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.
