Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is pleased to announce that 12 athlete/horse combinations have been selected for the Combined Driving Program for Elite Athletes, a new program overseen by the Driving Sport Committee. The Combined Driving Program for Elite Athletes replaces the previous High Performance Program for Combined Driving. The new program seeks to identify and support combinations who have proven to be internationally competitive in the current two-year cycle.
The following combinations (listed alphabetically) have been selected as elite athletes.
Jacob Arnold (Snow Camp, N.C.) and Uminco, Leslie Berndl’s 17-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding
Donna Crookston (Saltsburg, Pa.) and Viktor, her 10-year-old Dutch Harness gelding
James Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and Citens, his 11-year-old KWPN gelding; Bento V, his 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Zenden, his 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Dapper, his 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Caletta 5, his 16-year-old Austrian Warmblood mare
Jennifer “Nifty” Hamilton (Alva, Fla.) and Makari Design, her and Milton Hamilton’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
Diane Kastama (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) and Joy 217, Greenlaw Grupe’s 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
Jennifer Matheson (Aiken, S.C.) and Bax 3, Katrina Becker’s 16-year-old German Riding Pony gelding; Cees, Katrina Becker’s 16-year-old Welsh Pony gelding; Rocco 454, Katrina Becker’s 12-year-old German Riding Pony gelding
Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) and Fuego 88, her 17-year-old German Riding Pony gelding
Suzy Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) and PVF Peace of Mind, her 11-year-old Morgan mare
Allison “Lisa” Stroud (Kennett Square, Pa.) and Anesco 4, Willow Star LLC’s 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Enzo, Willow Star LLC’s nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; George W, her seven-year-old KWPN gelding; Ulco, Willow Star LLC’s 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Olando, Willow Star LLC’s 22-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and Asjemenou, his 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Boris W, his 12-year-old KWPN gelding; First Edition, his nine-year-old KWPN gelding; Reno, his nine-year-old gelding; Splash, Jane Clark’s 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding
Kathleen “Katie” Whaley (Paris, Ky.) and Tommy, her 15-year-old Welsh cross gelding; Tanner, her 12-year-old Welsh cross gelding; Night Flyer, Barbara Sims’ 18-year-old Welsh Section C gelding
Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) and Beau, her 12-year-old KWPN gelding; Bolino D, her 12-year-old KWPN gelding; Bravour 54, her 12-year-old KWPN gelding; Calipso 86, her 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Daan 8, her 10-year-old KNHS gelding
US Equestrian offers congratulations to all of the combinations accepted into the Combined Driving Program for Elite Athletes.
The program offers comprehensive benefits and resources to support elite athletes in competition including consultations with the Team Coach and support in creating short-term and long-term competition plans, training with the Team Coach in collaboration with a personal trainer/coach, and access to human/horse sports science medicine (SSM) programs. Athletes also have the opportunity to train with world-class clinicians and audit USEF training sessions.
Program participants will be evaluated every six months by a quorum of the Driving Sport Committee, in consultation with the team coach and Chef d’Equipe. Athletes must maintain both domestic and international success in order to remain in the program.
Learn more about the selection criteria and process, additional benefits of membership, and performance reviews here.
Please contact Danielle Aamodt, Director of Driving, at [email protected] with any questions about this program.
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The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.