Far Hills, New Jersey - It wasn’t an Olympic stadium, but those in the stands and along the rails at the Garden State Horse Show were thrilled to see two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, McLain Ward, being driven around by a miniature horse, not much larger than a Great Dane. Handling the reins was 16 year-old Gary Johnson, one of the four Driver-Survivors representing sharingVillage Groups. Gary projected confidence as he cruised around the imposing Grand Prix jumps with Sammy, a 13-year old brown and white pinto gelding donated on loan by Cindy Vollers,that appeared even smaller alongside the imposing six foot jumps.

When asked to join in the Driving For Surviving exhibition that was to take place before the Grand Prix event, McLain didn’t hesitate. With his broad grin, it was apparent that he was enjoying the experience of viewing the arena from a new perspective.

“I’m really amazed at how fast these minis can move; I may have to get one”, stated McLain.

The youngest rider to win over $1,000,000 in prize money and winner of scores of Grand Prix events, McLain is an American show jumping icon and Olympic Champion. He won the gold medal as part of the U.S. team in Team Jumping at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens together with Peter Wylde, Beezie Madden and Chris Kappler. Ward continued to compete as an Olympian, winning the team gold for show jumping at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut and Will Simpson. He had just arrived at the Garden State Horse Show from Las Vegas where he had competed in the 2009 World Cup Finals and had taken second place.

When asked how he felt about driving a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist around the Grand Prix ring, Gary smiled.

“It was a really cool, fun experience. McLain was really nice and I was proud that he took part in our Driving For Surviving exhibition!”

Confident, accomplished, determined and successful are qualities used to describe McLain Ward. These qualities are also used to describe the children who are part of the sharingVillage Driving For Surviving program. The program represents a unique approach to working with children who have experienced a diagnosis of cancer or other life- threatening illness and are now planning a post and concurrent treatment lifestyle.

Carriage driving is one of the tools provided to the Driver-Survivors that empowers them and allows them to master new skills that will enable them to navigate life and to understand and cope with the challenges of living with illness. sharingVillage Groups is a privately funded, not for profit corporation that is supported through the generosity of private donations. For more information on sharingVillage Groups and the Driving For Surviving program, visit, www.sharingvillage.org.