The United States wasn’t the only country seeking a national dressage coach and chef d’equipe this year. Dressage Canada officials have just announced that six-time U.S. Olympian Robert Dover will lead Team Canada as their High Performance Technical Advisor/Coach Advisor.
Dover had interviewed for the U.S. position, but when Anne Gribbons was ultimately hired as technical advisor and chef d’equipe, he was willing to accept other offers.
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“As it turns out, just about everything which I was hoping to bring about for American dressage, is exactly the same for the Canadians,” wrote Dover on his blog, Doversworld.com. “And also like the U.S., Canada boasts many very experienced and talented riders and trainers, all of whom I hoped, if I were to take the job, to enlist to produce a true team of top professionals working harmoniously together for the benefit of all riders and horses.”
“We are thrilled that Robert has accepted this position and are confident that his experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable to dressage in Canada,” said Victoria Winter, the chair of the Dressage Canada Own the Podium Task Force. “We look forward to having Robert work with our athletes, coaches, owners and volunteers to put together a successful high performance plan for the future.”
This position is part of the new high performance program being developed to assist not only in identifying talented athletes (both human and equine), but also in creating a system to support and compliment their training and competitive goals.
“I am very excited and honored to be selected as the Technical Advisor/Coach Advisor,” said Dover. “I’m looking forward to teaming up with the very talented riders, horses and personal coaches in Canada to produce together the future team and individual champions.”
Dover’s position will begin with the Dressage Canada 2009 European Fall Competition Tour, an Own the Podium funded program aimed at providing European competition experience for some of Canada’s up-and-coming combinations. The participating athletes—Cheryl Meisner of Blandford, N.S., with Paganini; Belinda Trussell of Stouffville, Ont., with Anton; and Diane Creech of Caistor Centre, Ont., with Wiona—are currently in Europe preparing for competition.
