Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation® is pleased to announce the team of three that will travel to Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy and compete in the 2006 World Singles Driving Championship, September 20-24.

The following will be the U.S. team (in alphabetical order by athlete last name):

•Eleanor Gallagher of Southern Pines, NC, and Kashmier, a 14-year-old Gelderlander, gelding, owned by Gallagher
•Fred Merriam of Newfane, VT, and Gaitwood Lightwing, a 12-year-old Morgan gelding, owned by William Willey
•Scott Monroe of Sharon, CT, and Bethesda After Dark, a 13-year-old Morgan gelding, owned by Monroe

The following are the alternate team members/individual entries (if individual entries in addition to the team are allowed):

First Alternate: Sterling Graburn of Bonifay, FL, and Quincey, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood, owned by Alexander Hewitt
Second Alternate: Kate Shields of Middleburg, VA, and Hastening Pilgrim, a 13-year-old Welsh Cob, gelding, owned by Shields
Third Alternate: Windy Ying of Bonifay, FL, and Dante, a 6-year-old Sport Cob gelding, owned by Ying and Sterling Graburn.

Hardy Zantke of Torrance, CA, will serve as the team’s chef d'equipe. German-born Zantke started riding horses soon after he could walk. Since then, he has had an impressive equestrian career, assisting U.S. Drivers to multiple Team and Individual victories as Chef d’Equipe. Zantke’s resume includes work with the U.S. Driving Team as well as Driving for the Disabled, including his role as chef d’equipe for the Silver medal-winning team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games. In addition, Zantke presented the American Driving Society’s President’s Award in 2000, for his outstanding contributions to the sport of driving. In 2006, Zantke earned his FEI “C” status as a driving judge.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Hardy’s experience and proven ability to build this team,” said USEF Executive Director of Sport Programs Jim Wolf. “Our drivers in Pratoni Del Vivaro will be in excellent hands.”
~~~For more information, please contact Jeannie Blancq Putney, National Marketing Manager, at (859) 225-6974, or via e-mail at [email protected].