Lexington, Ky. – The first combined driving National Championship titles of the year will be decided this weekend at the Live Oak International CDE. Taking place March 19-22 at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Fla., the event will see United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Champions crowned across four divisions: Single Pony, Pair Pony, Pony Teams, and Pair Horses. With multiple National Champions returning to defend their titles, the weekend will prove to be an exciting competition.

USEF Single Pony Driving National Championship
Reigning USEF Single Pony Driving National Champion Paul Maye will look to clinch the title for the third time. Maye (Fairfield, Va.) will face stiff competition from a field of six including veteran Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.), the 2013 USEF Single Pony Driving National Champion and seven-time USEF Pair Pony Driving National Champion.

USEF Pair Pony Driving National Championship
A competitive line-up of six combinations will take on the Pair Pony division. Three-time USEF Pair Pony Driving National Champion Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) took home the win in this division at Live Oak International CDE last year and has sights firmly set on a repeat performance. Amy Cross (Aiken, S.C.) won at every turn in 2014 with wins at Live Oak International, Southern Pines, and Glen Willow CDEs as well as the USEF Pair Pony Driving National Championship title at the Kentucky Classic CDE. 

USEF Pony Teams Driving National Championship
As the sole competitor in the Pony Teams Division, Heather Schneider (Palm City, Fla.) returns to FEI level competition after a one year hiatus seeking to secure her first National Championship win. Schneider had top three finishes in each of her four outings in 2013.

USEF Pair Horse Driving National Championship
Two talented combinations, each looking to clinch their first National Championship title, make up the field of competitors in the Pair Horse division. Steve Wilson (Louisville, Ky.) had an outstanding year in 2014, scoring Advanced Horse Pair wins at Sunshine State, Kingdom of the Sun, and Southern Pines CDEs and an FEI Pair Horse win at Hermitage Classic CDE. Having competed in the Advanced and FEI Horse Four-in-Hand division in 2014, Casey Zubek (Manhattan, Ill.) looks to kick off the year with a win in the Pair Horse National Championship.

Competition gets underway with the dressage phase, Thursday, March 19 at 9:00am ET. The marathon phase will take place Saturday and National Championship titles will be decided Sunday at the conclusion of the cones phase.

Live Oak International combined driving and jumping competition will be broadcast live Saturday and Sunday on the USEF Network.