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.

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!

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