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U.S. Drivers Have Sights Set on Podium Finishes - Preview

by Helen Murray | Sep 3, 2014, 10:10 PM

The U.S. Driving Team heads into this week’s FEI World Driving Championships on top form as team members look to capture Team and Individual medals. Held as part of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the driving competition will take place at La Prairie Racecourse, with dressage being held Thursday and Friday.Then drivers head out on the marathon Saturday and medals will be awarded the conclusion of the cones phase on Sunday.

On Wednesday, U.S. drivers Chester Weber, Misdee Wrigley Miller, and Allison Stroud presented their horses at the Horse Inspection, with all deemed fit and sound to compete. At the 2010 Games, the U.S. clinched Team Silver, and four years later in Normandy they look to go one better.

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) comes into these World Games in the midst of one of the best competitive campaigns of his career and looks to add one of the few titles that has eluded him, World Champion, to his resume. In March, he claimed an unprecedented 11th National title before heading overseas. Upon arriving in Europe, the two-time World Championship Individual Silver medalist went on a tear, earning victories at CAI3* Windsor and CAIO4* Saumur. He next went to Aachen, Germany, earning the biggest victory of his career, in the prestigious CAIO4* competition.

Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) makes her Four-in-Hand World Championship debut this week in France after having twice represented the United States in Pairs World Championships. The 2013 Pairs U.S. National Champion only picked up the reins to a Four-in-Hand in December of 2013, but has quickly taken to driving a horse team. Wrigley Miller has been based in Europe for much of the summer, earning valuable experience at Windsor, Saumur, and Lahden.

Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) brings a wealth of Championships experience to Normandy, having represented the U.S. at multiple Pony World Champions, but makes her Four-in-Hand debut this week. Like Wrigley Miller, she has been driving a Horse Team for less than a year, but has spent the summer competing at prestigious competitions such as Horst, Windsor, Saumur, and Lahden.

Wrigley Miller will get the dressage underway on Thursday at 11:01am local time, with Stroud going into the arena at 4:21pm local time and Weber will close out the phase for the United States at 2:50pm on Friday.