By Abby Kogler, founder of Dressage, it’s not for sissies

I started Itsnotforsissies in 2009. I had lost my mom, my only brother, both my dogs, and five horses in the space of 18 months. Life was immeasurably sad and I had a hard time getting past all the heartbreaks. My German grandmother used to say “Leibe ist nicht fur Schwachlinge!” (”Life is not for sissies!”) when things were hard. A sympathetic friend said “You need a not for sissies hat..” She was right. I did. So I made a line of hats, sold them locally and on line, and dedicated the company to my brother Eric, who was definitely not a sissie. I donated a percentage of the proceeds to a local therapeutic riding organization. Good came from bad, and I was comforted by the whole process.

From that original idea arose the Horse line of sissie products. Competition is not for the faint of heart. As a teacher and coach, I know that humor goes along way toward diffusing fears, insecurities, and sadness. And Schwachlinge is such a great word! It makes people laugh just to say it. And its perfect for the Dressage world with its German influences. And so the Dressage, Equitation, Hunter, and Jumper line of products were born.

Years ago I started following Dr. Hillary Clayton, Phillippe Karl, and Dr. Gerd Heuschman Their work on the biomechanics of dressage and performance fascinated me. It coincided with the rise of Rollkur/Hyperflexion as a training practice. I knew it was physiologically and emotionally wrong and their work confirmed it. I gave Dr. Heuschman a Sissie hat, and he said “This is great, but we really need a Bully hat”. He was right. And so we do.

And so the latest product line reminds us that Dressage is NOT for bullies. An oppressed horse is not a thing of beauty. Its an object of pity, shame, and horror. And so the latest additions to the itsnotforsissies.com store are the Rebauken hats and decals. They say “Dressage: Ist nicht fur Rebauken. Call 1-800- SieSindNichtDeineSklaven”. This translates to Dressage; Its Not for Bullies. Call 1-800-TheyAren’tYourSlaves. It’s time.

In an effort to give back to a community that has given us so much, we also donate a portion of our revenue to a therapy group,
www.cornerstonetrc.org

So visit the STORE and see for yourself what we’re all about!

Wear it, live it, ride by it.

Abby Kogler

Town Crier Opinion – December 30th, 2011 on Equestrian Village
By Mark Bellissimo

Life is about perspective, overcoming adversity, learning through experience, challenging convention and making a difference by pursuing your dreams and goals — whether those goals are social, spiritual, financial, personal, or a combination of all four. What makes America great is the ”can do” attitude that is pervasive in society. It is a place where there are opportunities for all regardless of birthright, resources or current standing. The underdog is respected and honored. It is a place where the spirit of entrepreneurship has created many great people, places, companies and industries. It takes hard work and courage to pursue your dreams because life is full of critics who want nothing more than to maintain the status quo. Many times the status quo is “preserved” by those who are quite happy with what they have, are indifferent to those who want something different, or who just fear change. America is also a place where people have the right to disagree. Often there is no right or wrong answer, only better or worse answers. However, more often than not, doing nothing is the worst answer.
The Wellington Equestrian Preservation Alliance (WEPA) recently sent out a mass mailing to an estimated 18,000 Wellington homes describing our newly proposed “Equestrian Village” project. I believe it was an extremely disturbing, divisive, misguided and dishonest mailing.
Six-time Olympian Robert Dover issued a passionate response that included the following statement, “The [WEPA] newsletter was full of angry terms that incite — terms like ’scheming,’ ’speculation,’ ‘declining home values,’ ‘crime,’
‘uncertainty,’ ‘anxiety,’ ‘insecurity,’ ‘increased danger to horses,’ ‘noise,’ ‘traffic congestion,’ ‘lack of green space,’ the list goes on. Then I read about the high- rise condominiums, a mall, a fairgrounds and an RV park. It was a negative, intentionally inaccurate, full of exaggeration, fear-mongering campaign only meant to once again scare and disrupt this community that I call home and love.”
(To see Robert’s full response, go to www.doversworld.com and click on the Dec.
8 blog. To see WEPA’s newsletter, go to www.wellingtonalliance.com.)
Robert also mentions in his blog that WEPA’s current objections are akin to the campaign waged by Lou Jacobs and Mason Phelps in 2006: “I watched in horror five years ago as the same players … and the Old Guard brutalized Mark Bellissimo, his family and the motives of Wellington Equestrian Partners in blogs and in the local and national equestrian media. In their eyes, he would destroy the event, the facility, the fabric of the community, our equestrian way of life. Through eerily similar scare tactics and attacks, they declared that it was the
‘beginning of the end’ of Wellington.”
Despite the barrage of negative press, ugly tactics and the smear campaign, Robert was correct: My partners, Roger Smith and Dennis Dammerman, and I chose not to defend ourselves in 2006. The issue was not about us but about the future of Wellington. In our opinion, we were not yet directly relevant to the community, so to the outside world it was just about a bunch of “rich people fighting with each other, so who cares.”

At the time, my oldest child, Matt, then 16,was concerned and inquired why I was not defending myself against the false accusations. I said to him and my three other children that you never let people bully you into a fight. I conveyed that we were going to take the high road and that they should always remember, a great plan, a positive message, passion, conviction, the right resources and a strong team will always prevail over indifference, negativity, lawyers, lobbyists,
political connections and all the money in the world. What is important is not what you say or how you react, but what you do that counts. The lasting and most important memory is the outcome and the destination, not the process and the journey.
Our expanded partnership, the Wellington Equestrian Partners, then laid out an ambitious plan and vision to transform Wellington from a temporary, seven- week hunter-jumper horse show and private polo club community targeted at the wealthy into a permanent, full, multidisciplinary equestrian industry that benefits the entire community for the entire year. The unifying theme was the love of the horse. It is a vision intended to be inclusive, not exclusive, for equestrians and village residents alike and be accessible to anyone regardless of his or her financial resources or status.
After a five-year, $30 million turnaround, we prevented the Winter Equestrian Festival from moving from its current location. The newly renovated Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is now a permanent venue and regarded as one of the finest facilities in the world. There is record rider attendance from all over the world. The season is longer and has a greater impact on local businesses and Palm Beach County. A record number of Wellington residents now feel welcome to attend the events. Our organization is responsible for distributing millions of dollars to more than 50 local charities. We have launched a public school initiative that will begin to make the equestrian community relevant and accessible to the children in our community. We are creating a community jobs
program that will provide education, access and training for residents who are out of work and want to pursue the hundreds (if not thousands) of jobs available within the community. All of this occurred during the most challenging financial climate in our lifetimes.
I am proud of our accomplishments. My family and I are thrilled to call Wellington our home. While it would be easy to stop and take a deep breath, we believe the Equestrian Village project is the single most important economic engine to enhance Wellington’s equestrian economy and position it to have a greater impact across the community while still maintaining Wellington’s unique character. The most significant benefit is the ability to create jobs from critical short-term construction jobs to long-term, full-time jobs in all areas of the industry (horse shows, hospitality, lodging, administration, equestrian support and specialty retail). It will elevate the real-estate market, which enhances the tax base that supports community services; reduce the seasonality, which strengthens and supports local businesses; create a common gathering spot to engage, educate and entertain the community; and position Wellington to attract more world-class equestrian events such as the 2018 World Equestrian Games,

thus firmly establishing Wellington as the No. 1 equestrian destination in the world.
Once again, we stand at a crossroad: WEPA states that our project would create uncertainty, anxiety and insecurity. Its members want you to imagine a project with crime, traffic, high-rises, shopping malls, RVs, noise, declining home values and increased danger to horses. Instead, let’s challenge them once again.
Let’s all imagine a project that drives a robust economic industry for Wellington and the county. Let’s imagine a place with children and families playing, seniors relaxing and local residents and riders from around the world competing in diverse and accessible events. Let’s imagine hundreds of industry professionals and businesses coming to Wellington for trade shows, industry conferences and new events. Let’s imagine many of those businesses returning or moving their businesses here — creating more jobs. Let’s imagine an industry
that provides hundreds of jobs in a world where people are struggling to find jobs, pay their mortgages to keep their homes, feed their families, educate their children and maintain a decent quality of life.
Let’s imagine a world where a couple of large estate owners with their lobbyists and lawyers do not dictate policy to protect their mega-compounds and access roads at the expense of the community. If you have a job, a great estate and tremendous wealth, the status quo is great. When you are a high school senior without a job, or a father who has been laid off and cannot support his family, the status quo is not such a nice place. WEPA was wrong in 2006, and they are even more wrong in 2011.
In my heart, I believe we can and will reshape this community into the most unique place in the world that benefits a much broader group of people. Unfortunately, that requires change, and change is extremely hard for most people, especially those people who are vested in what they know, feel and touch. Add a level of uncertainty in the outcome of that change, and it creates
fear. That fear then evolves into resistance and criticism of the unknown and then criticism of the individuals who are pursuing the change. This is true for most exploration and invention in history.
The fact is, visions do not come with majority support, and the execution of the vision is filled with setbacks in the form of mistakes, failures and shortcomings that provide fodder for the critics. In response to these setbacks and critics, you can either quit, adapt or get stronger, smarter and overcome. If the critics prevail, the status quo prevails, and the corresponding change and opportunities die. You will never know what could have been. Your willingness to persevere directly correlates to your fundamental belief in the outcome, your resources and your team.
This is the message I have ingrained in my children, because the ultimate fact is, critics do not write great novels, produce great movies, build great buildings, invent cures, lead companies, build products or change society. They criticize. Criticism is important to improve a process, but it should not be the lasting
legacy.

What is the Equestrian Village?
The Equestrian Village (EV) is the most important investment that WEP will make in Wellington. It is more than just a real estate project. It is also a business strategy to develop a connection to the community, enhance the current business, and provide an engine for economic growth. The location of the EV is critical as it represents a very strategic, visible, and accessible location. It will become the “gateway” to the Equestrian community. It will provide a central gathering spot open to the entire community that educates, entertains and inspires residents about the equestrian industry. There are 4 components of the Equestrian Village; 1) local shops with an exhibition arena and a Wellington Hall of fame; 2) a riding academy; 3) a world class Showgrounds with dressage complex, covered arena, and derby field; 4) and a resort condo/hotel. All of the elements are integrated. The hotel on the corner will become a world-wide recognizable piece of architecture for Wellington.

How do the four components of the EV help you accomplish your objectives? The four components above allow us to accomplish four key objectives that are critical to Wellington’s long term success; engaging the community, increasing community participation, expanding the equestrian season, and finally as a vehicle to market Wellington to the equestrian industry and to the world.

How will the EV engage the Community? The EV provides a central gathering spot open to the entire community that educates, entertains and inspires residents about the Wellington equestrian industry. The limited number of shops and restaurants at Equestrian Village (only 45,000 feet) will surround an “exhibition” area where there can be daily and nightly exhibitions, demonstrations, training, and/or clinics highlighting all dimensions of equestrian sport including riding, horse training, horse care, horse welfare, or job opportunities within the industry. On some days and evenings it could just be pony/horse rides (a live carousel, so to speak) for residents of all ages to get exposed to and ride a horse. Some examples of demonstrations could be explanations of the different disciplines, jumpers, hunters, dressage, polo, driving, vaulting, reigning, cutting, etc. It could be an Olympic rider demonstrating their craft or a top, a top groom or Ferrier explaining what they do. There would be an online schedule that would be available to those interested in attending. It would also include a “Legends of Wellington” Hall of fame exhibit that educates the community on Wellington’s History. It would include a “Golden Horseshoe” on a walk of fame that would initially include C. Oliver Wellington, Bill Ylvisaker, and Gene Mische.

Why will it increase Community Participation? Once people become engaged and knowledgeable we believe they will want to participate. If they have an interest in riding they would now find a high quality, accessible, and affordable Palm Beach Riding Academy. The Academy provides a facility that will allow residents to participate in the sport whether a child, adult, or senior or whether for recreational or competitive rider. It will also be the center of the universe for our new public school riding initiative and our proposed interscholastic riding program. Also, with the right level of awareness, education, and training we think that residents will increase their interest in jobs that are available within the industry.

How will it expand the Equestrian season? The EV will strengthen and stimulate the expansion of the equestrian season by adding new events (e.g. Global Dressage Festival, Breed Shows, Young Horse Shows, Horse Auctions etc). With an integrated hotel option and covered arena, we believe we can pursue regional and national finals for licensed events as well as collegiate events. With a world class Showgrounds, an indoor arena, and a hotel option, we can pursue the 2015 World Cup Finals and/or the 2018 World Equestrian Games. We are also exploring western, cross country, and driving disciplines to add to the calendar of events. The more events the longer the season and the more economic impact on the community through increased spending and jobs.

What does it mean to market Wellington to the Industry and to the World? The EV allows us to introduce and market Wellington to a broad array of industry professionals (horse owners, veterinarians, trainers, product manufacturers, equestrian retailers, drug companies, and tourists) in order to enhance the exposure of Wellington through Trade Shows, Industry Conferences, spectator-oriented equestrian events and festivals. (e.g. Equitana, BreyerFest, Equine Affair). Those events can leverage the hotel, competition arenas, covered arena, and various hospitality complexes. Many of these events would occur during the shoulder periods (i.e. non-winter) and would allow us to attract new riders, sponsors, and new businesses interested in relocating to Wellington, or new tourists (some of whom can be converted to participants).

Why focus on a Dressage Complex? Dressage has been the step child of equestrian sport in Wellington for years. There is a large passionate group of people who participate in the sport who have not had a world class facility in which to compete. There is an increasingly large group of dressage riders that make Wellington their full time home. I think that will increase and there will be a longer season.
Internationally, there is no real winter home for dressage and we are already seeing hundreds of new dressage horses and riders flowing into the community. The sport is growing and I think it will give Wellington an important new dimension.

Why is the Hotel Important? The Hotel is one of the most important elements to bring Wellington to the next level and it will have the biggest impact on extending the season. First, the most obvious issue is meeting demand and serving our customers. The Palm Beach Sports Commission recently published an independent report that highlighted that the Winter Equestrian Festival generated 47,400 bed nights during the 12 week event. The Hampton Inn, the only hotel in town, at full capacity during that time period generates 8,400 bed nights leaving a gap of 39,300 bed nights. Thus, 83% of the demand is filled outside of Wellington. This translates into tens of millions of dollars spent outside of Wellington and a tremendous amount of unnecessary traffic on the roads. Those guests are most likely eating and supporting non-Wellington businesses. Second, attracting world class Sponsorship is critical to our long term success. One of the biggest complaints from our sponsors is that there is no full service hotel to put up their senior executives and customers. The Hampton is the only hotel in Wellington and it does not have room service or conference facilities. Some of our sponsors have to put up their guests at the Hotels throughout Palm Beach which can be a 30-40 minute trip each way. Our largest sponsor FTI believes it is critical to maintain our standing and attract broader sponsorship. Many of our existing and potential sponsors would love to bring in their key customers and entertain them locally, however, it is inconvenient. A world class hotel would allow us to dramatically expand our sponsor base. Finally, and most importantly, the existence of a Hotel will allow us to create and or attract new events to Wellington. A hotel would allow us to attract new events, industry conferences, trade shows, or to develop a new equestrian tourism product. The hotel would act as the headquarters for the events, tradeshows, conferences, and sponsors. These events will allow us to extend the season before and after the winter which will create jobs. If you bring a big conference, you would use the hotel as the headquarters for the event with the banquet and conference facilities. The event would be unique because you could leverage the other components of the property like the village shops, the covered arena, the equestrian arenas, and the riding academy which would make the event unique. This would also bring commerce to other hotels, local businesses, rental properties, and restaurants. As for tourism, this year the Palm Beach Convention and Visitors bureau ran an ad in Horse and Hound magazine, the largest equestrian oriented English language magazine in the World, which is based out of England. I believe that it has generated one group of 30 people and over 70 other tourists to experience Wellington and the Winter Equestrian Festival. Since there was no place to stay in Wellington, they are staying as far away as Delray. A destination equestrian resort would also be unique in that you could bring your horse to the local stables and compete on site during off season shows. I believe it will also be critical for our bid for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

Why does the hotel need to be 5 stories? While the hotel is five stories at its maximum point the hotel has been designed to be an attractive architectural landmark. In order to maximize green space and equestrian activity we went vertical instead of horizontal. The allowable height in Wellington is three stories. The design of the hotel steps down from 5 floors to 4 floors to 3 floors giving it a layered feel making it less than of box structure. The fifth floor is only 10% of the total area of the hotel so on average it is about 4 stories which is one story above what is allowed. Again, the height is important in order to get the number of rooms and to achieve the green space and equestrian competition areas.

Why don’t you use the commercial property across the street and put the hotel there? Our strategy entails bringing more equestrian businesses and jobs to Wellington. That site is approved for commercial professional and offices. At this time we think the expansion of the season, increase in number and types of events, increased awareness of Wellington, along with county and state incentives can elevate Wellington for a potential site for a corporate headquarters or a regional office for an equestrian targeted enterprise. In combination with the great infrastructure of Wellington; schools, recreational facilities, lifestyle, quality home inventory, it leverages the strengths of the two complementary worlds. Further, it is critical that the hotel is a resort hotel with many amenities (spa, banquet, conference facilities, stables, pool etc. with beautiful grounds that will support many types of activities that directly linked to the equestrian activity. With a strong World Class product we can attract many equestrian events during the non-winter periods.

There is empty commercial space in Wellington. Why should we create more?
Nearly all the tenants will be locating in Equestrian Village because it is an equestrian venue. They will be economic base businesses in that they will be associated with the equestrian industry and participants. This property is already zoned Commercial Recreation with a floor to area ratio (FAR) of 10%. This 59 acre property has an existing entitlement for almost 250,000 sqft of commercial activity. Despite the misleading information that is flowing around. The pure commercial elements are only 75,000 feet split between restaurant (20,000), retail (25,000), and office (30,000), all small numbers. The increase in FAR that is being requested to 15% is intended to be more consistent with what is allowed throughout the equestrian preserve. The balance of the Sqft is supporting the hotel and equestrian pavilions that are located within the property. A lot of the sqft beyond what is necessary to support the Condo/hotel is going to be used for spas, banquet facilities, conference rooms, and hospitality areas that will support the events.

It is my understanding that this approval would set the stage for 8 more projects on commercial recreation zoned land within the preserve, is that true? That is incorrect. This is a one of a kind property and project. All projects of this scale would need to be approved by the Village council. The village staff is defining conditions or requirements that would preclude most if not all of the other commercial recreation properties from this type of development. Our partnership is committed to a strong Wellington that has the necessary components to make it viable in the long term. We do not believe it should be overdeveloped.

Won’t this destroy the rural equestrian lifestyle? There are close to 8000 acres in the equestrian overlay zoning district (EOZD). This property represents 59 acres or less than one-one hundredth of a percent of the acreage. It is ideally located on the Northern-most border which is on the fringe of the preserve. In fact, it is only one of a handful of equestrian properties that lie to the north of Pierson road as Pierson road is typically viewed as the Northern boundary (the eastern most boundary is 120th street). This project will contribute to the preservation of the lifestyle in that it will create more interest and demand for the community, local farms and housing making it more durable and long lasting. There are hundreds of equestrian communities in the country, many of them flailing, but there is only one Wellington and it is strengthening. The key differentiator is the commercial equestrian elements with their hubs of activity (polo, hunter/jumper, dressage) that draw people to the community.

How does your Vision Benefit Wellington? We believe that we are just scraping the surface of the opportunity in Wellington. The goal of this project is to not necessarily to make the winter season busier but rather to provide a platform to make the fall and spring months stronger. Executing on this vision will provide for the following benefits;
• Provides hundreds of critical short term construction jobs.
• Provides Wellington a strong base to develop the very important dressage market.
• Develops hundreds of long term full time jobs in all areas of the industry (horse shows, hospitality, lodging, administration, equestrian support, specialty retail).
• Elevates the real estate market which enhances the tax base that supports community services.
• Reduces seasonality which strengthens and supports local businesses.
• Creates a common gathering spot to engage the community.
• Firmly establishes Wellington as the number one equestrian destination in the world.

How does WEP and Wellington’s equestrian industry? How will the partners both expand and preserve the equestrian lifestyle for years to come?

We believe Wellington is poised for a new level of success which is focused on integration with the community.

• Increase the level of participation in direct equestrian activity of Wellington children, adults, and Seniors through after school programs, clinics, summer camps, adult riding programs, scholarships, and seniors programs.
• Create a public interscholastic riding program in wellington that will be a model for the country.
• Increase spectator particpation in saturday night lights and the dressage activities at the new Stadium property.
• Increase the level of annual fund raising for the FTI consulting Great Charity Challenge to $3 million dollars per year within five years.
• Increase the equestrian season to 7-8 months by bringing in new equestrisan disciplines and new events which will create full time jobs and opportunites for Wellington residents.
• Create training programs for Wellington residents who want to seek employment in the equestrian industry.
• Create an indoor arena to support a broader range of equestrian and community events.
• Create a World class equestrian village that is the gateway to the equestrian domain that provides a central architectural feature in the form of a world class hotel and a ccorresponding equestrian plaza that would be a gathering inviting for the community.
• Secure the World Equestrian Games in 2018

Cheer, RD

The Robert Dover Horsemastership Week has gotten off to a great start this morning at 7am with many of the top 18 kids under 21 in the country getting a work out from Bob Gutowitz, my personal trainer known for his “Bob’s Boot Camp”.  Fitness for riders cannot be over-stresses as to its importance for balance and aesthetics.  I then gave a lecture on “The Basic Principles Of The Art Of Dressage” and the kids took copious notes which is good because they will be tested throughout the week. :)  Today, Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Lendon Gray are training the kids in the two lovely arenas set up by Mark Bellissimo’s group at the WEF showgrounds where he generously donated the space and the stabling for the horses.  This afternoon the kids will have two lectures at Tuny Page’s Stillpoint Farm, the first by Olympic Team Veterinarian, Dr. Rick Mitchell on “The Care of the Sport Horse Athlete” and the second by Arlene White on “Functional Equine Anatomy &  Core Muscle Activation”.  What a fantastic week these kids have in store for them!  I thank everyone who is helping to make it possible from the bottom of my heart!  Please come out and watch the daily clinics at ring 9 over that the WEF showgrounds from 9am to 1pm .  I bet you will lerarn a lot from watching, whether you are a dressage rider or into the hunters or jumpers.  Good horsemanship is good horsemanship!

I am also gearing up for the January 4th meeting of the Planning and Zoning Committee at the City Hall in Wellington to approve the application for building our new Global Dressage Festival showgrounds including the elegant retail boutiques and cafes as well as the 5* condo-hotel that will allow sponsors and exhibitors from around the world as well as organizations like the USEF, USDF and USHJA to live directly on the grounds overlooking the amazing facilities.  Functions halls and meeting rooms will allow groups to hold seminars and conventions there and simply walk out to the arenas to participate in those parts of the events that are hands-on with the horses.  What could be better?  In Aachen, when I was on the FEI Dressage Task Force, we conducted a trials for judging and fortunately, we all stayed a 5 minute walk away at the Holiday Inn which is literally just over a land bridge from the arenas.  It is not nearly as elegant as what we intend t build here in Wellington but certainly made the long days of work easier by being located so close. 

SO, ONCE AGAIN I AM CALLING ALL DRESSAGE LOVERS AS WELL AS JUMPER AND HUNTER LOVERS TO COME OUT ON JANUARY 4th TO THE CITY HALL AT 6:00pm AND MAKE YOUR VOICES BE HEARD!  THE SO-CALLED “WELLINGTON EQUESTRIAN PRESERVATION ALLIANCE” WHICH IS REALLY JUST A COULE OF VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT WANT ANY FORM OF CHANGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW POSITIVELY IT WILL IMPACT NOT ONLY OUR SPORT, BUT THE ENTIRE ECONOMY OF WELLINGTON ( Remember, they are already rich and couldn’t care less if others need the hundreds of jobs which will come from the building of the shops and the 5* condo-hotel.) ARE DOUNG THEIR BEST TO CREATE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY BASED ON LIES AND DISTORTIONS.  THEY ARE EVEN HOLDING WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A “PREP RALLY” ON JANUARY 3rd AT THE PLAYERS CLUB,  A PLACE I HAVE GIVEN UP DINING AT MYSELF SINCE ITS OWNER, NEIL HIRSCH, IS ONE OF THE “ALLIANCE” MEMBERS.  FORTUNATELY, WE NOW HAVE SO MANY MORE GREAT RESTAURANTS AND CLUBS IN WELLINGTON THAT I HAVEN’T MISSED IT AT ALL. 

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE OVER DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON JANUARY 4th ( 0ver 100!) AS WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE WE RECEIVED UNANIMLOUS VOTES OF SUPPORT BY THE WELLINGTON EQUESTRIAN BOARD TO BUILD THE VENUE AS APPLIED FOR AND AS SHOWN IN THE RENDERINGS.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE COME OUT AND HELP ME MAKE SURE OUR GLOBAL DRESSAGE FESTIVAL VENUE WILL BE THE FINEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL SHOWGROUNDS IN THE WORLD!  I NEED YOU ALL…..FROM EVERY EQUESTRIAN SPORT……WHO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS PROJECT WILL MEAN TO ALL  OF US.  TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS…….WELL, YOU GET THE DRIFT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HOPE TO SEE YOU BOTH AT THE RD HORSEMASTERSHIP WEEK CLINIC THIS WEEK  AND ON JANUARY 4th AT THE CITY HALL AT 6pm!

CHEERS!

RD

It is the end of 2011 and there has been so much to be thankful for in my life, I first have to say out loud that I appreciate everything and everyone that has made my world nothing short of miraculous!  I am so lucky to have my parents both still in my life as well as my great siblings and my wonderful extended family of amazing friends.  I also have my beloved 4-legged family members, Simon and HGF Fiero, both who bring me great joy every day.  I have worked hard to realize my dreams throughout my life, some of which I felt a huge responsibility toward exactly because of how fortunate I have been to achieve the personal and professional goals I set out for. The Equestrian Aid Foundation, The Emerging Dressage Athlete Program and  The Global Dressage Festival venue and Series are a few of the things I am proud to be a part of, just as DoversWorld.com and my radio show, “Dover’s World” have allowed me to openly discuss my views and those of others on a huge range of issues with the hope of bringing about positive change whenever and wherever possible.

And so it is that as 2011 comes to an end, I felt it absolutely necessary to devote my last show of the year to the issue of saving our beloved horses from the terrible and inhumane consequences of over-breeding and lack of proper regulations.  Those consequences, for the animal other than perhaps the dog, which has done more for humanity and civilization than any other ranges from neglect to torture and finally to slaughter.  I am so lucky to have my great friend, Victoria McCullough, on my show this Tuesday evening on WBZT (AM1230, Clear Channel) in the Palm Beaches and LIVE AROUND THE WORLD right here on DoversWorld.com from 6:05pm to 8pm EST.  I know how passionate you, my readers and listeners are,  regarding the issue of saving our wild and domesticated horses from the hideousness of what they go through, whether that is from being “rounded up” by helicopters to end up eventually in the same auctions which thousands of healthy, loving animals find themselves, obnly to be bought up by killers who bring them to a fate no animal should ever have to endure.  Victoria has been leading the battle in Washington and around the world to end the transport  and slaughter of horses  and will bring us all up to date on all that is being done to STOP THE MADNESS!  I hope you will tune in and PLEASE call in with your comments and questions to 561-844-6167 or toll-free from anywhere to 1-800-889-0267.  Horse Lovers, we must stick together and make our voices heard across America and around the world that we will not stand by and watch the  atrocities being perpetrated on our beloved horses!  I hope this Tuesday night that the phones in my studio will be ringing off the hook from all of you who care as deeply as I about this issue.  I can’t wait to hear from you!

Cheers!

RD

I have a few special wishes for 2012, beyond the ones I always have, such as good health, joy and LOVE for everyone, 2 and 4-legged.  What is interesting to me is that, to a great extent, the things I hope for within our Equestrian community are things, on a different level, I wish for in the world.

There are those who fear and therefore oppose change, whether that change is Democracy in many countries where dictators ruled for decades, or the equal right for those here in our United States to marry the person we love, regardless of our sexuality, or that change is to give our Dressage community a World-Class showgrounds here in Wellington complete with gorgeous boutique shops and cafes as well as a 5* condo-hotel with spa and meeting rooms for USEF/USDF/USHJA or other organizations and beuatiful accomodations for major sponsors and owners from around the world.  My wish is that  TRUTH overcomes lies and opression, LOVE overcomes hate and bigotry and GENEROSITY overcomes the hunger for power and control over the destiny of a sport,  community or a country!~

Great things are happening everywhere, even as they are coming with too much loss of life, because as the world is getting “flatter” due to communication and computers and people everywhere are determined to have their freedom of self-determination. The 99% is rising up to say that they will no longer be treated unfairly while the 1% lives by their own rules.  We are recognizing how fragile our amazing world is and understanding that if we do not become better custodians of it, the universe will correct itself, just as it has been doing with one major natural disaster after another.  I am optimistic that we will ultimately do the right thing on all fronts and promise to do my best wherever and whenever I can to be a catalyst for [positive change.  The Equestrian Aid Foundation, The Global Dressage Festival Showgrounds and Series, The Emerging Dressage Athlete Program, The Robert Dover Horsemastership Week, and The Prix Caprilli Pony Series are all projects I have, along with others, been working on in 2011 and will continue to work on in 2012.  Taking care of my family and being there for my friends and animals is a life-long mission of LOVE.  Helping those who art in need, whether 2 or 4-legged, is a priority I intend to keep directing my energy toward.  And speaking my TRUTH, whether in my community, here on my website or on my weekly radio show, is a promise!

Happy Holidays and LOVE to ALL!

RD

The following was sent to me by Robert Ross who received it yesterday from his uncle.  I LOVE THIS STORY and know you will too!

TRUE STORY……
Beautiful story…. makes you understand that things happen for a reason
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned
to their first ministry, to reopen a church
in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October
excited about their opportunities. When they saw
their church, it was very run down and needed
much work. They set a goal to have everything
done in time to have their first service
on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls,
painting, etc, and on December 18
were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

O n December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving
rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church.
His heart sank when he saw that the roof had
leaked, causing a large area of plaster about
20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall
of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit,
beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor,
and not knowing what else to do but postpone
the Christmas Eve service, headed home.
On the way he noticed that a local business was
having a flea market type sale for charity, so he
stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful,
handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth
with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross
embroidered right in the center. It was just
the right size to cover the hole in the front
wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older
woman running from the opposite direction was
trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor
invited her to wait in the warm church for
the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor
while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put
up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor
could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and
it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center
aisle. Her face was like a sheet. “Pastor,”
she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?”
The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check
the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into
it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had
made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria .

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor
told how he had just gotten “The Tablecloth”. The
woman explained that before the war she and
her husband were well-to-do people in Austria .

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave.
Her husband was going to follow her the next week.
He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her
husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;
but she made the pastor keep it for the church..
The pastor insisted on driving her home. That
was the least he could do. She lived on the other
side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn
for the day for a house cleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas
Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the
spirit were great. At the end of the service, the
pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door
and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized
from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the
pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he
wasn’t leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on
the front wall because it was identical to one
that his wife had made years ago when
they lived in Austria before the war and how
could there be two tablecloths so much alike?

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he
forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was
supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and
put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home
again all the 35 years between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to
take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten
Island and to the same house where the pastor
had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of
stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on
the door and he saw the greatest Christmas
reunion he could ever imagine.

T rue Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid
who says God does work in mysterious ways.
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for
you today, to guide you and protect you as you go
along your way. His love is always with you.. His
promises are true, and when we give Him all our
cares we know He will see us through.

So when the road you’re traveling seems
difficult at best, just remember I’m here
praying and God will do the rest. Pass this on
to those you want God to bless and remember
to send it back to the one who asked God to bless
you first.

W hen there is nothing left but God, that is when
you find out that God is all you need Take 60
seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply
say the following small prayer for the person
who sent this to you.

Father, God, bless all my friends and family in what
ever it is that You know they may be needing this
day! May their lives be full of Your peace,
prosperity and power as they seek to have a
closer relationship with You. Amen.

T hen send it on to five other people, including the
one who sent it to you. Within hours five people have
prayed for you and you caused a multitude of people
to pray for other people. Then, sit back and watch the
power of God work in your life.

P. S. Five is good, but more is better.
 

Cheers!

RD

I want to thank all of you out there who have been sending me lovely messages for myself and my family as we go through some hard times which are a part of the natural cycle of life, something we do our very best to deny but which eventually becomes undeniable.  Taking my Dad to Austin, Texas, last week to be placed in an Alzheimer’s facility near my two sisters was one of the most difficult days of my life.  Not because my Dad made it so - he was actually extremely easy for the most part and pleasant to be with- but knowing that this was an end of an era where my father and I could talk Dad to son made me very sad.  We had to get a supervisor at security to let us through because he only had a copy of his old license and not the original.  Saying the words that I was taking my Dad to Austin to be put in an assisted living facility for Alzheimer’s patients so that they would clear our way to get on the plane brought me to a feeling hard to describe, but when we were on our way to the gate with the porter wheeling my Dad in the wheel chair in front of me by a few yards, I began to cry uncontrollably, which was both embarrassing and sort of overwhelming since it came on without warning.  Once we got onto the plane it was smooth sailing until the last 15 minutes when my Dad told me he needed to go to the lavatory NOW!  I asked if he could wait while we landed and the answer was a definite NO, so up we got and I had to get the one flight attendant to make the other get our of the lavatory where she was… pronto…. and we just made it back to our seats as we were about to touch down.  My sister, Dale, met us at baggage claim and my other sister, Margo, was on her way to pick us up so I thought we were finally in the clear.  That is until we were standing curbside, my father with a nice London Fog overcoat on as I watched for Margo’s SUV to pull up.  When I looked back at my Dad, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as his coat was open and his pants were down around his ankles.  I said,”Dad, don’t you feel a draft?” I’m telling you, it was right out of the latest movie with Justin Timberlake where his father has Alzheimer’s and every time they go out to eat he takes his pants off and hangs them over a railing.

Well, as they say, Alzheimer’s is harder on the person’s loved ones than the patient, themselves, and since my Dad has been in his new “home”, he not only seems content, but my sister sent short videos from his birthday on the 21st (88 years old) and I just have to show you this one that is linked below.  Understand, we are Jewish and my father has never been one to recognise Christmas, no less socialize with a group of people he doesn’t know.  But here’s the thing…….He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know so therefore he knows if he’s happy and nothing could make me happier than knowing he is! 

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!

RD

The Global Dressage Festival showgrounds and Series took a huge step forward in every way last week.  Just take a look at Ken Braddick’s, Dressage-News.com and you will see the pictures of all the amazing work going on to get the main stadium, barns, 5 other arenas and enormous ( 3 Dressage arenas can fit under it) covered ” Van Kampen” arena!  We will be done with this phase 1 of building in time for the Series of ESP International and National shows on the calendar, the richest series on one venue in the world!  This Tuesday evening from 6pm to 7pm, I will be interviewing CEO of Equestrian Sports Productions, Mark Bellissimo as well as President of ESP, Michael Stone to hear all the details regarding the recent stunning victory at the City Hall with a unanimous vote by the Wellington Equestrian Board to go forward with the entire project for our fabulous Dressage venue, despite an effort by the so-called, “Wellington Equestrian Preserve Alliance”, a few billionaires who simply don’t ever want any change to their cushy lives, even if it’s at the expense of our community.  Tune in to WBZT (AM1230, I Heart Radio) in the Palm Beaches and LIVE AROUND THE WORLD right here on DoversWorld.com and call in with your support, questions and comments to 561-844-6167 or toll-free from anywhere to 1-800-889-0267.  We ould all love to hear from you!

My 2nd hour is devoted to another dream come true for me as well as Lendon Gray and Courtney-King-Dye and they, along with our Presenting  Sponsor from HorseShow.com,  will be joining me as we discuss the upcoming “Robert Dover Horsemastership Week”, an event for the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program.  Working with Lendon’s non-profit organization, Dressage4Kids ( Go to Dressage4Kids.com and read all about it as well as the EDAP), the RD Horsemastership week will take place at the beautiful Palm Beach International Show Grounds and the top 20 kids under the age of 21 ( 10 riders and 10 auditors) will participate from December 26th to the 31st.  This intensive 6-day clinic/symposium will most surely be the finest training event for our youth ever produced and I thank all the Trainers, Lecturers, hosts for kids, donors of horses, and especially HorseShow.com, our Presenting Sponsor.  PLEASE tune in and call in at the numbers above and show how much you care about our kids and their world-class education through the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program!

Cheers!

RD

With the Global Dressage Festival issue well underway to becoming the world-class venue and Series so many of us have dreamed about for decades, I turn my attention toward the upcoming Robert Dover Horsemastership Week for the fantastic kids from The Emerging Dressage Athlete Program.  Lendon Gray, Courtney King-Dye and I created the program as well as this special week of training and seminars in order to give our youth the absolute best education not only in Dressage but in all aspects of horsemanship.  Below is the official press release for the RD Horsemastership Week.

Riders selectedfor the first Robert Dover Horsemastership Week from observation at the regional clinics are:

*Robert Leuck, 14, NY
*Maddie Guthrie, 13, IL
*Kerrigan Gluch, 15, MI

*Koryn Staehling, 20, NY.

Riders selected from recommendations are:
*Isabelle Leibler, 16, FL, National and North American Young Rider Champion
*Brandi Roenick, 17, AR, National Young Rider Reserve Champion
*Rachel Chowanec, 17, CT, Reserve National Junior Champion
*Allison Cyprus, 13, TX, National Pony Rider Champion
*Bronwyn Cordiak, 14, TX, and Marlena Kurz, 16, TX, Dressage Seat Medal Final winners
*Rachel Robinson, 15. FL, overall winner 2011 Youth Dressage Festival 

The following are participating as official auditors.  They will audit the riding sessions but will participate in all other activities: Megan Heeder, 18, MI: Emilly Gillispie, 16, OH: Eleni Econopoly, 15, NY; Jessica Hainsowrth, 15, NY; Kylie Heitman, 16, MI; Chelsea Reed, 16, FL; and Ayden Uhlir, 16, TX.

 

 “I am so thrilled to be associated with the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program,” said Dover. “I believe it will be the finest program for our youth ever produced and bring about the depth we need in our up-and-coming stars to ensure America will always have top medal-winning teams in the future.”

 

These riders will have riding instruction from top riders and coaches Robert Dover, Anne Gribbons, Courtney Dye, Kathy Connelly, Lendon Gray, and Katherine Bateson Chandler. All participants will start each day doing a workout with physical trainer Bob Gutowitz. They will have lectures from international veterinarian Rick Mitchell, sports psychologist Jenny Susser, equine nutritionist Gabrielle Sutton, farrier Arnie Gervasio, equine therapist Arlene White, journalist Allison Brunelli, among others.  There will also be a stable tour, tour of a vet clinic, and an afternoon watching top international riders schooling.

 

Potential riders under 21 are encouraged to apply for the Emerging Dressage Athlete Program at any time by filling out an application and sending in a short video of themselves riding. The application form may be found at www.dressage4kids.com.  From these applications, when a suitable group has been found in an area, a clinic is set up. The selectors look for riders with correct and effective positions, correct timing of aids, a feel for rhythm, tempo, relaxation, balance, and throughness of the horse. During the clinic lessons, the instructors evaluate and try to improve the riders’ position, use of aids, knowledge, and suitability for competitive dressage. From these clinics riders are ranked, and the highest-ranked riders are invited to the National Horsemastership Week. All clinics include lectures and demonstrations on related subjects.

 

Last night my call to action to our Wellington Dressage community produced no less then 50 lovers of our sport who came to the City Hall”s Wellington Equestrian Board meeting to have their voices heard regarding the building of our Global Dressage Festival venue as described in the renderings 9 months ago.  I am thrilled beyond words by the result of our collective determination to have a world-class venue with elegant shops and a condo-hotel on-site which will house those people  who  never before could have such an elegant and opportune place to reside during the shows and throughout the year.

At the beginning of the meeting, those of us in the audience were allowed to fill out cards stating if we were in support of or against the project as applied for by the Wellington Equestrian Partners who’s CEO, Mark Bellissimo, spoke extremely eloquently on behalf of.  Mark pointed our some of the confusions brought about last week by the horrendous poster sent out by the so-called Wellington Equestrian Preserve Alliance, but stayed more on point as to the very positive impact the venue as applied for would be for Dressage, the equestrian community and the Wellington community at large.  The very interesting thing is that the very same poster, full of lies and distortions about what we intend to create on this land, exactly the size of that where the great Aachen show sits, with all its grand permanent structures and amenities, is exactly what resulted in the coming together of our Dressage community in a way I have rarely witnessed.  Of those who filled out the cards, approximately 40 were in strong support of our project while only 4 ( 3 of whom are members of the “Alliance”) were opposed.  The galvinized will of the Dressage community was so powerful that when it finally came to a vote of the Board, while Dr. Swerdlin rightly abstained due to conflict of interest, the other four members voted unanimously in the positive for  all five issues put before them regarding the building of the venue as depicted in the renderings, including the beautiful shops and cafe’s and the Condo-Hotel on the premises.  My hat goes off to the Board, especially Michael Whitlow who is on the “Wellington Alliance” but seeing the tremendous passion of members of our community, voted positively along with the others.

There were five votes of which four all were passed unanimously.  Below are the 4 main ones.

There were 4 votes.   

Votes
1. Compatibility 4-0 in favor (allows dressage and commercial equestrian arena).
2. Conditional use (allows hotel,retail, office) 4-0

3. Master Plan amendment.  (allows proposed road system,arena lights,commercial equestrian arena with stands) 4-0.

4. Text amendment  (allows height and increases the FAR from .10 to .15 percent, most were not concerned about the 5 stories) 4-0. 

This was the first of three meetings. The next one is January 4th for the Planning and Zoning committee and finally, on January 30th will be the meeting of the Wellington Village Council.  I feel extremely positive that, provided we stick together in our Dressage community and double our efforts to come out to these meetings and make our voices heard, we will end up having the most beautiful and exciting Dressage show venue in the world!  PLEASE write down these dates today and join me in bringing about a new era for Dressage in Wellington, America and the world!

Cheers!

RD

Re