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Defender U.S. Driving Team

“Horses were driven long before they were ridden and, as such, Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport yet it continues to thrive in the 21st century. Drivers sit on a vehicle drawn by a single horse or pony, a pair or a team of four and they face three trials – dressage, marathon and obstacle driving.” - Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI)

Since WEG began in 1990, the U.S. Driving Team was won X team medals and X individual medals. The U.S. team of James Fairclough, Tucker Johnson, and Chester Weber won team silver in 2002 (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain). The same U.S. team members won team silver in 2010 (Lexington, Kentucky), and Johnson claimed individual bronze. Four years later, Weber took home individual silver in 2014 (Normandy, France).

In 2018, the U.S. Driving Team of Chester Weber, James Fariclough, and Misdee Wrigley-Miller took home team gold at the Games in Tryon, North Carolina. USA Driving has also seen sustained success in Para Driving on the international stage with Tracy Bowman bringing home an individual gold medal at the 2021 FEI Para Driving World Championship for Singles. USA Para Driving followed up on that success with a team silver medal for Tracy Bowman, Bob Giles, and Diane Kastama in 2023 (Exloo, Netherlands) as well as a back-to-back individual gold medal for Tracy Bowman in the Grade I division. 

News Flash: U.S. Driving Team Brings Home Gold, Chester Weber Takes Individual Silver at FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 23, 2018, 5:00 PM EST

Mill Spring, N.C. - The U.S. Driving Team claimed the gold medal for the home team today at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 on Sunday. Led by Chef d'Equipe Barry Hunter, the U.S. Driving Team of James Fairclough with Caletta 5, his 16-year-old Austrian Warmblood mare; Bento V, his 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding; Citens, his 2007 KWPN gelding; Dapper, his 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding, and Zenden, his 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding; Misdee Wrigley Miller with Daan 8, her...

U.S. Driving Team Remains in Gold-Medal Position After Marathon at FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 22, 2018, 6:36 PM EST

Mill Spring, N.C. – Battling through the heat and humidity, the U.S. Driving Team of James “Jimmy” Fairclough, Misdee Wrigley Miller, and Chester Weber steered their talented teams of four-in-hand horses through Richard Nicolls’s obstacles on the marathon course at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 on Saturday. Holding the lead position after dressage, the U.S. Driving Team, led by Chef d’Equipe Barry Hunter, maintained their gold-medal position to...

U.S. Driving Team Poised for Their Time to Shine at FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 20, 2018, 10:36 AM EST

Mill Spring, N.C. – The driving discipline is the final equestrian sport to begin competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018. Chef d’Equipe Barry Hunter aims to lead the U.S. Driving Team of James Fairclough, Misdee Wrigley Miller, and Chester Weber to a strong showing in front of the home crowd. The team is made up of experienced drivers who are up to the challenge of competing against the best drivers in the world. James Fairclough (Taylor Pence/US Equestrian)...

Jennifer “Nifty” Hamilton Highest Placed U.S. Combined Driver at 2018 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles

by From the US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 2, 2018, 6:16 PM EST

Kronenberg, The Netherlands – It was a roller coaster of emotions and focus for the U.S. Team during the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships for Singles held in Kronenberg, The Netherlands, on August 29 through September 2. With three challenging phases, Jennifer “Nifty” Hamilton emerged as the leading able-bodied U.S. Driver, with 158.52 penalties. Diane Kastama, Grade I, led the U.S. contingent in the Para-Driving division with 167.85 penalties. The U.S....

U.S. Combined Driving Contingent Relying on Experience for Podium Possibility at FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships for Singles

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 29, 2018, 8:18 AM EST

Lexington, Ky. – The U.S. contingent arrives at the FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships for Singles with a strong, seasoned group prepared for high-caliber international competition. Running Wednesday, August 29 through Sunday, September 2, in Kronenberg, The Netherlands, Chef d’Equipe Heather Briggs and Coach Thorsten Zarembowicz will guide the U.S. team of Jacob Arnold, Donna Crookston, and Jennifer “Nifty” Hamilton in pursuit of a respectable team finish....

US Equestrian Names U.S. Driving Team for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 23, 2018, 9:40 AM EST

Lexington, Ky . – US Equestrian has announced three combinations for the U.S. Driving Team for the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018, which takes place Sept. 11-23 in Mill Spring, N.C. Following the 2017-2018 Selection Trials period, the following combinations of the U.S. Driving Team were recommended to the US Equestrian Board of Directors for consideration to be named to the Definite Entry List. The following combinations have been named to the U.S. Driving Team for the WEG...

US Equestrian Announces Definite Entries for 2018 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 9, 2018, 3:38 PM EST

Lexington , Ky. - US Equestrian has named the following combinations as the definite entries for the 2018 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, August 28 – September 2, in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Heather Briggs will serve as Chef d’Equipe. The following combinations will make up the U.S. team: Jacob Arnold (Snow Camp, N.C.), driving Uminco, Leslie Berndl’s 17-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pa.), driving Viktor, her 10-year-old...

Media Guide for 2015 FEI World Driving Championships for Pairs Now Available

by USEF Communications Department | Sep 9, 2015, 4:21 PM EST

2015 FEI World Driving Championships for Pairs Media Guide

Media Guide for 2015 FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies Now Available

by USEF Communications Department | Sep 2, 2015, 4:24 PM EST

2015 FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies Media Guide

Morgan, Cross, Schneider, and Zubek Lead After Dressage Phase of USEF Driving National Championships

by Leah Oliveto | Mar 19, 2015, 6:06 PM EST

Ocala, Fla. – The bucolic Live Oak Plantation set the backdrop for a morning of combined driving dressage as the 2015 USEF Driving National Championships for Single Pony, Pair Pony, Pony Teams, and Pair Horse divisions got underway. USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) was first in the ring and presented a performance that could not be bested, scoring 43.84. Morgan and her own Fuego 88, a 14-year-old German Riding Pony gelding, executed a solid...

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USA Driving Team History

USA Driving Teams & Athletes from 1980 - 2023