Lexington, KY -- The USEF will be hosting a Driving Clinic for Four-in-Hand drivers in order to develop a strong team heading toward the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). Appropriately, this clinic will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park (site of the Games) and will give six drivers the opportunity to work closely with Peter Tischer during the Lexington CDE. The clinic will run from Sept 30 - Oct 6, 2008, and the competition runs from Oct 2-5.

The clinic will feature some of the country’s top developing drivers. They will bring four-eight horses to the clinic. The clinic format will be similar to an actual team competition. Peter will coach the drivers before, during and after the competition. This includes lessons Tuesday – Thursday, warm ups for Dressage and Cones, Hazard course walks and either a Hazard or Cones school on the Monday following the competition. The idea behind this style of clinic is to develop a better understanding of what the U.S. has to offer for the WEG 2010 Team. Drivers planning to attend the clinic include: Bob Giles, Mike McLennan, Cindy O’Reilly, Gary Stover and Casy Zubek.

Auditors are welcome with a $100 donation to the USET Foundation marked for Driving.

The USEF High Performance Driving Department recognizes the need and urgency for a strong results oriented developing Four-in-Hand Driving Program. The costs associated with training and fielding a large, competent group of Four-in-Hand Drivers for WEG 2010 could run well over $100,000.

Eric Stauffer, Managing Director of High Performance Driving for the USEF, urges any one interested in investing in the future of the US Driving teams donate directly to the USET Foundation.

“Even with our most recent success with Chester Weber winning the Individual Silver medal at the 2008 FEI World Four-in-Hand Championships, it is becoming extremely difficult to field competitive Teams at International Competitions,” said Stauffer. “I have outlined a detailed plan for training all Driving Disciplines that would bring the U.S. Drivers up to International levels. One section of the program would provide international competition grants. The Grants would target promising drivers that otherwise would not have the funds to compete abroad. This program is crucial to developing the strong pool of drivers that has the international experience to field a competitive Championship Team. Ideally a fully funded program costs around $250,000 per year for all four driving disciplines. Please donate, every little bit helps and when donating please be sure to designate that the funds be used for Driving exclusively”.

Stauffer will be attending the clinic and will be available to discuss the program with anyone interested in Driving or making a donation to the program.

ENDS

To donate, please go to www.uset.org or call 908-234-1251 to learn more about ways to help support our U.S. drivers and their high performance program plans leading up to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

For more information or if there are any other potential candidates for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games who have not notified USEF Managing Director of Driving, please contact Eric Stauffer at [email protected] or (908)326-1159.