Member News
Join us for the 2025 USEF Annual Meeting in Lexington, Ky- January 23-25, 2025. Register today!
US Equestrian offices will be closed December 24th through January 1st as our staff members take time off to celebrate the Holidays. We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

Defender U.S. Driving Team

“Horses were driven long before they were ridden and, as such, Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport yet it continues to thrive in the 21st century. Drivers sit on a vehicle drawn by a single horse or pony, a pair or a team of four and they face three trials – dressage, marathon and obstacle driving.” - Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI)

Since WEG began in 1990, the U.S. Driving Team was won X team medals and X individual medals. The U.S. team of James Fairclough, Tucker Johnson, and Chester Weber won team silver in 2002 (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain). The same U.S. team members won team silver in 2010 (Lexington, Kentucky), and Johnson claimed individual bronze. Four years later, Weber took home individual silver in 2014 (Normandy, France).

In 2018, the U.S. Driving Team of Chester Weber, James Fariclough, and Misdee Wrigley-Miller took home team gold at the Games in Tryon, North Carolina. USA Driving has also seen sustained success in Para Driving on the international stage with Tracy Bowman bringing home an individual gold medal at the 2021 FEI Para Driving World Championship for Singles. USA Para Driving followed up on that success with a team silver medal for Tracy Bowman, Bob Giles, and Diane Kastama in 2023 (Exloo, Netherlands) as well as a back-to-back individual gold medal for Tracy Bowman in the Grade I division. 

Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Ready for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 14, 2022, 11:10 AM EST

Le Pin-au-Haras, France – The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team finished the horse inspection and is set for the start of the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses hosted in Le Pin-au-Haras, France, from September 15-18, 2022. The U.S. contingent is led by Chef d’Equipe Dee Aldrich, Team Coach Suzy Stafford, and Team Leader Danielle Aamodt with Team Veterinarian Dr. Jon Furlong. The combinations have been busy with final preparations and are ready to compete on the world...

Leslie Berndl and Kareltje Win Silver at 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 31, 2022, 12:00 PM EST

Leslie Berndl and Kareltje. ©Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com Szilvásvárad, Hungary – U.S. athlete Leslie Berndl (Lexington, Ky.) became the first American driver to medal at the FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses last week when she drove Kareltje, a KWPN gelding owned by Toorpapa Driving Team, to a silver-medal finish in the 7-year-old division. The competition was held at Állami Ménesgazdaság, the state stud farm in...

US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 8, 2022, 6:15 PM EST

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the three combinations and ranked alternates selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team at the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses hosted in Le Pin-au-Haras, France, from September 15-18, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Dee Aldrich, Team Coach Suzy Stafford, and Team Leader Danielle Aamodt with Team Veterinarian Dr. Jon Furlong. The following combinations have been selected to the Land...

US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Aug 1, 2022, 6:00 PM EST

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the two athletes selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team at the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses hosted in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, from September 21-25, 2022. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist and Team Leader Danielle Aamodt with Team Veterinarian Dr. Jon Furlong. The following athletes have been selected to the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team and are listed in...

Combined Driving Athlete Pathway Program Updates

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Jun 8, 2022, 12:00 PM EST

Emerging Driver Program Grants The Emerging Driver Program approved two grants to facilities for hosting beginner driver clinics. The Colorado Driving Society welcomed nine drivers to an educational clinic in May, and Sara Schmitt Dressage will be inviting new drivers to attend their September event in New Jersey. US Equestrian and the Driving Sport Committee are pleased to support these efforts to introduce new drivers to our exciting sport! Any trainers/coaches, clubs, facilities, or groups...

2022 FEI Combined Driving World Championship News

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Jun 8, 2022, 12:00 PM EST

Driving Selectors Announced The Selection Committee for the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses and the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses includes: Marc Johnson, Chair Ellen Epstein Nifty Hamilton Mary Phelps Gary Yeager This group brings a diverse wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Selections are reviewed by the Driving Sport Committee (sans any conflicted individuals) before being approved by an Ad Hoc of the USEF Board of Directors. Watch...

Selection Procedures Amended for the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Apr 8, 2022, 11:30 AM EST

Lexington, Ky. - An amendment to the selection procedures for the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses was approved by the US Equestrian Board Ad Hoc. The amendment includes an earlier selection date of August 8, 2022. The new amended selection period reflects the cancellation of Drebkau (GER) CAI3*-H1, which was the last selection trial on the FEI calendar prior to the FEI Nominated entry date for the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses, and does not exclude any...

2022 FEI Driving World Championship Selection Procedures Published

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Feb 28, 2022, 2:30 PM EST

Selection procedures for the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Singles and selection procedures for the 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-hands are both published on the USEF website . Athletes wishing to be considered for any of the 2022 FEI Driving World Championships can apply online via their Athlete Dashboard by May 1, 2022 with a $70 application fee . Late applications will be accepted through June 15, 2022 with a $300 late fee. FEI Qualification Criteria and...

Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Finishes Eighth, Jacob Arnold Is 12th at 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 12, 2021, 5:07 PM EST

Kronenberg, the Netherlands – The U.S. contingent had solid performances at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in Kronenberg, the Netherlands. Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist guided the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team, consisting of Jacob Arnold, James Miller, and Paul Maye, to an eighth-place finish out of 18 teams with a final score of 386.06 penalty points. Arnold was the top U.S. finisher in 12 th place out of a field of nearly 100 competitors. Jacob Arnold, the top U.S....

Land Rover U.S. Driving Team Ready for 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs

by Kathleen Landwehr, US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 8, 2021, 11:30 AM EST

Kronenberg, the Netherlands – The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team is set for the start of the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs, running from September 8-12 in Kronenberg, the Netherlands. Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist guides the U.S contingent at the prestigious event. The Land Rover U.S. Driving Team consists of a talented group of athletes and horses. Jacob Arnold makes his third FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs appearance. Arnold (Goshen, Ky.) won the USEF Advanced...

Forms and Publications

USA Driving Team History

USA Driving Teams & Athletes from 1980 - 2023