Tag Archives: Para-Equestrian Driving Ch. for Singles

US Drivers Ready for FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

Lexington, Ky. – A team of three U.S. drivers and two individuals are set to take on the challenge at the 2014 FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles. Taking place at The Royal Estate in Sandringham, England, the championships will run from June 27-29. Virginia “Boo” Fitch, Bob Giles, and Diane Kastama will represent the U.S. in the team competition, while Mary Gray and Giles with a second horse will compete as individuals. Marie De Ronde will serve as Chef d’Equipe, and Sara Schmitt will serve as coach at the 2014 championships.

Fitch, a resident of Penhook, Va., previously competed in the hunter/jumper arena before she developed rheumatoid arthritis. With the help of a quiet school-horse and a friend, she began competing in driving as a Grade II competitor. Fitch will drive Kiko, her own 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, in her first World Championships. In 2012, she and Kiko were second in the Intermediate Single Pony division at the Pine Tree CDE.

Giles (Morriston, Fla.) is a Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient who lost 90% of his hearing, has a fused elbow, and has only partial use of his right hand as a result of combat. A Grade II competitor, Giles is a well-known trainer and clinician. In 2014, he racked up several top-10 results, highlighted by a seventh-place finish in the Preliminary Single Horse division at the Kingdom of the Sun CDE. At the championships, he will drive Koos de Ronde’s Solo on the team and de Ronde’s Olando as an individual. Solo is a 20-year-old gelding of unknown breeding, and Olando is an 18-year-old KWPN gelding.

Kastama, a resident of Arroyo Grande, Calif., became paralyzed from the waist down following a car crash in 1991. She is classified as a Grade I driver, but has competed against able-bodied drivers for many years. Kastama has competed at World Championships since 2000, earning Individual Gold (2006), Silver (2002), and Bronze (2008), as well as Team Silver (2008) and Bronze (2002). She will drive longtime partner Rupert, her own 18-year-old Welsh Cob gelding, in Sandringham. At the 2014 Vineyard Classic CDE, Kastama won the Advanced Single Horse division.

Grade II driver Gray (Brunswick, Maine) has represented the U.S. five times at the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles. For the 2014 edition of the championship, she will drive Nick Hammond’s Leyeswick the Rooster, an eight-year-old Welsh gelding.

The FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles will begin with the dressage phase on June 27, followed by the marathon phase on June 28. The medals will be decided on June 29, upon completion of the cones phase.

For more information about the championship, visit http://www.britishcarriagedriving.co.uk/sandringham/.

Follow the U.S. Para-Equestrian Team here.

USEF Names Team and Individual for 2014 FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named three drivers to the Team and one Individual to represent the United States at the 2014 FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles in Sandringham, Great Britain, June 27-29.

The following drivers have been named to the U.S. Team for the 2014 FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles (listed in Alphabetical Order):

Virginia (Boo) Fitch (Penhook, Va.) will drive her own Kiko.
Kiko is 2003 Irish Sport Horse mare.

Robert Giles (Morriston, Fla.) will drive Koos De Ronde’s Solo and Olando.
Solo is a 1994 gelding of unknown breeding.
Olando is a 1996 gelding of unknown breeding.

Diane Kastama (Arroyo Grande, Calif.) will drive her own Rupert.
Rupert is a 1996 Welsh Cob gelding.

The following driver will represent the U.S. as an Individual at the 2014 FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles:

Mary Gray (Brunswick, Maine.) will drive Nick Hammond’s Leyeswick the Rooster.
Leyeswick the Rooster is a 2006 Welsh gelding.

Marie De Ronde will serve as Chef d’Equipe and Sara Schmitt will serves as coach at the 2014 FEI World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles.

From the USEF Communications Department

U.S. Team Finishes Fourth at the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

Breda, The Netherlands – With the cones phase complete the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles has come to a close at the Outdoor Brabant. There was little movement in the standings for the U.S. team or individuals, but it was a good experience for America’s top para-equestrian drivers.

Once again leading the U.S. squad was Diane Kastama (Arroyo Grande, CA). She picked up 12 penalty points and 0 time faults to finish with 12 on cones and a total score of 171.55. Driving the de Ronde’s KWPN Ruby R Van Stalle De Maurik, Kastama finished the competition in 14th place overall.

Pam Johnson (Pleasant Hill, MO) drove Ben Honsbeek’s KWPN gelding Night to 24 penalties and 5.85 time faults for a score in the cones phase of 29.85. A total score of 211.31 made her the 19th placed individual driver.

Continue reading U.S. Team Finishes Fourth at the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

U.S. Team in Fourth after Marathon at FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

Breda, The Netherlands – Para-equestrian drivers took on the marathon course at the Outdoor Brabant Saturday morning and moved one step closer to team and individual World Para Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles titles. U.S. individuals have not cracked the top ten, but the team is in fourth place heading into the cones phase on Sunday.

Diane Kastama (Arroyo Grande, CA) drove the de Ronde’s KWPN Ruby R Van Stalle De Maurik to a 13th place finish in the Marathon. Her 102.15 point effort puts her in 14th place overall and makes her the highest placing American driver thus far. Diane’s total score is 159.55.

Pam Johnson’s 114.86 point Marathon was good for a 19th place finish in the phase and kept her in 19th place overall. Driving Ben Honsbeek’s KWPN gelding Night, Johnson (Pleasant Hill, MO) is sitting on a total score of 181.46.

Continue reading U.S. Team in Fourth after Marathon at FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

U.S. Para-Equestrian Drivers Complete Dressage Tests in Breda

Breda, The Netherlands – Competition at the 2012 FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles commenced Thursday at the Outdoor Brabant in Breda, The Netherlands. All three competitors on the U.S. Team successfully completed their dressage tests and the team sits in 4th place on a score of 124.0.

Veteran Diane Kastama’s 57.40 was the best score of the day for the Americans and it has her tied for 13th individually. Kastama (Arroyo Grande, CA), who is driving the de Ronde’s KWPN Ruby R Van Stalle De Maurik, is tied with Great Britian’s Mick Ward.

Driving Ben Honsbeek’s KWPN gelding Night, Pam Johnson (Pleasant Hill, MO) earned a 66.60 and sits in 19th place.

Continue reading U.S. Para-Equestrian Drivers Complete Dressage Tests in Breda

Horses and Riders Ready in Breda for the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles

Para-equestrian drivers and their supporters enjoyed some time off and toured the Hague on Monday. They got an up-close look at Queen Beatrix's Golden Coach

Breda, The Netherlands – International para-equestrian drivers are in Breda, The Netherlands right now ready to compete at the 2012 FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles. The first vet check took place Wednesday and the three horses that will be driven by Americans passed with ease. Athletes schooled in dressage today and attended the official marathon course walk. Competition begins Thursday.

Three competitors will represent the U.S. driving borrowed horses.

Karen Gorham (Burnet, TX) will drive the Family De Bryne’s New Forest Pony, Rozendaal’s Solomon. Gorham has been an equestrian driver since the 1980s. She was involved in a hurricane Rita related truck accident in 2005 and has made use of a prosthetic left arm ever since. Her para-driving career is in its infancy, after the accident she did not resume driving until 2010, but her combined driving experience is sure to help her this weekend in Breda.

Continue reading Horses and Riders Ready in Breda for the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships for Singles