Robert Dover (equestrian)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2006)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Equestrian
Olympic medal record
Bronze	Barcelona 1992	Dressage team
Bronze	Atlanta 1996	Dressage team
Bronze	Sydney 2000	Dressage team
Bronze	Athens 2004	Dressage team

Robert Jeffrey Dover (born June 7, 1956) is an American equestrian who has had international success in the sport of dressage.

1 Personal life
2 Competitive career
3 Dressage Idol
4 External links

[edit] Personal life

Born near Chicago, Dover was given a horse for his Bar Mitzvah, and was active in Pony Club in his younger years. He decided to specialize in dressage when he was 19, and went on to college at the University of Georgia.

Dover is dating equestrian Robert Ross, a well known hunter-jumper rider. They divide their time between Florida and Long Island.

[edit] Competitive career

Dover began competing internationally in 1984, when he was part of the US Dressage Team at the Los Angeles Olympics where he finished 16th individually. He won the Aachen Grand Prix in 1987, defeating the great Reiner Klimke (the first time an American had won at the prestigious venue since 1960). At the 1988 Seoul Games, Dover finished 13th.

In 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Dover was part of the bronze medal-winning US Dressage Team, the USA's first medals in the dressage event since 1976. Having competed in six consecuative Olympics (1984-2004), he has participated in more Games than any other American dressage rider.

He is very brash and opinionated, but many have noted that that is what leads to his success.

[edit] Dressage Idol

In December 2004, Dover announced his idea for an American Dressage Idol Competition, a reality show in which selected riders 24 or younger would train with him. The winner would receive a job with Dover and tack and clothes from EuroAmerican Saddlery.