Hometown: Citra, FL Birthday: 8/27/1981 Sport/Disciplines: Combined Driving

Taren “Taz” Lester worked and competed in the sport of combined driving for more than 25 years. Beginning his time in the discipline in England with pony team drivers, Taren found himself traveling to America to work for top U.S. Four-in-Hand driver, Tucker Johnson, and attended his first of many World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, in 2002, where the U.S. Driving Team brought home a silver medal. From there, Taren’s career continued to develop, as he served as head groom and marathon navigator for Chester Weber for nine years, which yielded multiple national and world championships medals, including a silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky.  
  

Continuing to grow and learn in the discipline, he became the manager for Hillcroft Farm, where he spent nearly a decade with the program. During his time at Hillcroft, he utilized professional development opportunities, working with Boyd Exell (AUS) and Michael Freund (GER). Taren also successfully competed in Four-In-Hand for Hillcroft Farm internationally and nationally. 

Taz returned, as an athlete, to the international competition scene in 2026, with a new team of horses producing consistent results during their European campaign. Taz and team made their debut at Exloo in the CAI3*-H4 where they finished inside of the top fifteen, before earning a personal best at the CAIO4*-H4 level in Qualifier at Kronenberg, where they finished the competition on a 174.31. Most recently, Taz and team represented the U.S. Driving Team at the Windsor CAIO4*-H4 alongside Chester Weber and team, finishing fourth in a very competitive field.