so you think the judges don’t trust their own eyes and experience? and they need to watch a rider many times to be able to judge them correctly?
[QUOTE=slc2;4030491]
WOW what a good job he did. He has done such a wonderful job so far. He manages to very polite yet informative.
for someone like me for whom dressage is a mild interest and not a religion :),
I found it very nice to have a commentary not unlike the Wild/Wide World of Sports
that played when I was a child…while I’m sure every dressage guru in the world knows EXACTLY what goes wrong 
and where,it will further your sport in the eyes of those who will support it thru the future…
it is for me is like watching gymnastics or maybe ice skating…where the judging is all about attaining a perfect form it’s nice to see in tiny pieces where the rein back was wrong and how one half pass right scored better than another…
if it were like down hill (which my father will bring a halt to the whole houshold to watch ,to this day :lol:) there’s be no need of anything thing said other than describing how the big dummy caught a ski at gate seven and ended up in the crowd…
edited to add: by explaining the bits and bobs of it to “regular” people it makes it less of an elitest sport that is shush shush and majikal…but something that can be attained thru work…
regards
I found it interesting that the two main tests where RD didn’t comment on technical aspects (and stuck to personal stories) were the Anky and Isabelle rides.
Pretty much all his comments on other riders had been pretty much spot on - I wondered if he didn’t trust his ability to, ah, predict their scores.
I also thought that the “I’ve just been given a note” comment sounded like a ‘pre-emptive’ strike - you know: “Anky didn’t win, but she did so well being on her second string horse, and just out of hospital”. I don’t think I ever hear so much about the medical problems of any other rider…
But don’t mind me. I’m sitting at home with tinfoil on my head 
.
(Or maybe I’m just extremely cynical! ;))
I would also like to send thanks to Karen O. for her efforts. I thought that Robert Dover and his sidekick were the best dressage commentators that I have heard to date.
I too was pleased that Robert was chosen as the commentator, and I also thought his partner did a good job as well. They made a good pair. And I enjoyed RD’s analysis of movements and his keen observations. I hope he’s invited back to do more in the future.
However the personal chit-chat during the test we can do without…just as if we were in the stands watching. He definitely would have been shussed by others sitting around him ! 
[QUOTE=ridgeback;4032902]
The guy working with Robert also did a great job. He asked smart questions. They were a good team:D[/QUOTE]
My husband couldn’t get over his mispronunciation of “choreography.” But then again, he also was shocked to learn that there were rules about what riders wear, so his opinion doesn’t count
Yes I raised my eyebrows on the “choreography” blunder!
I think Robert did a great job. He made each rider human which I think is important for the sport which is often percieved as pretentious and only for the “upper crust”. He commented both on personal aspects as well as what was going on in the arena. I didn’t hear any comments that were too personal or unfair or overly praising to riders he may have had/has relationships with as a coach or former coach. I think he did a fantastic job!
I also have to add that another aspect Robert was great in - being positive. I have heard commentary before which was too negitive and very hesitant to give out praise. Robert did a great job balancing the faults of each ride with their highlights!
I thought Robert Dover did a wonderful job too and I think it is good that he was describing things the way he was, it is great for less educated riders to learn to develop their eye. I will be sending the lings to my own student. HOWEVER, one LEETLE TINY thing bothered me… I was a little bothered by him referring to horses as IT instead of he/she or mare/gelding/stallion… whatever. That was it, his “IT” thing bothered me, other than that, GOOD JOB RD!!!
[QUOTE=Bugs-n-Frodo;4034623]
I thought Robert Dover did a wonderful job too and I think it is good that he was describing things the way he was, it is great for less educated riders to learn to develop their eye. I will be sending the lings to my own student. HOWEVER, one LEETLE TINY thing bothered me… I was a little bothered by him referring to horses as IT instead of he/she or mare/gelding/stallion… whatever. That was it, his “IT” thing bothered me, other than that, GOOD JOB RD!!![/QUOTE]
You know, I noticed that but it didn’t bother me, I decided it must be one of his idiosyncrasies.
Come on for god’s sake the guy pronounced one word wrong. What exactly do you people WANT? Our rider won both classes. most of us saw the whole damn thing absolutely free, and we had the FIRST knowledgeable commentator in the history of american broadcasting!
Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** GET* A *LIFE!!!
Come on for god’s sake the guy pronounced one word wrong. What exactly do you people WANT? Our rider won both classes. most of us saw the whole damn thing absolutely free, and we had the FIRST knowledgeable commentator in the history of american broadcasting!
Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** Bi*** GET* A *LIFE!!!
COME ON PEOPLE!! If slick says he’s good, then STFU!!:lol:
MEMO: Only crap on people that slick approves for crapponability. You know, the non BNTS that people innocently inquire about from time to time on the boards.
Send her a PM , maybe, and get it cleared before posting.
I thought RD did a great job. He was smooth, calm, positive and informative.
Thank you Robert and Karin! We would love to see more of this sort of coverage.
FWIW, Robert Dover was not the one who mispronounced “choreography.” It was the other guy, whose name I do not know
Here’s a link to his blog…I’m sure he would love comments. I thought he was fabulous as well!!
http://doversworld.com/blog/2009/04/steffen-makes-history-in-vegas/
Hello Ambrey - I didn’t say Dover made the error did I?
I feel people who want commentary should have it available and those who don’t should have a way to block out the talking but not the music.
So I’ll wait for the posts where those of you who loved RD’s comments to once again jump on those of us who just don’t like TALKING during the performances.
Robert was OK as commentary goes. But why does everyone who watches a ride have to be so sweet-sweet to the audience? It’s all so sugar coated. I would much rather listen to an honest assessment and someone pointing out real problems. I listened to the Anne Gribbons on the headset, which was far more entertaining, she stayed on target and was more honest than Dover. She did stay away from any negative comments to slay a rider, but she did mention errors.
Robert seems comatose. Pass the Kool-Aid. I would have loved to have heard “whoops, there’s trouble brewing…” LOL
[QUOTE] I listened to the Anne Gribbons on the headset, which was far more entertaining, she stayed on target and was more honest than Dover. She did stay away from any negative comments to slay a rider, but she did mention errors.
Robert seems comatose. Pass the Kool-Aid. I would have loved to have heard “whoops, there’s trouble brewing…” LOL[ /QUOTE]
I don’t think you are allowed to say that . Did you PM slc to get pre approval before posting?
Robert was OK as commentary goes. But why does everyone who watches a ride have to be so sweet-sweet to the audience? It’s all so sugar coated. I would much rather listen to an honest assessment and someone pointing out real problems. I listened to the Anne Gribbons on the headset, which was far more entertaining, she stayed on target and was more honest than Dover. She did stay away from any negative comments to slay a rider, but she did mention errors.
Robert seems comatose. Pass the Kool-Aid. I would have loved to have heard “whoops, there’s trouble brewing…” LOL
Oh sod off. She can say anything she likes. And I can understand her point of view. Gribbon’s commentary was rather different from Dover’s.
The poster can like whatever she wants to like. And I like having different commentators to listen to. I have heard Lavell do an absolutely blistering commentary at Aachen, she absolutely tore apart rider’s warmups and it was great. It was very, very informative and it’s good to have different points of view, both on the bb and from commentators.
I’m just glad anyone is finally actually getting someone who rides dressage to be commentator. That’s a vast improvement right there. Beyond that, Gribbons, Dover, Blinks, there are quite a few experienced who know that level and could do a top notch job and any one of them is fine with me. Before it looked like that guy that was the commentator in ‘Best in Show’.
Oh sod off
That’s not very nice!
Are you playing a Brit now on the Net? Better drop “y’all” then.
