We are not going anywhere, other than our of our closets in greater and greater numbers, even when it is very frightening  and possibly life-threatening to do so, Mr. Ahmadinejad!  ( Yes, we’re in Iran too.)

At the end of the day, with the Tea Party and its lot of whack-jobs running around the country, hoping and attempting to bring us back to the way it was during the 8 years before we made history by electing not only a black President, but thankfully, an extremely bright and intelligent one who is attempting every day to bring us out of what took almost a decade to screw up, are we going to give up?  Are we going to, after only 21 months, not give this President and his administration 2 more years to lead us to a brighter future?  If he hasn’t produced by the end of his first term, I will agree that he has to go ( I would say the same thing about myself as a Coach, by the way.), but we simply cannot listen to the lowest common denominator of Americans, who are using fear, lies and peoples’ frustrations, to turn us backward to a time when hate and inequality were the benchmark.

So. Mr. McCance, I defend your right to your beliefs, but I don’t defend your job as a member of the School Board where you could possibly change your words into actions against any child, so,straight or gay.  And if you agree with me on this, go to the following link and say so: 

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/demand_resignation_of_anti-gay_arkansas_school_board_member

Cheers!

RD

I received the best text from Courtney King-Dye today!  It said. “We came up with a new saying for the bracelette!  If you just add “WEL”, then it says, “WEL COME BACK COURT”.

I immediately wrote back that I love it and went ahead and worked it out with indelible magic marker.  Here’s how it looks now and I encourage everyone to do the same with their ” COME BACK, COURT” bands!  OK?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Simon living " a dog's life". :)

I’m sitting here watching Simon (my Schnoodle), chewing on his bone and thinking that’s why they call if ” a dog’s life!”  He definitely has his priorities right - eating, playing, resting, playing, eating, going for lots of walks and sleeping. I’m pretty sure that’s why my last 2 dogs both lived to be 18 years old.  Zero stress is the answer!

And then I compare it to Robert’s and my life and I wonder why we don’t seem happy unless we are doing everything possible to “get ahead”, regardless of how much stress the getting ahead brings into our lives. I mean, at the end of all the earning, having more “stuff” and “being all you can be”, we lose it all anyway when we check out, right?  And that is why we sold our big house in Wellington and bought a smaller one as well as places with gorgeous views of the water there as well as those we have in Miami Beach andFire Island. So, now the only problem is having the time to be able to truly enjoy these great homes, not to mention the fact that the one in Wellington is presently totally demolished and is my project while I am once again, semi-retired. And by semi-retired, I mean I have, since October 2nd, not been actively coaching Dressage. However, I have been training a tiny bit, working on the house and producing and hosting a weekly radio show, “Dover’s World”. Oh, and writing daily on this website. The funny thing is…I keep finding I’m running out of day to get everything done.  How does that happen?

In the end, it’s really about finding balance between making sure we are working enough to provide for ourselves and Simon’s lifestyles :), andremembering to find the time to do all the fun stuff we can, because the ride is going by fast and at the end of it, we had best be able to say, ” That was a great ride and I loved it, even the hard times”!  I see my partner, Robert, becoming more and more successful with his real-estate and while I’m all for being a kept man, I also want him to be able to enjoy more time and feel less stress in each day.  But, in the end, we make the decision ourselves, each and every one of us, to feel stress or not.  I’m not saying that ‘crap” doesn’t happen, because it most definitely does and it seems that we see more of it as we age and our relatives and friends do the same.  But our choice is how we think of all of it and what we decide to “feel” about the tough stuff.

Every day I am determined to look for the beauty that is everywhere around us and even more, every day I make it my expressed obligation to do at least one good thing for someone  or something else.  Somehow, when I go to sleep knowing that I have achieved those two priorities in my life, the rest of the nonsense all falls away to where it belongs - in the ” Not Really Important” box!

Cheers!

RD