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Updates Made to Driving Athlete Pathway Program for 2026

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 10/30/2025

Lexington, Ky – US Equestrian is pleased to announce updates to the Driving Athlete Pathway Program for 2026. The program has been updated for 2026 and goes into effect on December 1, 2025. 

Applications for the Developing Athlete Program for Combined Driving (DAP) will open November 1, 2025, and close November 30, 2025. Applications can be submitted by going to the athlete dashboard and clicking on online applications. Developing Athlete Renewal and Developing Equine applications can be found in the same location and will close November 30, 2025. 

Highlights to the new criteria include the following. 

Emerging Athlete Program 

  • Minimum requirements to host a clinic: 

  • Clinic hosts and Clinicians are required to be USEF Senior Active Competing members in good standing through the conclusion of the Clinic, including successful completion of all USEF Safe Sport Policy requirements. 

  • Clinic hosts will be required to execute an Emerging Clinic agreement prior to the clinic dates. 

  • Clinic hosts will be required to maintain liability event insurance with USEF named as additionally insured.  

  • Clinic hosts will be required to collect completed USEF waivers from all participants and provide to the USEF following the clinic.  

  • In the event of an accident, injury, or fatality, Clinic hosts must complete a Report Form and return it to USEF in accordance with GR848 and GR849.  

  • After the Clinic, the Clinician must submit a written report of the Clinic to the Director of Driving. 

  • Program Benefits: 

  • Promotional support for the event via the USEF Driving Newsletter and USEF Combined Driving Website.  

  • Free USEF Fan Memberships for participants who are not yet USEF members.  

  • Clinic hosts must submit an application by December 1st for clinics held December 1st through May 31st and June 1st for clinics held June 1st through November 30th. Applications may be considered following this date if the budget allows.  

  • Emerging grant amounts will be communicated following the deadline of applications. 

Developing Athlete Program 

  • Within the last two years from the date of application, athlete/equine combinations must have completed at least three CDEs (not including short formats) at the USEF Preliminary level or above with the following minimum score requirements:  

  • Dressage: 55 penalties or less 

  • Marathon: Placing within the top 20% of the competition across all divisions held at the same level.  

  • Cones: 6 penalties or less 

  • Minimum Athlete/Equine Combination Requirements for Retention 

  • Attend one DAP training session and two USEF or FEI competitions a year.  

  • If entering the program with Preliminary results, the combination must begin competing at the Intermediate level before the end of their first two years in the program. If entering the program with Intermediate results, the combination must begin competing at the Novice Advanced level before the end of their first two years in the program. If entering the program with Novice Advanced results, the combination must begin competing at the Open Advanced level before the end of their first two years in the program.  

  • All members must renew their Developing Athlete Membership during the November application cycle each year of their 4-year term.  

  • An Athlete may request to substitute an Equine in the program by request to the Director of Driving. The substituted Equine must have met the requirements to be included in the Program. 

Pre-Elite Program 

  • Minimum Requirements for Qualification:  

  • The qualifying period for the Pre-Elite program runs from December 1 to November 30 of the following year. Able-bodied Athlete and equine combinations must obtain the following results at the USEF Novice/Open Advanced (not including short formats) or FEI CAI 2*, 3*, or above competitions within the qualification period to be named to the Pre-Elite Athlete program list. Para-Driving Athletes and equine combinations must obtain the following results at the USEF Intermediate (not including short formats), or CPEAI 2* or above competitions within the qualification period to be named to the Pre-Elite Athlete program list:  

  • (4) Four competition phase results met at no more than (2) two competitions; or  

  • (2) Two overall results met at (2) competition; or  

  • (2) Two competition phase results met at no more than (1) one competition AND (1) one overall result met at (1) one different competition. 

  • Score requirements for Pre-Elite combinations and phases have also been updated, please find the table on page 9 of the DAP document to see what scores may apply to you, link here. 

Elite Athlete Program  

  • Podium finish qualifications: Athletes that earn an individual medal at the following events will earn a qualification to the Elite Athlete list for two years following the championship: 

  • FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses 

  • FEI Driving World Championship for Pair Horses 

  • FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses 

  • FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies  

  • FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses  

  • FEI Para-Driving World Championship for Singles  

  • Athletes with podium qualifications will earn a qualification to the Elite Athlete List the year following their podium qualification as long as the Athlete successfully completes during that year in either USEF Open Advanced or CAI 3*. Para-Driving Athletes admittance is based on USEF Intermediate, where the CPEAI Dressage Test is being used, or CPEAI2* or above competitions. 

  • Score-based qualifications: Athlete/equine combinations must obtain the following results at the USEF Open Advanced (not including short formats) or FEI CAI 3*, or above competitions within the qualification period to be named to the Elite Athlete program list. Para-Driving Athlete/equine combinations must obtain the following results at the USEF Intermediate (not including short formats) or equivalent Foreign National Competition, where the CPEAI Dressage Test is being used, or CPEAI 2* or above competitions:  

  • (4) Four competition phase results met at no more than (2) two competitions; or  

  • (2) Two overall results met at (2) competition; or  

  • (2) Two competition phase results met at no more than (1) one competition AND (1) one overall result met at (1) one different competition.  

  • Score requirements for combinations and phases for Elite Athletes have been updated as well and can be found on the score table on page 11 of the DAP document, link here. 

Contact Sport Operations Manager Wes Peterson with questions.