Lexington, Ky. – Following the horse inspection on Wednesday, the U.S. Driving Team is ready to compete in the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand. Fifty-six combinations from 16 nations, including 14 teams, will contest the championship taking place August 31-September 4 in Breda, The Netherlands. Under the guidance of Chef d'Equipe Ed Young, the team of James Fairclough, Allison Stroud, and Chester Weber, along with individual Misdee Wrigley Miller, aims for a strong performance.

Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) has had solid performances in the lead-up to the championships. He won the Southern Pines CDE CAN2* and the Bromont International Driving CAI2*-H4 before making the trip to Europe. In Breda, he will drive his own Bento V, a 2006 KWPN gelding; Caletta 5, a 2002 Austrian Warmblood mare; Citens, a 2007 KWPN gelding; Kavango Von Falkenstein CH, a 1999 Swiss Warmblood gelding; and Zenden, a 2004 KWPN gelding.

Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) started off the 2016 season with second-place finishes in the CAI2*-H4 divisions at Little Everglades CDE, Live Oak International, and Kingdom of the Sun CDE. In Europe, Stroud had a respectable 14th-place finish in the Drebkau CAI3*-H4 World Cup Qualifying division. For the championships, she will drive and Willow Star LLC’s Anesco 4, a 2005 KWPN gelding; Antonio, a 1999 KWPN gelding; Enzo, a 2009 KWPN gelding; Olando, a 1996 KWPN gelding; and Ulco, a 2001 KWPN gelding.

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) won the Individual Silver medal at the FEI World Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand during the 2014 Alletch FEI World Equestrian Games, and hopes for another top performance. He has been in the top five in each competition he has contested this year, highlighted by winning his 13th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship title at Live Oak International and a third-place finish in the CHIO Aachen CAIO4*-H4 World Cup Qualifying division. Weber brings his own Amadeus, a 2005 KWPN gelding; Boris W, a 2006 KWPN gelding; Boy W, a 2000 KWPN gelding; and Jane Clark’s Splash, a 2003 KWPN gelding; and Uniek, a 2001 KWPN gelding, to the championships.

Competing as an individual, Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) has had a light season due to a minor injury in the spring, but has been busy training in Europe. She had respectable performances in the Valkenswaard CAI3*-H4 and Nebanice CAIO4*-H4 World Cup Qualifying divisions to prepare for the championship. Wrigley Miller will drive her own Beau, a 2006 KWPN gelding; Calipso 86, a 2007 KWPN gelding; Carlos 663, a 2007 KWPN gelding; Diplomaat, a 2008 KWPN gelding; and Marco Freund’s Daan 8, a 2008 gelding of unknown breeding.

Stroud will kick off the dressage phase for the U.S. on Thursday at 12:24 p.m. local time. Wrigley Miller heads down the centerline on Friday at 10:00 a.m. local time, followed by Weber at 10:55 a.m. and Fairclough at 3:41 p.m.

Find out more information on FEI World Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.