I love horse people in general, even though I tend to joke about them a lot. I mean, we are a fanatic group, often probably worthy of having an enormous net dropped on us in which we’d be carried off to some remote island far away from the rest of the “normal world.” But, for the most part, we are fun and funny, smart and driven, hard-working and full of love.

Except when we are ragging on eachother!

As a Dressage rider who has been around the block more than a few times, I’ve been the recipient of my fair share of criticism, some probably earned, and I believe I’ve generally tried to take it like a gentleman. I guess it goes with the territory and I learned to expect it. I also found that, many times, once I was helping our country win a medal somewhere, the very people who had skewered me in the press, were my new best friends. So it all equaled out in the end.

But I try, when I am out teaching symposia around the world, to help everyone remember that, as a rule, all of us who train horses wake up every day wanting to do the very best we can with what we know. I don’t believe that any of us get up and think, “I can’t wait to go ride my horse poorly,” and that goes for amateurs and professionals alike.

Still, for us professionals, with the advances in technology, every move we make, in or out of context, is immediately made available for the world to see… and critique. While the computer has made learning and discussing valid points of training exceedingly accessible, it has also created a monster: the chat room. Now, not all of these sites are bad, but many are simply a place where people can anonymously spew their venom about others without their victims being able to defend themselves, much like graffitti on bathroom walls. Most of them are probably just unhappy individuals with too much time on their hands.

Just remember please what I said about generosity and that all of us are genuinely trying, just as you are, to find our ways through life, with and without horses. And despite our successes or lack thereof, we are all capable of getting our feelings hurt. So when you are about to say something unkind to the world about someone, ask yourself if you are living up to the best possible version of yourself. I bet you will think twice and pass!

Cheers!
RD

The following is a sponsored post. For information on advertising on Dover’s World, please contact us.

Jenna Wyatt is a multi-talented young lady. She not only rides and trains Dressage and keeps a barn full of nice horses and clients, she also has an amazing voice and has written and recorded her own songs. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Jenna stays true to her country roots and has both the chops and the looks to be another Faith Hill or Shanaya Twain.

I hope everyone will get to know Jenna better and discover her talents for themselves!

Continue reading for Jenna’s full bio and gallery.

Jenna grew up riding horses. Her parents had horses before she was born, her mother riding while she was in the womb. Pleasure riding turned into showing AQHA horses by age seven. At nine, Jenna started competing Hunters on the southeast circuit. That quickly led to showing Jumpers, which resulted in Jennaʼs Eventing Career. Jenna evented through the Preliminary level. While training as an event rider, Jennaʼs eyes were opened to the sport of Dressage.

In 1999 Jenna began training with Robert Dover. While under Robert’s tutelage she trained and competed from training level to Grand Prix. She rode many horses under Robert, including the talented Nairobi currently competing at the Grand Prix level. Jenna trained with Robert extensively from 1999 - 2004. “I have learned so much from Robert over the past 10 years. Just being around Robert is inspiring. Not only is he an amazing trainer and coach, he’s demanding and instill incredible high standards in everyone that he works with. He has this special way of getting to the heart of what makes a horse and rider click.”

Jenna Wyatt operates a full time training facility in Point Clear, Al and Wellington, FL. Her hard work, talent and dedication to the sport of Dressage has enabled her to train and compete two extremely talented and special horses at the Grand Prix level. Rising to through the ranks of international dressage is demanding and costly. We are seeking sponsors of all types… private, corporate, product endorsements etc. to help fund this international star on the rise.

Click More for contact info and photogallery!
(more…)

Listen, I am as fanatic about dressage as the next guy or gal, but I think it’s high time for a reality check on this whole notion of what is or is not “classical”. Let’s take a good look together at the subject.

When I was younger and very green, I moved to Germany to get a more classical education in Dressage and granted, learned a huge amount. I also went from only having had success in the U.S. to ultimately winning major Grand Prix as well as freestyles all over Europe. And I owe much of that success to great trainers who taught me very well how to better create throughness and harmony both at home and in the show arenas.

But at the same time I became aware that Dressage, like life, is not absolutely black or white, but actually exists more on a gradient determined by many variables. So I am going to put myself way out on a limb with this one and hope I don’t fall (or get pushed) off!

I first have to say that my opinions began to change when I observed things which made me question the ideas I had thought were absolutes about what was called “classical”. Once, I had gone for a lesson with one of the great classical trainers of our time and watched with my mouth open as, angry with something his horse had done, he took a hold of his ear from the saddle and twisted it until the animal fell to its knees. Classical?
I also rode with someone over there who was so frightened of their horses that they never rode outside from their indoor for one and a half years, other than when off at shows. Classical?

And then came the hooplah about people putting their horses deep which was later named, “hyperflexion”, as if this was some new and strange practice. In fact, I had thought that everyone put their horses deep and round until I got to Willi Schultheis’s farm for training in the early 80’s. Not only did he not believe in stretching down, all horses including the 4 and 5 year olds were in full bridles and no one including Schultheis ever posted a single step-ever! And when he rode the great Dinasty from Cindy Ishoy that year in an exhibition at the World Cup Finals in Essen, he did so with the snaffle rein dropped and only holding the curb, and the crowd went crazy with what was later described in the press to have been the Master riding in the classical fashion, only on the curb. And trhis was also the time that many people were saying we were ruining the sport by adding the Freestyle to the Olympics. We would be losing our classical principles, after all. Naturally, this did not take into account the hundreds of years before we were all competing, they were riding horse ballets for the kings and queens and their courts to the tunes from live musicians. And the Spanish Riding School, a meca of classical riding through the decades, has carried on the most beautiful tradition of blending technique and music to form great art for us all.

The sport of skating is a model for us to look at. The sport’s popularity has increased exponentially since taking out the very boring to watch compulsory figures from competition. It absolutely did not lose its commitment to its classical principles by doing so. In fact, the audiences have become very educated about exactly what the technical aspects of the sport require, and this along with the fun of seeing it performed to music in both short and long programs has driven their sport to new heights and helped to sell it to the world.

Don’t get me wrong. I still think Schultheis as well as the others I described were fabulous trainers; I just changed my philosophy of what the word “classical” meant to me.

So here it goes. I believe that a classically trained horse is totally adjustable to the will of the rider in his rhythm ( how fast or slow), his length of stride ( how long or short), and his frame ( how high or low and how long or short). And this adjustability must in no way create pain or bewilderment to the horse.
Now what could be more classical then that? These principles produce a thoroughly supple and obedient “partner” who will fight for and not against his rider, and be a joy for all to behold. That goes whether they have come from one school of thinking or another as well. And these horses and riders are able to enter the competition arena and prove their good training to the judges time and time again, like our great champions through the years have done, such as our only tripple individual gold medalist in history, Anky.

So there you have it; that’s my philosophy.

Oh, and by the way, that’s also my final answer and I’m sticking to it!

Cheers!

RD

As you know, I’ve been a member of the FEI Dressage Task Force since it was formed due to the resignation of the last Dressage Committee. We have been meeting weekly to resolve pressing issues and will continue to meet on a regular basis to achieve our goals until the next DC is elected. Here is the document sent out today to all the National Federations as well as the Stakeholder Groups for their opinions and consultation.

RD

Click below to read the document:
(more…)

Jane Savoie is one of my dearest friends and longtime student. She has ridden for the U.S. In Europe and has become an extremely popular author and public speaker on Dressage and positive thinking. Jane and I spent an hour today reminiscing and discussing Dressage and life in general. If you would like to hear the conversation, click the link below. Hope you all enjoy it.

Listen here: http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=6294612

Whenever there is a major event like the Olympic Games, I read time and time again about how outraged horse fans are that there is not more TV coverage of our sports. Naturally, I too would love to see more horses on TV,
so much so that I produced my own show, The Search For America’s Next Equestrian Star - Dressage. It not only was very difficult to stage and produce, it was amazingly difficult to finally get picked up by a network.

I thought for sure that Animal Planet would jump at the chance to air this very well produced series. But they had previously aired a horse-related show for which the numbers did not come back very high. Therefore, they passed as did most of the networks we hoped for. Finally, we got Fox Reality to air the show and received quite good numbers and were happy. The whole thing almost killed me but my determination to see horses on TV and bring our sports into people’s living rooms was worth it. For us to create a wider acceptance from the world for horse sports we must get them on TV every chance we get.

So, the Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals is coming in April again to Las Vegas. It is a fabulous event and for the first time has the chance to be televised all over America LIVE as well as to be viewed again and again as repeats on an NBC affiliate. The sad reality is that this may never happen because nobody so far will step forward to sponsor it. Can you believe it? Not one horse related company or major breeding farm that sells to the U.S. market thinks that there is value for them to sponsor this amazing event! And the thing is that for what they would get, the amount for the sponsorship is extremely inexpensive. For less than $100,000.00 the sponsors can receive a package that would make them the official sponsors of the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals. They may receive valuable live and taped commercial time throughout the week’s competitions as well as banners, ads in programs, announcements, and premier suites and tickets for the show.

So with all this, I just can’t believe there is not anyone out there who will step up to the plate to ensure our horse sports get on TV. Please, if you or anyone you know is interested in becoming the World Cup sponsor, get in touch with me immediately and I will connect you with the folks at Las Vegas Events. I, Along with so many horse enthusiasts will be so sad if we miss yet another chance to watch are wonderful sport on TV!

Since Phelisha Chandler won The Search For America’s Next Equestrian Star -Dressage two years ago, she worked for me for an entire year as my assistant. Last October, after aa full year apprenticing, Phelisha took a job as assistant to Tuny Page where she is doing as great a job as she did for me.

But Phelisha can be even more than an assistant. She has the talent, drive, and character to be a top international competitor and has been training her lovely horse to Grand Prix extremely well. What Phelisha really needs is a sponsor! She needs to have more and better horses, the ability to train and compete here and abroad, and the security necessary to relieve the stress she feels from knowing that money she is spending on her horse could be being utilized to pay bills and help out her family.

So with this letter I am asking anyone interested in helping this fantastic young lady to achieve her dreams to step up to the plate and contact her. Not just because she is talented, not just because as an African American in Dressage sport she is a great ambassador , not just because she shows great drive and determination; but truly because of all those things and many more do I ask you to please help Phelisha to realize her dreams.

Philesha Chandler was born in Tampa, Florida, and raised by her paternal grandmother, Anna Chandler for most of her life. Most of you know Philesha, as the girl from Kansas who won Robert Dover’s reality TV show, “The Search for the Next Equestrian Star: Dressage”. Before taking on the year of apprenticeship with Robert, Philesha had earned USDF Bronze and Silver Medals, and had won numerous Championships and High Point awards. Under Robert’s watchful eye this past year, Philesha learned the “ropes” of the dressage world, and achieved her dream of riding Grand Prix.

“I learned so much in my year with Robert! Not only about riding, but also about barn management, client services, vet care. The list goes on and on. I came into the situation reserved. I learned how to be more assertive, and how to manage a great training facility. The tools I learned for my riding in this past year will stay with me a lifetime!

Since finishing up her year with Robert this past October, Philesha has taken on the role as assistant to another top U.S. rider, Arlene “Tuny” Page. Once again as an assistant she not only rides, but deals with all aspects of helping run a successful world class facility. On top these tasks, she has a wonderful 11 year old Dutch gelding, whom she plans to show Prix St. Georges and Intermediare 1 this season in Wellington. So far Ricardo and Philesha are having success in getting their feet wet at Prix St. Georges. At their 1st recognized show this season the pair scored a 65% at Prix St. Georges. Philesha hopes to keep improving their scores and move Ricardo along to Grand Prix within the next year.

Philesha is currently looking for sponsors to help her continue her journey to becoming one of the top riders in the U.S.

Phelisha can be emailed at pac90_1981@yahoo.com or contacted by phone at 316-207-4439.

People ask me often, “What would you do if you were in charge of U.S. Dressage?” OK, I will tell you a few things I would do. I would re-structure and create programs from the Junior/Pony ranks, all the way to the International Grand Prix A Squads. I would appoint the very best coaches for Junior/Young Riders and oversee programs those coaches and I would create to ensure our best young talent has strong basics and a true understanding of horse mastership.

This means far more than just being a good rider who knows what to do in the arena. It means that they can fully take carte of and properly manage their horse’s health and total well-being. I would want to hold “Talent Searches”, similar to American Idol, to find young, raw talent all around our great country and give these kids the boost (and sometimes the kick in the pants) they need to get where they desire to go: future Olympics!

I would create a similar program for the young and developing horses who are working now without enough support and direction from our USET. Clinics around our country would begin immediately to once again search for and bring along new combinations so we have the depth coming up to the Grand Prix level which is so important for fielding future teams.

And I would create a training and competitive program for our International riders which would ensure they have enough experience and exposure at the right shows around the world to give them their shot at standing on the highest podium at the Olympics someday!

Those are just a few things I would do IF I were ever in the driver’s seat of U.S. Dressage.

I just read an article in the Chronicle which included a remark by British 3-day Olympian, Lucinda Green, regarding the cross-country jumping phase. She said, “The deep spot is from where those horrific rotational falls have taken so many people’s lives. I’m sure people are even more frightened of that deep spot than in my day. All these remarks go ’round which creates an atmosphere where you’re expected to see a spot. But why? That’s the horse’s job. It’s his legs.”
Sorry, Lucinda, but that’s CRAP!
First of all, if your horses were all so careful as to really be watching out for their legs, why do you lather them up with so much vaseline? I dare say that the majority of horses as careful as you say would never even consider jumping the first fence on cross-country with riders with no eye for a distance. They would be way to clever or simply afraid of being put in positions dangerous to themselves, no less their riders.
So here’s what I say. You want to risk your lives? That’s your choice. But you want to take a poor, dumb animal along for the ride? Then learn to see a distance or join me in the dressage arena where the worst we generally get is embarrassed!

As you all probably know, I had surgery on my back in the end of October, am really still convelessing and have only partial feeling in my right leg from the knee down. Nerves are very strange and complex things, I’ve come to learn. Anyway, I am much better now, but for the first three weeks after my operation I was on a lot of strong medications.

Which brings me to the day, a couple of weeks after surgery, when I was laying on my couch in a definite haze when the phone rang. In my limited state of consciousness I answered, “Hallo” and heard a faint voice say, “Hiah” to which I naturally replied with another, “Hiah” after which I heard, “No, Robert. It is Haya.”

Even in my stupor, I realised what I had just said to the Royal Princess of Jourdan who also happens to be married to the king of Dubai. So now I froze while trying to assess the damage at the same time as figuring out how to proceed with this conversation. Should it be, “Pardon me, Your Royal Highness” or “I am very sorry, Princess Haya?”

Luckily, she and I go way back to the mid-eighties when we were both competing on the European show circuit, she in jumpers and I in dressage. We would meet and joke around in the elevators on our way back from the shows and she was so amazingly down to earth that it was very easy to feel like she was just another cool “girl.” So after much deliberation, my final answer was, “How’s it goin?”

Princess Haya was just as down to earth as she had been 20 years earlier and we laughed and reminisced over old times and discussed the difficult things  going on in the dressage world, most recent of which was her asking the entire Dressage Committee to step down. And then came the big question- Would I consider sitting on a temporary Dressage Task Force to keep things moving forward in the sport until the next D.C. could be elected?

Now, I had gone off all committees a long time ago and  had just retired from my business as well on October 1st. I had also been extremely happy with my new found freedom and time to spend on non-horsey activities. And here I was again, high on painkillers and at the veritable precipice of saying “yes” to yet another stressful appointment, one I definitely never believed I would ever even need to consider. So I asked the Princess if I could think about it over night and, after our conversation lasted another 10 minutes, agreed to go on the Task Force. I still blame it all on Vicodin!

I did have the presence of mind to say that I would only consider such a job if I would be allowed to make it my mission to help create a new and totally democratic, transparent process by which the next Dressage Committee (and hopefully all F.E.I. committees) would be nominated and elected.

And Her Royal Highness agreed, so here I am, on my way to Frankfurt on January 10th for our first official meeting. The good news is that, unlike the last group, which consisted of 6 people who, though well respected and experienced, were all judges other than one active rider, this one is made up of one person from each major stakeholder- one judge, a rider, one trainer (me), a Chef d’Equip, one organiser and a major horse owner. This gives us the diversity of views necessary for the best interest of the sport.

And as soon as we have the selection process in order to correctly form the next Dressage Committee, it will be my greatest pleasure to fire myself!