Dates, riders and trainers have been announced for the the 2016 Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic. The clinic will take place Jan 5-9. Trainers besides U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover will be Steffen Peters and George Williams, and top riders Laura Graves and Endel Ots will also share their expertise, as well as specialists Dr. Rick Mitchell, Laura King and Jane Savoie.
“Our juniors and young riders need to be our future investment,” said Steffen Peters.
The clinic will again be held at the Global Dressage Facility in Wellington, Fla., thanks to the sponsorship of Mark Bellissimo and Equestrian Sport Productions. All riding will take place under the covered area thanks to the VanKampen Foundation.
This year, there are 18 invited riders coming to attend the clinic as well as 6 invited auditors. Participants and auditors are chosen based on competitive success as well as attendance at other Emerging Dressage Athlete clinics and programs. Participants this year include riders: Alexander Dawson, Mikayla Frederick, Kristin Counterman, Tillie Jones, Allison Nemeth, Bebe Davis, Natalie Pai, Kerrigan Gluch, Allie Hopkins, Asia Rupert, Claire McNulty, Lilly Simons, Cassidy Gallman, Molly Paris, Anna Weniger, Nicholas Hansen and Lindsay Holleger. Auditors include: Julia Barton, Jessica Fan, Chloe Hatch, Bug Karls, Jordan Lockwood and Kylie McKereghan.
The format for the clinic this year will be that each rider will have the opportunity to ride with one trainer on the first two days of the clinic, then everyone will have the third day off, and then they’ll ride with a second trainer the last two days of the clinic.
ADVERTISEMENT
The lessons will be in the mornings each day of the clinic, and the afternoon sessions as well as the day off will be filled with presenters. Presenters this year will include: Dr. Rick Mitchell (U.S. Team Veterinarian), Jane Savoie (international rider and author), Janet Foy (FEI four-star and USEF S judge), Laura King (sports psychologist and performance coach), Ken Braddick (journalist), Charlie Tota (wwner of The Dressage Connection and master saddle fitter), Ots and Kim Herslow.
Additionally, one afternoon, the group will get a tour of Oded Shimoni’s Wellington-based barn and be able to watch some of the daily training that goes on at that facility.
“These kids have worked hard to be eligible for this program. They deserve to be exposed to the best of the best,” stated Dressage4Kids founder Lendon Gray.
The lessons and presentations are also open to auditors on all of the days. The auditing fee will be $30 a day; $20 for a half day; $125 for the week.
Anyone interested in coming on as a sponsor for the 2016 Robert Dover HorseMastership Clinic, please contact Annie Cizadlo at kodester1@yahoo.com or 218-349-3452. All donations are tax deductible and go to the Dressage4Kids organization.
