Combined Driving

Mill Spring, N.C. – The Tryon Fall CDE was the host event for the 2025 USEF Combined Driving National Championship for horses. A total of seven divisions ranging from training through advanced level saw national championship contenders complete their three phases across four sunny and mild days at Tryon International. Melissa Wessel and Megan's Valentine. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Preliminary Single Horse National Championship Local competitor Melissa Wessel (Rutherfordton, N....

Mill Spring, N.C. – The 2025 USEF Combined Driving National Championships kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Tryon International. The championship divisions for horses at the training, preliminary, intermediate, and advanced levels are taking place as part of the 2025 Tryon Fall CDE and run through Sunday, Sept. 21. Kendro and Raymond Helmuth. ©Shannon Brinkman The following national championships will be awarded this week: Training Single Horse Training Pair Horse Preliminary...

The 2025 Defender U.S. Driving Team at the FEI Driving World Championships for Combined Ponies in Le Pin du Haras, France (©Melanie Guillamont) Le Pin au Haras, France -- The Defender U.S. Driving Team will compete this week at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championships for Combined Ponies in Le Pin du Haras, France at Haras National du Pin. The three-member team will begin with dressage on Thursday, September 18, following the horse inspection on Wednesday, September 17. The team will be...

Lähden, Germany – It’s officially a hat trick for Tracy Bowman and Albrecht's Hoeve's Lars after they secured an individual silver medal at the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championship. The pair will add their silver to a collection that includes individual gold medals from the championships in 2021 and 2023. Tracy Bowman and Albrecht's Hoeve's Lars. ©Melanie Guillamot Bowman (Martinez, Calif.) and her 2009 Welsh Pony gelding were part of the U.S. Para...

Lähden, Germany – The 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championship will take place this week and three athlete-and-horse combinations are set to represent the U.S. Para Driving Team after all passed the first horse inspection on Wednesday morning: ©MGuillamot Photo Tracy Bowman (Martinez, Calif.) with her own Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars (Orchard Red Prince x Castenrayseweg Saartje), a 2009 Welsh Pony Gelding Diane Kastama (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) with Freedom , a 2010 gelding...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian reminds driving athletes that the entry deadline for the 2025 USEF Combined Driving National Championships for Horses and Para Driving is Friday, Sept. 5. The championships take place September 17-21 at the Tryon Fall CDE at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. The fall championships will include all divisions for single, pair, and four-in-hand horses from training through advanced as well as para driving. The pony and VSE...

Beekbergen, Netherlands – The Defender U.S. Driving Team delivered promising performances this weekend at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Pair Horses, finishing eleventh overall against a competitive international field. The team featured Jacob Arnold (Paris, Ky.), Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.), and Vernon Helmuth (Hazelton, Iowa). Athletes and horses were supported onsite by Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist, Team Veterinarian Dr. Laura Werner, and Team Leader Steven...

The village of Honeoye Falls in Monroe County, N.Y., has a population of less than 3,000 people. However, two of those people will be representing the U.S. in the FEI World Driving Championships in Europe this fall. Deb Marcuccilli is set to compete in the FEI Para Driving World Championships September 4-7 in Lähden, Germany. Meanwhile, Sarah Reitz will be driving in the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies from September 17-21 in Le Pin au Haras, France. Photo by Mb...

Valentine and Major competing at Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials (©Liz Cawley Photography) Some ponies have a special spark that’s hard to put into words and for 13-year-old Valentine Russo of Ocala, Florida, that spark is embodied in her multi-talented partner and friend, Major Blitz RSR . The pair is preparing to compete in the Pony Jumpers at the 2025 USEF Pony Finals presented by Marshall + Sterling , and as they get ready to step into the Pony Finals ring for the first time,...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the ranking of individual athletes selected to represent the U.S. at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies subject to confirming the allocation of entries from the organizer. The championship will take place Sept. 17-21, 2025, at Le Pin au Haras, France. The following athlete-and-pony combinations have been selected to represent USA Driving as individuals and are listed in ranked order: Sarah Reitz (Honoye Falls,...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent the U.S. at the 2025 FEI Para Driving World Championships. The championships will take place Sept. 4-7, 2025, in Lähden, Germany. The following athletes have been selected to represent the U.S. Para Driving Team and are listed in alphabetical order: Tracy Bowman (Martinez, Calif.) with her own Albrecht’s Hoeve’s Lars (Orchard Red Prince x Castenrayseweg Saartje), a 2009 Welsh Pony...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athletes selected to represent the Defender U.S. Driving Team at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Pair Horses. The championship will take place August 20-24, 2025, in Beekbergen, Netherlands. The following combinations have been selected to represent the Defender US Driving Team and are listed in alphabetical order: Jacob Arnold (Paris, Ky.) with Barichello (Veldheer x Rianne B), a 2006 KWPN gelding owned by Carlo...