Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.) and Jennifer Matheson’s 2009 Welsh Pony Cross mare, Katydid Duchess (Danyloo x Besame) had an outstanding event, finishing in sixth place individually out of 79 starters thanks in large part to an impressive marathon phase where they finished in fourth overall.

Leslie Berndl (Lexington, Ky.) and her 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding Impressive (First Class x Olizandra) turned in three solid phases to finish in 45th place. Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, Iowa), and Kendro (Globetrotter x Genderose) his own 2015 Dutch Warmblood stallion, had a strong start but an unfortunate elimination during the marathon phase.

The team was led at this event by Chef d’Equipe Jeff Legg, who saw many positive takeaways from the experience.

“Highlights of the competition included the excellent marathon performance by US team member Taylor Bradish finishing fourth,” said Legg. “This result against some of the most talented single horse drivers in the world is amazing. In addition, her final placing of sixth was great. Our team position after dressage in sixth place was hopeful. There was a lot of positivity after Friday. I have to tip my hat to our most experienced competitor, Leslie Berndl, who provided a solid performance throughout.”

Legg added that the team also earned recognition for their turnout. Helmuth won the overall Elegance award, Bradish won the Brass Elegance award, and individual competitor Marianna Yeager with Kami Landy’s 2015 KWPN gelding, M.V.A. Famtijn (Famous V x Ginova) were honorable mention for the Elegance award.

In addition to Yeager, three U.S. combinations competed at this world championship: Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, Wisc.) with Lexus (Grote Wonder x Werina), her own 2016 Dutch Harness Horse; Tasha Wilkie (Paso Robles, Calif.) with Van Dyk 4 (Vincent x Nadine), her own 2009 German Riding Pony gelding; Paula Bliss (Hillsboro, Va.) with Burr (Black Knight x Carla), her own 2013 Dutch Harness Horse cross gelding; and Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, Wic.) with Funnominial CG (Alex x Phenomeen), her own 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Legg said the competition at the historic venue was a challenging but positive experience for all U.S. combinations, who represented a wide range of experience at this level.

“All three team members competed at this venue in 2022, with this being the sixth world championship of Leslie Berndl,” he said. “While it is helpful to return to a venue in which one has previously competed, the vast improvements in the facility since 2022 almost made it a novel experience. From excellent stabling facilities to world class arenas, we were able to enjoy a spectacular venue.

“Personally, I think course designer Johann Jacobs is at the top of the pack as far as developing thoughtful yet challenging courses,” said Legg. “There were very good routes to be driven. However, one must have stayed on their route or they could fall into a trap. The footing held up well, and the slight terrain change for the track added a challenging element for some. I believe this was a world championship worthy-course, and one could easily see the care taken by the course design and support team.

“We were fortunate to have three individuals competing, not only in their first world championship, but also their first European competition,” Legg added. “We have some young, talented horses for whom I see a lot of promise in 2026. It is so important to gain the initial experience with international competitions within a team framework. I am thrilled that they gained this experience as it can only benefit future U.S. driving teams.”

Individual Results | Team Results

—Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

The post Defender U.S. Driving Team Completes Outing at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Jim Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his team will drive their dressage test on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 3:03 p.m. CEST (9:03 a.m. ET). Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) will drive on Friday, Sept. 6, at 12:38 p.m. CEST (6:38 a.m. ET). The marathon phase will run on Saturday, followed by cones and final awards.

The FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses is held every other year, and this year will be the first since the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 that the U.S. will be in contention for a team result. Two team members are required to complete the four-in-hand world championship to qualify for a team score; in 2022, the U.S. had only one athlete compete in the championship, and in 2020, the championship was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2018, the U.S. team earned its first-ever team gold.

Event Information

The championship is being held Sept. 4-8, 2024, at Hungary’s State Stud Farm at Szilvásvárad, a historic breeding center for Lipizzaner horses. A total of 43 athletes from 14 nations will compete for world championship titles at this year’s event.

◆ Official Website

◆ Order of Go and Results

◆ FEI Schedule

—Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

The post Defender U.S. Driving Team Ready to Compete at the 2024 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A quartet of massive sport horses harnessed to a four-wheeled carriage thunder by on their way from negotiating one complicated obstacle to another over an undulating cross-country route. They dash through water, up and down hills, and make seemingly impossible turns inside the narrow, maze-like obstacles on course.

The driver and assistants on the carriage have their hands full guiding the horses and overseeing their welfare, planning the route, checking time elapsed, and keeping the cart from getting caught up or overturned. This is combined driving at the highest, heart-pounding international level.

Why Try Combined Driving?

As daunting as advanced-level combined driving seems, the sport is actually attainable for most equestrians. The driving community is very welcoming to newcomers who want to learn. Experienced drivers are quick to offer advice and help others find education, horses and equipment.

“What drew me to driving as a junior was how much the other drivers wanted to help me learn—that is the driving community,” says Carrie Ostrowski-Place of Lexington, Ky., an international competitor and trainer who guided her KWPN gelding Gellerduht to the 2022 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Advanced Single Horse-of-the-Year honors. “I’ve had direct competitors offer me equipment when things have gone wrong, [even] when it wasn’t in their interest to do so. They want to help anyone grow!”

Sara Dunham, an amateur-owner combined driver from Cynthiana, Ky., has competed in the sport for over 20 years and extolls the benefits she’s experienced.

“Combined driving is the most fun I’ve ever had with a horse, early on and to this day,” she says. “I’ve never enjoyed riding a cross-country course, but even as an older lady, I can drive marathon and be as competitive as the younger athletes. You have to have a navigator with you, so grab your best horse buddy or spouse for conditioning drives and competitions. Then you both have lots of fun!”

How Combined Driving Works

Rules for modern-day combined driving were developed in Great Britain by Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip, in 1970, the same year that the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) added it to their roster.

Often explained as a driven triathlon and compared to the sport of eventing, combined driving comprises three phases: driven dressage, a test pattern performed with formal presentation; marathon, which is comparable to eventing cross-country, but obstacles replace jumps; and cones, the equivalent of eventing’s show jumping phase, but drivers try to guide their equines and vehicles through pairs of cones without knocking balls off the top of them, with time factored in.

A logical, move-up-the-levels system of training and competition eases you into the sport. The USEF rule book states a clear progression of competition, offering Beginner through Advanced levels. This provides a way to learn and advance at your own pace.

USEF rules also include para-equestrians in combined driving. The American Driving Society (ADS) rules are similarly designed to encourage participation at all levels.

Formats, Vehicles, Levels and Equines You’ll See

There are three common formats of combined driving, two of which are specifically designed for competitors to gain experience without doing a full combined driving event. One is a combined test (or CT; similar to a CT in eventing, there are only two phases, usually dressage and cones).

The second is an HDT or “short format” driving event with three phases, but they are shorter and less formal. Finally, there is the full combined driving event (CDE).

Combined driving offers classes within each level for horses or ponies being driven single, two together as a pair, or a team of four (also called a “four-in-hand”).

A variety of two-wheeled carts and four-wheeled carriages are allowed, depending on the size and number of horses driven. However, specially designed, sturdy marathon carriages are popular.

To allow more drivers to compete in the Beginner through Intermediate levels, the pony class may be subdivided into large pony (120-149 centimeters tall), small pony (99-119 centimeters), and very small equines (VSE; under 99 centimeters).

Watching a combined driving event, you’ll see a wide variety of equines used. These include warmbloods, off-track Standardbreds, Morgans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, draft crosses, ponies, Miniature Horses, and many more. Unlike ridden eventing, even donkeys and mules are eligible.

“Driving is very breed inclusive,” says Ostrowski-Place. “While there are ‘vogue’ breeds, you will see just about anything in the ring, and no one is thinking twice about it.”

Meet the Trainer Professional equestrian Carrie Ostrowski-Place’s path to international combined driving started when she began riding lessons at age 10 in her home state of South Dakota. Six months into riding, her instructor had her drive a Shetland Pony, which sparked her passion for all things driving. A family member gifted her an antique carriage; that, plus a Morgan horse she had as she grew up helped her delve into carriage pleasure driving. Later she had the chance to shadow driver Marc Johnson, and then worked as an assistant for FEI driver Sterling Graburn. She has also learned from many other big names in the sport through clinics and the USEF Developing Athlete Program. The final inspiration for competing internationally was watching the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Ky. In 2013, she launched her O-ski Equine training business. In addition to teaching humans and horses, she is an American Driving Society (ADS) licensed “r” Combined Driving Technical Delegate and serves on the USEF Driving Sport Committee, as well as the ADS Board of Directors and the ADS Combined Driving Committee.

Further Reading
◆ Driving Horse Qualities
◆ How to Get Started Driving Horses

Stay tuned for an article coming soon about how to try out the exciting sport of combined driving.

This article appeared in the May 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post What is Combined Driving? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Dave Sadler, the current National Drive board president from Fithian, Ill., succinctly explains the purpose of the event, which is non-competitive and welcomes all interested in attending with or without horses or previous driving experience.

“The mission of the National Drive is to provide a safe and inexpensive venue for recreational drivers to have fun driving, to learn and to socialize,” he says. “Our motto: fun; friendship; learning.”

History of the National Drive

The Drive has been going on continuously since 2005 and, as time went on, it was expanded to a week-long event in early October. In 2012, a Spring National Drive (also called the “Spring Fling”) held over a long weekend in early May was added to the docket.

The Drive was initially held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, but after the KHP became too crowded with other events happening at the same time, the National Drive moved in 2018 to the Hoosier Horse Park in Indiana.

Sadler says the first Drive welcomed 90 participants. As more people became aware of the event, numbers soared to around 400. In recent years, the average attendance hovers around 150-160 humans, 125-130 equines, and innumerable dogs. Thus far, the Drive has hosted attendees from 42 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.

The range of equine guests runs the gamut from Miniature Horses and pony breeds to light breeds, draft horses, donkeys and mules. The Fall 2021 National Drive had 27 breeds (plus a few crosses) represented. People drove singles, pairs and four-in-hands using a variety of two- and four-wheeled conveyances. Several attendees also chose to ride around the park.

“We host equines of all shapes and sizes, price ranges and talent,” says Sadler. “In carriage driving, especially for recreational use, [horse] price is not a factor. They just need good manners and to enjoy doing it.”

More About the Event

The Hoosier Horse Park was originally part of the U.S. Army facility Camp Atterbury, and is located about half an hour south of Indianapolis. It comprises over 200 acres of wilderness with many crisscrossing roads, lanes and trails, as well as a marathon course used for the Indiana Combined Driving Event for the last 25-plus years.

With the Park offering an indoor arena, an outdoor driving dressage ring, an outdoor stadium, campgrounds, 384 permanent stalls, and a scenic country atmosphere, participants feel that the Park is a very good fit for the National Drive.

“At Hoosier Horse Park, we’re able to provide a quiet, safe place to relax and drive whenever, wherever,” Sadler explains.

Both the Spring and Fall National Drive offer:

◆ Educational opportunities with top-flight clinicians (clinics, lectures, private lessons).

◆ Free time to drive and ride.

◆ Mock competition to sharpen skills (driving derby and combined driving competition facilities to name a few).

◆ Just-for-fun events (tacky turnout class, safari and arithmetic drives, scavenger hunt, bingo cones, pooch parade).

◆ Social activities, including a cookout, welcome and farewell parties, a mimosa drive (drinks and cookies are served at a picturesque spot in the park) and train rides.

◆ A safety check before going out to drive with advice from experts.

◆ Scales for weighing equines and equipment.

◆ A de-spooking zone set up to expose horses to scary things and practice how to deal with the reactions.

◆ Tack swap and shopping.

◆ Camping and a variety of nearby restaurants and tourist attractions.

◆ The opportunity to network with other attendees in a laid-back atmosphere.

Rave Reviews

Amy Brockman of Okeana, Ohio, attended her first Drive last spring with her pony Tonka.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “Wow, I sure had a blast! Everyone was so welcoming, laid-back and helpful. Being new at driving, I had many questions that were kindly answered.”

Lana Santamaria of Dubuque, Iowa, has attended four Drives.

“I keep coming back because the camaraderie is incomparable,” she says. “I could talk about the venue or the organizers and staff—they are all terrific—but it’s the camaraderie that delights me.”

For more information about the National Drive, visit www.nationaldrive.net or www.facebook.com/TheNationalDrive.

This article about horse driving at the National Drive appeared in the October 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The National Drive: The Largest Gathering for Horse Driving appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Both strongly advise anyone new to driving to learn the sport from experienced drivers using schoolmaster horses before looking for their own driving horse. They suggest joining a local driving club to meet others already involved in the sport and to take advantage of the resources available through the American Driving Society (ADS), the Carriage Association of America (CAA) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

Where to Start your Driving Horse Search

When you’re ready to begin your search for a driving horse, it’s important to define the type of driving you’d like to do and your budget (with pre-purchase exam and equipment costs factored in).

Cashion, an active clinician who has taught and competed in driving for 22 years through the international levels and holds CAA Level 1 Instructor and Level 2 Driver proficiencies, cautions newbies not to fall in love with the first gorgeous creature they see, but to carefully think through your ability level and personal goals when selecting a horse.

“The animal that catches your eye may be stunning, but if he drives or rides like a fire-breathing dragon while you’re a green driver who needs a reliable Steady Eddie, this won’t be a good fit for you,” she warns.

Arnold has represented the U.S. at four FEI World Driving Championships in the last six years. He trains horses, teaches students and manages the driving program at Hermitage Farm in Kentucky. Also a busy USEF Developing Athlete Program clinician, he thinks most horses can adapt to driving. “Almost any horse can be trained to be correct,” he says. “You just have to find the right way to motivate them. If the horse is forward and likes to work and likes the game, he can overcome some conformational flaws.”

A Driving Horse Mind

Both experts topped their requirement list for a driving horse by talking about desirable mental traits.

A good mind: This was first on Cashion’s list. She says a good mind for partnership and driving is of utmost importance.

“You want a horse that is not overly spooky, is trusting, and is able to learn new skills,” she says. “Even the most solid horse can spook, but a good brain is based on how they handle their fear. Will they listen to you and respond? Then you can work through scary moments. Do they want to react strongly without any known trigger or lack the ability to work through the scary moment? Then driving may not be for that horse.”

Forward-thinking: At the top of Arnold’s list was a horse that goes toward something he doesn’t know rather than backing away.

“I think all horses can be broken down into backward-thinking or forward-thinking horses,” he says. “Consider the horse that spooks and jumps back versus a horse that either doesn’t spook, or if he does spook, he goes forward. Those are the two basic mentalities of horses.”

Trainable: This trait ranked very high with both Cashion and Arnold. Cashion explains how she evaluates trainability.

“I like to try to teach the horse something new when I try him out,” she says. “I will choose something small, based on what I see in the moment, and tune in to how he responds. Does he want to figure out what I am asking of him, approaching with curiosity? Does he resist and become worried, shutting down or reacting strongly?”

Calm-minded: Arnold explains this as “a quiet, relaxed horse that doesn’t get fussed easily.”

A driving horse needs to accept flapping tack, a vehicle following them, and wearing a bridle with blinders that only allows them to see what is directly in front of them, among other things.

He says that just how calm they need to be depends on the task. For combined driving, they may need to be more keen, whereas for pleasure driving and parades, they should probably be “about a 5 on a scale where 10 is super forward and 1 is not.”

Smart: Arnold prefers a driving horse to be clever.

“They can pick up on the game quickly,” he says. “For example, some horses I have driven really love the cones phase of combined driving—they love the game of going in between the cones; they know when we cross the start and when we get to cone 20 and look for the finish.”

Willing to stand: Driving horses need to stand longer than riding horses in order to be hitched or if something needs to be repaired while away from the barn.

“Trying to convince your horse to stand still while adjusting a piece of equipment, if it isn’t already in his toolkit, is a recipe for trouble,” Cashion says.

Good steering: Arnold emphasizes that it is important that a driving horse steers well and understands steering on two direct reins.

A Body Built for Driving

The other half of the list provided by Cashion and Arnold involved physical attributes for a driving horse: conformation and movement. Here is a quick summary of what they recommend.

A wide chest for more effective positioning of the breastplate to pull the carriage and to allow for easy breathing.

A neck that comes high out of the shoulder and is not too short; this also helps with room for breathing and effective pulling.

A solid, short-coupled build allows for a good back-to-front connection for pulling power.
Strong, ample hindquarters are the engine for pushing.

Good feet and legs for longevity of soundness.

Quality of movement is important for competition, but also affects soundness; a naturally good walk and a solid working trot are very important.

The Wrong Stuff

Cashion says horses that would not be good driving horse candidates include those that often bolt out of control, are prone to bucking or kicking, or are not willing to work. She also cautions against horses that cannot overcome being very noise-sensitive and those that are not serviceably sound.

“If you don’t feel confident riding or handling your horse, you won’t feel safe sitting behind him in a carriage,” she warns.

Parting Advice from Driving Horse Pros

Both professionals encourage others to try your hand with a driving horse.

“Driving is the most fun you can have while partnering with your horse,” Cashion says. “Buy or train the horse that best fits you. Make sure the people you trust to give advice are acting in your best interest, not their own pocketbooks. The sport of driving has some of the best people and equines in the world, if you know where to look!”

The post Driving Horse Qualities appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Learn from the experts what it takes to get started in the sport of driving horses.

The sight of a horse-drawn carriage conjures up thoughts of power and elegance. It’s a nod to history for equestrians and non-equestrians alike. While the prospect of learning to drive may seem intimidating to some, it shouldn’t be, according to driving instructor and judge Andy Marcoux of Coachman’s Delight, Inc. in Massachusetts.

Marcoux teaches students, trains horses, and competes in combined driving through Advanced level and pleasure drives with singles, pairs and four-in-hands.

“It’s really kind of interesting in carriage driving—there are many who come from riding to driving certainly, but there are also a lot of people who are new to horses,” says Marcoux.

Martha Custis Merry of Lebanon, Ohio, an amateur adult dressage rider who now also drives her 8-year-old Percheron/Friesian/Dutch Harness gelding, Lancer, shares that the sport is something that can be enjoyed as a pleasure driver or competitive driver. She likes the team aspect of working with her husband, Dave, who serves as her navigator in combined driving. Together the Merrys successfully completed their first combined driving event (CDE) at Training Level last fall, and they look forward to doing more.

Where to Start

Both Marcoux and Merry advise finding a local driving club as a very important first step, as well as reviewing the resources available through the American Driving Society (ADS), the Carriage Association of America (CAA), and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). There are carriage driving clubs in just about every region in the country; lists of clubs can be found on the ADS and CAA websites.

These are good resources to find local instructors, learn safe practices, get advice on selecting equipment, get help with training or purchasing a horse, and to enlist experienced drivers to lend a hand to newbies.

Those interested in driving will find a very welcoming group, according to Merry.

“The driving community is loaded with wonderfully generous folks. Most driving clubs embrace knowledge-sharing and invite potential drivers to join for a free trial period and to ride along in their carriages.”

Marcoux offers this logical progression in learning to drive:

■ Gain experience and confidence by riding along with a driving instructor and
other experienced drivers, with the goal of eventually taking over the reins while still having them at your side for guidance as a co-pilot. After doing this for a time, they will let you know when it’s time to solo.
■ Use an experienced horse while learning to drive. After learning with a seasoned horse, then the person can work on training their own horse for driving with the help of experts.
■ Learn the parts of the harness and vehicle (cart, carriage, wagon, sleigh, et cetera). Marcoux says that the harness can often look like a “bucket of squids” to beginners, but it really is no different than learning the parts of a saddle.
■ Learn how to safely harness a horse and hitch them to a vehicle.
■ Learn ground driving and long lining.
■ Learn by volunteering and watching, help at shows and meetings, and shadow experienced drivers.

Merry adds these tips:
■ Do your homework by reading and watching videos. Study the rulebooks. Ask questions.
■ Spend plenty of time doing groundwork with a horse to develop a rapport and communication before climbing into the carriage.

Riding Versus Driving

The view between the ears of a riding horse is much the same in driving, but from a slightly different angle and with communication through a few new aids.

“I was accustomed to feeling and influencing my horse with legs, seat, hands and balance,” says Merry. “Driving takes that communication to a whole new level. I still needed to accomplish the same type of tasks, but now using voice, reins, whip and brakes when applicable [not all horse-drawn vehicles have brakes].”

Your riding horse could also make a great driving horse, even if he needs to be retired from riding in some cases.

“Driving can be a fabulous second career for a horse because it’s very low-impact compared to riding,” says Marcoux. “When you get horses that have conditions such as kissing spine or navicular—conditions that make them not appropriate for ridden work—they may still be fantastic horses for driving if they have a decent head on their shoulders.”

Try Driving Now

Marcoux encourages those interested not to wait to try driving.

“The biggest thing I see is that most often people have a tendency to wait too long before trying the sport,” he says. “They think it looks like fun and maybe they’ll do that when they get older and can’t ride anymore. Then you know what happens? They feel like they have cheated themselves once they start driving. They say, ‘Wow, I absolutely should not have waited!’”

This article about how to get started with driving horses appeared in the July 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading

■ The Right Stuff: How to Choose a Driving Horse
■ Scurry Driving: Your New Favorite Equestrian Sport
■ Driving Mini Horses
■ Driving Lessons from the Show Ring

The post Dive Into Driving: How to Get Started Driving Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

U.S. driver Tracy Bowman, of Martinez, Calif., and her Welsh Pony gelding, Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars, had a golden week in Schildau, Germany, at the 2021 FEI Para Driving World Championship. The pair had three exceptional phases to win the championship title for Grade I at the conclusion of competition on Aug. 8.

Bowman and “Lars” started off strong, landing in third place after their dressage test. They put in a masterful marathon phase on Saturday, moving into first place, and held on to it through the cones on Sunday.

Bowman and Lars got their start together on the recommendation of the world-class father and son driving athletes, Bram and Ijsbrand Chardon of The Netherlands. Bowman purchased the gelding with the aim of competing him at the World Championship in August of 2020, but plans changed when that event was cancelled due to COVID-19, and she brought him home to California instead.

“I only competed in one unrecognized CDE and one recognized event in California this past winter before we came to Schildau,” said Bowman. “There was no other option due to COVID. This was our first big show together. He had experience prior to me at the last World Championship in Kronenberg, so I put my total trust in him and my unbelievable team. I was not ever in doubt of being safe and capable because of those people and my fabulous pony. But to win was not an expectation, since I have nearly no experience at that level.”

Bowman spent the unexpected off-season in 2020 mostly self-training at her Kismet Farms in California, but credits Lars’ solid training and demeanor for a positive result in 2021.

“My partner in the farm and best of all friends, Jolie Wentworth, would assist me in the ground,” Bowman said. “She sees everything and is the only one that would have no equal for the flat work. Together, I think we kept the dressage improving. [Lars] is a great mover, very uphill, was already well schooled, and has a lot of talent. Added to that, he is very drivable in the court. He does not tend to spook and keeps a cool head—except in prize-givings!”

With the return of competition and news that the World Championship was back on for 2021, Lars and Bowman returned to training under the Chardons.

“The team in The Netherlands made it very simple to feel secure and comfortable when we returned,” said Bowman. “Bram and the whole Chardon family is nothing but warm. Bram demands total focus and great attention to detail, which is expected at this level. He also lets you know right from wrong without apology. This makes you feel very assured of the reality of your skills, good or bad; when you keep it honest, it works better for everyone involved. No false hope or inflated ideas—only down to earth hard work to improve and understand where you need to focus. It was very correct for me.”

Of her experience in Schildau at the 2021 FEI Para Driving World Championship, Bowman says the competition got better and better each day.

“The best groom in the world, Quint van Rijswijk, was able to get Lars feeling and looking his best,” said Bowman “This really helped in the dressage phase, but he took such good care of him the whole show. Winning the marathon was such a great feeling. The obstacles were amazing and so well built. The area they were in made it great for spectators and also made it easy for my obligatory extra safety grooms to get from one to the other with no effort. Since my carriage is adapted for me by the use of a five-point harness, it is required to have safety grooms at gates in case we turn over or have some sort of mishap.

“The whole venue of Schildau is a horse Disneyland,” Bowman continued. “It could not have been nicer, especially for wheelchair users like myself—it was very level and accessible. The USEF chef Marcie Quist was also pleased. She has been to quite a few of these now and is such a great problem solver and a great help to the USA drivers. Bram and Jolie made me feel they had my back, and I never felt on my own. I was free to concentrate on my job. They held my proverbial hand and also kicked me when I needed it. It was a perfect group.”

Stay up to date on the U.S. Driving Team by following USA Driving on Facebook and U.S. Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

The post Tracy Bowman and Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars Win Gold at FEI Para Driving World Championship appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

In this third podcast episode of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Sarah Evers Conrad talk to Mary Phelps, an international combined driver, who won a Gold medal in Cones at the 2019 FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies. We also learn summer horse health care tips from international veterinarian, Dr. Mike Tomlinson. And Carrie Mortensen, executive director of the American Morgan Horse Association, shares the magic of the Morgan breed with podcast listeners.

Hosts: Sarah Conrad, Digital Content Editor of Horse Illustrated & Young Rider and Glenn the Geek, host of Horses in the Morning

Title Sponsor: Straight Arrow Cowboy Magic

There’s an App for that!  Check out the new Horse Radio Network app for iPhone and Android. Follow Horse Radio Network on Twitter or follow Horses In The Morning on Facebook.

Guests

Mary Phelps is an equine insurance agent, photographer, and journalist. Mary created HorsesDaily.com in 1997, and it’s the oldest and longest-running website in equestrian sport. A lifelong equestrian, she is an FEI 3* athlete in combined driving. Together with her husband, Wayne Humphreys, Mary manages and trains her world-class driving ponies, competing at the highest level of the sport of combined driving. In 2019, Mary and her now world-famous driving ponies “The Gangsters” Al Capony, Bugsy Malony, Tony Da Pony, and Kimba competed for the U.S. in the FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies in Hungary, where they won an individual Gold medal in the cones phase and finished 12th overall. Bugsy Maloney and Tony Da Pony became part of the 2020 releases of Breyer model horses.

Links:

• How to Choose a Driving Horse
• Mary Phelps USA Wins Cones Division for Pony Pairs at the FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies
• www.horsesdaily.com
• Gangster Breyer Model Horses
• Facebook.com/HorsesDaily
• Twitter.com/HorsesDaily
• Pinterest.com/dressagedaily

Dr. C. Mike Tomlinson, DVM, MBA, offers summer horse health care tips. He has been a veterinarian, judge, course designer, steward, or technical delegate at around 30 FEI events each year, on nearly every continent around the globe since 1984. In 2018, he was the president of the Veterinary Commission 1 for the World Equestrian Games (WEG), Dr. Mike has represented the USA as Team Veterinarian at several Games and World Championships. In addition to FEI events and veterinary practice, Dr. Mike has been a ‘C’ level executive in many startups, both in and out of the horse world, including companies such as SmartPak, Game Ready, and Snap Seals. His technical time is spent working in chemical engineering, software coding, and medical device innovation. Dr. Mike is known for his constant energy, immunity to jet lag, and penchant for cartoon ties.

Carrie Mortensen is the executive director of the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), which was founded in 1909 as the Morgan Horse Club and reorganized in 1971 to AMHA. She graduated with an Equestrian Science degree at William Woods University before obtaining her MBA at Xavier University. A longtime resident of Lexington, Mortensen feels fortunate to have gained a plethora of equestrian business skills from her past employment with organizations such the United States Equestrian Federation, The Jockey Club, and other breed associations. As a representative of AMHA, she now helps the organization in its mission to preserve, promote, and perpetuate the Morgan Horse breed.

The post Podcast Episode #3: Mary Phelps, Summer Horse Health Care, and Morgan Horse Breed for July 27, 2021; Sponsored by Straight Arrow Products appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The sport of driving is a beautiful thing to watch, but it’s even more fun to participate. Two top professionals in the sport—Leslie Cashion of Louisville, Ky., and Jacob Arnold of Goshen, Ky.—offer some key points to consider on how to choose a driving horse.

Both strongly advise anyone new to driving to learn the sport from experienced drivers using schoolmaster horses before looking for their own driving horse. They suggest joining a local driving club to meet others already involved in the sport and to take advantage of the resources available through the American Driving Society (ADS), the Carriage Association of America (CAA) and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).

When you’re ready to begin your search for a horse with the mind and body for driving, it’s important to define the type of driving you’d like to do and your budget (with pre-purchase exam and equipment costs factored in).

Cashion, an active clinician who has taught and competed in driving for 22 years through the international levels and holds CAA Level 1 Instructor and Level 2 Driver proficiencies, cautions newbies not to fall in love with the first gorgeous creature they see, but to carefully think through your ability level and personal goals when selecting a horse.

“The animal that catches your eye may be stunning, but if he drives or rides like a fire-breathing dragon while you’re a green driver who needs a reliable Steady Eddie, this won’t be a good fit for you,” she warns.

Arnold has represented the U.S. at four FEI World Driving Championships in the last six years. He trains horses, teaches students and manages the driving program at Hermitage Farm in Kentucky. Also a busy USEF Developing Athlete Program clinician, he thinks most horses can adapt to driving. “Almost any horse can be trained to be correct,” he says. “You just have to find the right way to motivate them. If the horse is forward and likes to work and likes the game, he can overcome some conformational flaws.”

A Mind for the Job

Both experts topped their requirement list for a driving horse by talking about desirable mental traits.

A good mind: This was first on Cashion’s list for choosing a driving horse. She says a good mind for partnership and driving is of utmost importance.

“You want a horse that is not overly spooky, is trusting, and is able to learn new skills,” she says. “Even the most solid horse can spook, but a good brain is based on how they handle their fear. Will they listen to you and respond? Then you can work through scary moments. Do they want to react strongly without any known trigger or lack the ability to work through the scary moment? Then driving may not be for that horse.”

Forward-thinking: At the top of Arnold’s list was a horse that goes toward something he doesn’t know rather than backing away.

“I think all horses can be broken down into backward-thinking or forward-thinking horses,” he says. “Consider the horse that spooks and jumps back versus a horse that either doesn’t spook, or if he does spook, he goes forward. Those are the two basic mentalities of horses.”

Trainable: This trait ranked very high with both Cashion and Arnold. Cashion explains how she evaluates trainability.

“I like to try to teach the horse something new when I try him out,” she says. “I will choose something small, based on what I see in the moment, and tune in to how he responds. Does he want to figure out what I am asking of him, approaching with curiosity? Does he resist and become worried, shutting down or reacting strongly?”

Calm-minded: Arnold explains this as “a quiet, relaxed horse that doesn’t get fussed easily.”

Driving horses need to accept flapping tack, a vehicle following them, and wearing a bridle with blinders that only allows them to see what is directly in front of them, among other things.

He says that just how calm they need to be depends on the task. For combined driving, they may need to be more keen, whereas for pleasure driving and parades, they should probably be “about a 5 on a scale where 10 is super forward and 1 is not.”

Smart: Arnold prefers his driving horses to be clever. “They can pick up on the game quickly,” he says. “For example, some horses I have driven really love the cones phase of combined driving—they love the game of going in between the cones; they know when we cross the start and when we get to cone 20 and look for the finish.”

Willing to stand: Driving horses need to stand longer than riding horses in order to be hitched or if something needs to be repaired while away from the barn.

“Trying to convince your horse to stand still while adjusting a piece of equipment, if it isn’t already in his toolkit, is a recipe for trouble,” says Cashion.

Good steering: When choosing a driving horse, Arnold emphasizes that it is important that a driving horse steers well and understands steering on two direct reins.

A Body Up to the Task

The other half of the list provided by Cashion and Arnold involved physical attributes: conformation and movement. Here is a quick summary of what they recommend.

A wide chest for more effective positioning of the breastplate to pull the carriage and to allow for easy breathing.

A neck that comes high out of the shoulder and is not too short; this also helps with room for breathing and effective pulling.

A solid, short-coupled build allows for a good back-to-front connection for pulling power.

Strong, ample hindquarters are the engine for pushing.

Good feet and legs for longevity of soundness. Quality of movement is important for competition, but also affects soundness; a naturally good walk and a solid working trot are very important.

The Wrong Stuff

Cashion says horses that would not be good driving candidates include those that often bolt out of control, are prone to bucking or kicking, or are not willing to work. She also cautions against horses that cannot overcome being very noise-sensitive and those that are not serviceably sound.

“If you don’t feel confident riding or handling your horse, you won’t feel safe sitting behind him in a carriage,” she warns.

Parting Advice

Both professionals encourage others to try driving. “Driving is the most fun you can have while partnering with your horse,” says Cashion. “Buy or train the horse that best fits you. Make sure the people you trust to give advice are acting in your best interest, not their own pocketbooks. The sport of driving has some of the best people and equines in the world, if you know where to look!”

This article on how to choose a driving horse appeared in the May 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Right Stuff: How to Choose a Driving Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event concluded with the cones phase at the picturesque Hillcroft Farm. A small but mighty field contested the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Championship, and Jacob Arnold, of Goshen, Ky., took home his second consecutive title.

Arnold drove Steve Wilson’s KWPN and Lipizzaner pair, which consisted of seasoned veterans and a talented newcomer. Despite some uncertainty of how the event would unfold with the mixed pair, Arnold led the competition from start to finish. He and the pair scored 49.89 in the dressage phase to begin the national championship quest and win the first phase.

“I was really pleased with the dressage phase,” said Arnold. “The new horse that we have is named Kenji V, and he is a six year old. This was only his second FEI competition, actually only the second competition of his career. I was really pleased to bring him out and get a score under 50. There is plenty of room for improvement, but I was still very pleased with Kenji V and Endorro.”

Arnold used a different pairing in the marathon phase over Marc Johnson’s course. It was another winning combination as they finished first in the phase with a score of 96.77.

“I again used Kenji V with Pluto Revans, an older seasoned horse. We went out planning to make it a smooth nice round for the horses; we didn’t want to push anything,” explained Arnold. “It had rained the day before so we were dealing with some adverse conditions, and our goal was to go through smoothly without a major mistake. We managed to accomplish that, and we are pleased to have won the phase as well.”

A challenging cones course posed the final obstacle for the national championship field. Arnold and his pair had a strong round, tallying 13.02 and winning the final phase and overall title.

“It was probably one of the harder courses I have seen all year,” said Arnold. “With having a young horse in and not necessarily our A team for this competition, I was a little bit nervous going in. I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to have in the tight, difficult elements, but as the horse has proven to me every day so far this week, [Kenji V] is nothing but a superstar, and I am really looking forward to his future.”

Arnold thanked Steve Wilson for the opportunity of driving his horse in the 2021 USEF Advanced Pair Horse Combined Driving National Championship; his fiancée Mary Sheerin; and Misdee Wrigley Miller, James Miller, and their team for hosting the competition at Hillcroft Farm.

James Miller, of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., clinched the reserve champion title with an overall score of 186.74. He and the KWPN pair, owned by James Miller and Misdee Wrigley Miller, started with a dressage score of 53.33 followed by a score of 101.60 in the marathon phase. They closed out the competition with a cones score of 29.81.

Paul Maye, of Fairfield, Va., earned a third-place finish with an overall score of 197.17. He and Harmony Sporthorses’ pair scored 59.88 in the dressage phase and collected 98.76 in the marathon phase. Maye and his horses finished the cones phase with a score of 38.53.

Bob Burrows, of Windsor, S.C., finished in fourth place on an overall score of 273.57. He and his Friesian-cross pair had a dressage score of 71.75 and tallied a score of 166.02 in the marathon phase. They finished the competition with a cones score of 35.80.

Find out more information about the Kentucky Classic CDE.

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The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOPC, and USEF sponsors and members.

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