Team Catalyst, Shelly Temple, Fran Doto and ‘Cooper’, are very proud to once again be poised to represent our country at the World Pony Driving Championships to be held in September, 2011 in Lipica, Slovenia. You may know that Team Catalyst had this honor in 2007 when the championships were held in Denmark, finishing with a silver individual medal in dressage and an overall team bronze. We were very proud to have played a part in such a strong US showing!
Team Catalyst has had continued success at major combined driving events in 2010 and 2011, most recently the Live Oak International Combined Driving Event, where we won the 2011 USEF National Championship in a very competitive class, our second National Championship in a row and third total. At Live Oak, Cooper won the coveted ‘Hanzi Award’, given to the best horse in the competition in the opinion of the judges, just as he had in 2010.
In 2007 the cost of transporting pony, people, and equipment to Europe as well as training and competition costs totaled nearly $35,000. Costs have only risen since then. With driving being a small group when compared to other international equestrian sports, our National Federation only covers a small portion of our expenses. Our ability to attend and compete at this year’s event will depend on our ability to raise the funds to do so; the bulk of which will come from private donations.
Team Catalyst is asking for your support.
Along with our promise to represent America to the best of our ability, we would like to offer our thanks for any and all support by offering the following gifts of appreciation for your donation.
Donation of $75: Team Catalyst cap or visor
Donation of $150: Team Catalyst T-Shirt
Donation of $300: Catalyst Design jewelry specially designed for this event.
$500 and above: A Photo collage taken during the event of Team Catalyst personalized and signed by the team (to be delivered after the event), along with special polo shirt.
All levels of support will add your name on our website as a contributor to Team Catalyst.
You can follow our progress as we work towards and compete at the championships on our blog, http://www.catalystdriving.blogspot.com, on our website, www.catalystdriving.com, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/catalystcarriagedriving.
Please make your check out to Rochelle Temple and mail to 494 Pine Acres Road, Windsor, SC 29856.
We thank you for your support!
Shelly Temple Fran Doto Cooper