Kronenberg, The Netherlands – September 17, 2018 – Over six days the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships for singles took place at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. U.S. Para-Driving Team included Driver and horse combinations Tracy Bowman and Taylormore Laurabelle in Grade 1, Bob Giles and First Lady in Grade 2, and Diane Kastama and horse Oosterwijk’s Kasper in Grade 1 with Coach Sara Schmitt and Chef d’Equipe, Marcie Quist. Drivers contested the dressage, marathon, and cones courses, over the August 28-September 2, 2018, week. The Singles and Para-driving championships were held simultaneously for the first time in the history of this equestrian sport. The top international drivers competed for the coveted title in their category: World Champion. U.S. Para-Drivers had a successful showing earning fourth in the Team competition.

USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans, Hoefnet’s Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

“We would like to thank world class four-in-hand driver Koos De Ronde and his wife, FEI Combined Driving judge Marie De Ronde, in Zwartewaal, Netherlands for hosting the para-driving training camp at their home farm Stal De Ronde. We would also like to thank the navigators including Diane Kastama’s navigator Lila Hewitt, Tracy Bowman’s navigator Jolie Wentworth, and Bob Giles’ navigator Barbra Hewitt and everyone who so generously offered their support.  We would especially like to thank team coach Sara Schmitt, our Chef d’Equipe, Marcia Quist, Danielle d’Aamodt Single’s Chef and Thorsten Zarembowicz Singles Coach.”

Following the Championships, Para-drivers headed back to the United States where they will be cheering on the U.S. Equestrian Teams at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC, and  heir Dutch host and hostess Koos and Marie de Ronde who will be competing in the four-in-hand driving at the World Equestrian Games.

Diane Kastama (in the Cones Course) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg_ The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans_ Hoefnet_s Krisztina Horvath_ and Daphne White.

Tracy Bowman (in the Cones Course) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg_ The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans_ Hoefnet_s Krisztina Horvath_ and Daphne White.

Diane Kastama (in the Marathon Course) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

Tracy Bowman (in the Marathon Course) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

Bob Giles (in the Marathon Course) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

Bob Giles (in Dressage) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

Tracy Bowman (in Dressage) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

Diane Kastama (in Dressage) of the USA Para-Driving Team at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

USA Para-Driving Team Jog at the 2018 FEI World Driving and Para-Driving Championships at Grandorse in Kronenberg, The Netherlands. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans Hoefnets Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.

For more information see some of the following links of coverage during the event:
https://mailchi.mp/982c321b6ad3/1dyu5hefd5-911389?e=ab3efa26d2
https://mailchi.mp/d37bdc04f8ec/1dyu5hefd5-911345?e=a33c8f2cf2
https://mailchi.mp/2abb74e7dfc7/1dyu5hefd5-910593?e=ab3efa26d2
https://mailchi.mp/833ffd3a0b15/1dyu5hefd5-909361?e=ab3efa26d2

Results can be found on Hoefnet at:
https://www.hoefnet.nl/en/kalender-uitslagen-startlijsten/wk-enkelspannen-wk-paramennen-horst/

See the following for Para-Driving Team Results.
https://www.hoefnet.nl/wp-content/uploads/uitslagen/2018/NED/KRONENBERG.20180828.20180902/PDF/teamfinalpara.pdf

For more information about USA Para-Driving please visit United States Driving for the Disabled at http://usdfd.org

Photography by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans, Hoefnet’s Krisztina Horvath, and Daphne White.