Raeford, N.C. – The USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship at the Southern Pines Combined Driving Event (CDE) began Friday with the dressage phase. Thirteen athlete-and-horse combinations headed down centerline to perform their tests, but Jennifer “Nifty” Hamilton and Makari Design stood out to the Ground Jury. The defending national champions lead the field heading into Saturday’s marathon phase. Nifty Hamilton and Makari Design (Picsofyou....

Jennifer Thompson and Funnominial CG (Picsofyou.com) Aiken, S.C. – Jennifer Thompson and Funnominial CG added champion to their resume in the 2019 USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship at the Katydid CDE. Thompson’s strong dressage test helped the pair earn the tricolors to finish with a final cumulative score of 156.87 penalties. With a banner year for the newly partnered Thompson (Lodi, Wis.) and Funnominial CG, her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood...

Mill Spring, N.C. – The cones phase brought an exciting weekend to a close at the Tryon Fall CDE, which hosted the 2023 USEF Combined Driving National Championships for intermediate divisions. Athletes and their horses and ponies competed in the International Ring at the Tryon International Equestrian Center Louise Fox and Hidden Hollow William. ©Leslie Potter/US Equestrian Intermediate VSE National Championship Louise Fox (Haughton, La.) and her 2009 Miniature gelding, Hidden Hollow...

Sharon White Sydney Elliott Lexington, Ky. – Earlier this month, elections were held to select two new equestrian athletes to serve on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission (AC). After tabulating the votes, Sydney Elliott was elected to serve as the USAAC representative, and Sharon White was elected to serve as the Alternate USAAC representative. In their roles, which will run from January 2025 until 2029, both Elliott and White will serve on the US Equestrian Board of Directors as...

After an absence of many years, the thrilling sport of combined driving returns this October to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The three distinct phases of combined driving—driven dressage, the cross-country marathon, and obstacle (“cones”) driving—were originally modeled after the ridden sport of three-day eventing. This year’s event—the Lexington Combined Driving Classic—will be held October 5–7. Three years from now, also at the Kentucky Horse Park, the...

The inaugural Lexington Combined Driving Classic, held October 4–7, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, was a resounding success. Fifty-nine competitors braved unseasonably warm temperatures and a bit of rain on the first day of dressage to compete for top honors in 13 classes. Three years from now, also at the Kentucky Horse Park, the world championships in four-in-hand driving and seven other disciplines will be contested at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010. Each phase of...

Basel, Switzerland – Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF finished as the highest-placed U.S. combination to conclude the 2025 FEI Jumping World Cup Final, taking eighth overall after three competitive days of elite jumping competition. Lillie Keenan and Kick On took eleventh, while both Kristen Vanderveen aboard Bull Run’s Jireh and Kaitlin Campbell and Castlefield Cornelious both rounded out the top twenty placings. All four U.S. combinations jumped a clear first round. Julien...

Combined driver Chester Weber continued his goal of qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games by winning the FEI division for four-in-hand horses at the Sunshine State FEI Combined Driving Event held at the Florida Horse Park. Weber, who was recently named a 2008 Equestrian of Honor by the United States Equestrian Federation, was pleased with his weekend, which included a first place in the dressage, FEI horse team and the marathon course. While Team Weber dominated the...

Basel, Switzerland - Kimmy Palmer performed a beautiful freestyle today to earn an 8.227 in the Individual Women's Freestyle secure a top five finish in the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final in Basel. Palmer and Rosenstalz 99 were elegant and fluid in the execution of their freestyle, which received a 9.0 and a 9.113 for their two technical components from the judges. Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) and Rosenstalz 99, a 2007 Rheinlander gelding (Rosencharmeur x Fidermark), owned by Club Ippico...

Mill Spring, N.C. – Drivers in four intermediate divisions competed for USEF Combined Driving National Championships at the Tryon International Equestrian Center last week. Single and pair horses and ponies were in the spotlight across three phases of competition. Anna Coopman and Chandler Creek Eclipse. ©Sharon Packer Photography Intermediate Single Pony Anna Koopman (Middleburg, Va.) and Chandler Creek Eclipse, her own 2010 Morgan gelding, took an early lead in the Intermediate...