USA Coach Robert Dover Comes Out of “Retirement” to Compete at Grand Prix
10 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on USA Coach Robert Dover Comes Out of “Retirement” to Compete at Grand Prix
WELLINGTON, Florida, Jan. 25, 2015–Robert Dover, the six-time Olympian for the United States, shed his role as coach of America’s team to go back into the show ring for the first time in a decade to compete a horse at national Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.
Robert, based in Wellington, rode Talent, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood that has been owned for more than 11 years by Jane Springer, also of Wellington, and a longtime friend.
He was coached from the sidelines by his former assistant Katherine Bateson-Chandler.
After the ride, the first in a competition arena since the World Cup Final in Las Vegas in 2005 aboard FBW Kennedy, Robert, 58, said he’s going back into retirement. He competed the horse to get a feel for Talent’s condition.
For the record, the pair won the Grand Prix with a score of 65.800 per cent.
And it also was the first time he wore a safety helmet in the show ring since he was kid in Pony Club–helmets are mandatory at all levels for U.S. national classes.
