Saturday, June 12, 1004

USEF Olympic Selection Trials 2004 - The First Week

Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy Grab Lead in Olympic Dressage Selection Trials

San Juan Capistrano, CA – Veteran Olympic Judge Axel Steiner was doing color commentary at the Olympic Dressage Selection Trials today and described Robert Dover’s ride on Jane Forbes Clark's FBW Kennedy as “one of the nicest Grand Prix rides in the United States.” The enthusiastic applause of the knowledgeable crowd indicated they agreed. Their score of 76.292% leads Gunter Seidel on Aragon, who had a score of 72.375%. Seidel was also third on Nikolaus 7 with a score of 71.458%. Steffan Peters on Floriano was fourth with 71.333%.

“You could not have more experience between horse and rider than Robert and FBW Kennedy, and it showed,” said Steiner. Both horse and rider are veteran Olympians, FBW Kennedy, a 15-year-old Baden Württemberger gelding by Tiro out of Katy by Karat, competed in Sydney for Denmark with former owner Lone Jorgenson, and Dover is a veteran of five Olympic Games. “Other than Robert it’s very close and a good ride could change things a lot,” he added.

About his ride on Kennedy Dover seemed somewhat awestruck, “You know, every single time I go in with that horse, you know, he never ceases to amaze me. His heart is so amazingly wonderful and his work ethic is fantastic. I’m just so thrilled to be able to ride him . . . I thank Jane Clark for that every day. The highlight was to ride around on him thinking I could breathe and relax because he’s taking care of me. “

About competing for a spot on another team after being at five Olympics he observed, “does it get any easier, definitely not. It gets easier because of the horses that I’m on. It’s an awesome team so it’s gotten harder over the years to make it. The competition is fierce.”