Ocala, Fla. – The driven dressage phase wrapped up on Friday at Live Oak International with the three remaining intermediate divisions of the USEF Combined Driving National Championships. Jennifer Thompson currently has the top spot in the intermediate single horse division with 53.84 penalties. Esther “Boots” Wright is in first place of the intermediate pair pony division with 50.64 penalties. Kristin Whittington leads the intermediate single pony division with 57.44 penalties.

USEF Intermediate Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship

Thompson (Lodi, Wis.), a member of the USEF Developing Athlete Program for Combined Driving, is competing in her first Live Oak competition, and she and her seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Funnominial C.G. put in a focused test to earn the lead in the intermediate single horse division. Watch Thompson’s dressage test here.

“I thought he was really good in the ring. I was really happy where he was in the bridle. I would’ve liked a little more working trot out of him. I felt he sucked back a little bit, but it’s one of those balancing acts. ‘Do I ask him for more or do I just keep going?’ Maybe I played it a little conservatively, but I was really pretty happy,” said Thompson.

Anna Koopman (Middleburg, Va.), also a member of the USEF Developing Athlete Program for Combined Driving, got her start in combined driving navigating for her father, Robert. Now, she is in the driver’s seat in her second Live Oak competition. She and the 16.2 hands Night Chief LMS, an American Dutch Harness gelding, narrowly trail Thompson with 54.32 penalties. 

“The arena at Live Oak is really electric, so we try to keep our program as quite as possible and distress our horses as little as possible. He’s amazing in his collection work and has an internal metronome,” said Koopman. Looking forward to marathon Koopman said, “[Marathon] will be challenging as he is a big horse, and we try to pick slightly bigger routes, but he also turns on a dime.”

Wilson Groves (Brownsville, Vt.) and Elegant Ereyore, his eight-year-old American Dutch Harness gelding he owns with his wife Robin, round out the top-three with 58.48 penalties.

USEF Intermediate Pony Pair Combined Driving National Championship

Esther “Boots” Wright (Ocala, Fla.) has not missed a Live Oak competition since its inception 27 years ago. She finds herself with more than a 12-penalty lead over Katie Whaley (Paris, Ky.) going into Saturday’s marathon phase. Watch Wright’s dressage test here.

“I had to work to keep my [German Riding geldings] ponies [Marko (13-years-old) and Mista Q (11-years-old)] energized,” said Wright, who had to adjust to the drag on the carriage following several other competitor tests. “The ponies had to work a little bit harder, but they stayed activated, which was interesting to see.”

Whaley follows with a score of 61.76 penalties, and chose to harness her welsh cross pony geldings,Tommy (14-years-old) and Teddy (five-years-old).

USEF Intermediate Pony Single Combined Driving National Championship

Whittington (Edinburgh, Ind.), a member of the USEF Developing Athlete Program for Combined Driving, used Live Oak to introduce her Welsh Pony Cross Symphony to a larger ring atmosphere. Having only started to compete the eight-year-old mare as a single last year, Whittington is seeing this choice pay off early on. Watch Wittington’s dressage test here.

“I’m super excited about [Symphony]. She did really well, especially in a new environment and her first time down centerline in the big ring at Live Oak,” said Whittington. “She seems super happy to be out as a single especially because her partner was a full sister [Rhapsody], and sisters don’t get along. She’s got a lot of momentum and a huge, huge heart.”

Tayler Roundtree (Auburn, Calif.) got her first FEI driven dressage test under her belt at Live Oak after competing at the American Driving Society level for the past five years.She and Taylamor Prince Harry, John Levy’s six-year-old Welsh Pony gelding, performed a consistent test to place second with 60.48 penalties.

“He’s still pretty green, so there is definitely room for improvement as far as lengthening. Our back up was a bit iffy as his legs were not [lined up], but the stretching work was really nice as he stayed balanced on his hind end and stretched forward to the bit which was fantastic,” said an enthusiastic Roundtree. “[The championship] is just another level, so for me it is really exciting and I am happy to be here and involved.”

Jennifer Keeler and her six-year-old Hackney, Zeppo, currently are in third place with a score of 62.40 penalties.

Competition continues on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. EST with each national championship division competing in the marathon phase. Watch the livestream on USEF Network.

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