Sunday, June 13, 2004

USEF Olympic Selection Trials 2004 - The First Week

Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy On a Roll at the USEF Olympic Dressage Selection Trials

San Juan Capistrano, California – Again today Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy demonstrated masterful consistency and solidity, the hallmarks of their vast experience. They won the Grand Prix Special in the Selection Trials with a score of 78.640%, with two judges scoring them just over 80%.

Dover summed up his two very different rides on Kennedy and Ranier, “honestly, I was actually really relaxed going into the ring today, and excited about especially riding Kennedy today, because I felt so comfortable with him yesterday. . . and then a little bit concerned between the two horses because my first ride had, those problems with kicking up and Ranier was a little disobedient I would say. But the minute I got on Kennedy, I knew everything was fine.”

As much of a picture of consistency that Kennedy was, Ranier decided he wanted things his own way today. Entering the ring with his tell tale tail swishing enthusiastically he proceeded to kick out at transitions and was not terribly focused on the job at hand. ‘He is a very sensitive horse with a huge amount of character and he can be lovely and he can be naughty,” said Dover. Ranier’s willful ways today only got him to 8th place and a score of 68.320%. Both of Dover's mounts are owned by Jane Forbes Clarke, longtime supporting of the US Equestrian world.