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USEF High Performance
Para-Driving Clinic
at Whispering Oaks Performance Horses
Newcastle, California
August 31, 2015 9:00 AM
For Actively Competing Para-Equestrian Drivers
Newcastle, CA – August 17, 2015- The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF) is pleased to present a one day Para Equestrian Driving Clinic featuring clinician Olof Larsson at Whispering Oaks Performance Horses in Newcastle, California.
The high performance clinic is geared to currently competing para-equestrian drivers who are members of U. S. Driving for the Disabled (USDFD) and USEF. Breakfast, drinks, and lunch will be available and stabling for the prior evening is offered as well. USEF has arranged this wonderful opportunity for our drivers and has provided full sponsorship for the clinic. Leslie Berndl, owner of WOPH, has generously donated her facility to USEF and USDFD for this special event, as well as handling all of the food preparations and coordinating the logistics with Olof. Many thanks to USEF and to Leslie.
Location Information:
Whispering Oaks Performance Horses
1571 Oak Knoll Lane
Newcastle, CA 95658
Owner: Leslie Berndl
Contact Information:
Marcia Putnam
925-284-1857 (Home/FAX)
925-708-3387 (Cell)
15 Southampton Place
Lafayette, CA 94549
Clinician Biography:
 
Olof Larsson was born in Ystad, southern Sweden. Growing up he competed in jumping, dressage and three day events and ultimately converted one of his smaller ponies to driving, winning the Swedish National Championship in 1994 and 1995.
Totally hooked on driving, Olof went to work for the renowned international level Swedish four-in-hand driver, Tomas Eriksson, from 1995 to 1996. In 1996 Olof was accepted at the University of Equine Studies at Flyinge, the National Stud of Sweden. The education he received there over the next two years with a focus on driving and stable management was a highlight of his life.
In the late fall of 1998 Olof was offered the opportunity to show horses for Hilltop Farm, Maryland in the United States. This led to a position as manager of Chester Weber’s Ocala facility where he became an integral part of Live Oak and Team Weber’s outstanding successes for the following thirteen years. During this time Olof participated in a support capacity at nine World Championships.
Currently Olof and his wife Stacy own and operate Hidden Acres Dressage in Ocala where they develop and show all levels of dressage show horses. Olof continues to work as a driving clinician and trainer on a free lance basis. He attended the 2013 and 2014 World Championships as the manager of the Hillcroft Driving Team for Misdee Wrigley Miller. Misdee calls him “MacGyver” because he can fix anything! The urban dictionary for “MacGyver” is: “the ability to use a dorito, some duct tape, and a paper clip to create a time machine” or “someone who can jump-start a truck with a cactus!”
We greatly look forward to meeting and working with him in California!
 
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Marcia Putnam.
About the United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc:
United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks to improve the lives of physically challenged individuals throughout the United States and Canada by providing the experience of driving horses in a safe and challenging environment. Our mission is to provide the extraordinary benefit of therapeutic driving to as many people as possible through sharing knowledge, experience, and serving as a resource for innovations in adaptive equipment for drivers, trainers, and programs offering carriage driving. The Sybil Dukehart Memorial Fund seeks to provide financial assistance to equip and train disabled drivers through providing scholarship funds to applicants. USDFD fosters opportunities for drivers to compete in national and international amateur competitions by training and providing financial support for Team USA.
United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc
32450 S. Wright Rd.
Molalla, OR 97038
Ph: 503-550-9384
President: usdfdpresident@gmail.com
Offices: usdfd.org@gmail.com
Website: www.USDFD.org
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