Preparing To Fly The Flying Gangsters

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 | Mary Phelps

We have competed at The Live Oak International Combined Driving Event the last 4 years. Brook Ledge, one of the oldest equine transport companies in the USA has been a generous sponsor.

Mary and The Flying GangstersThey ship the jumpers from Wellington to Ocala for the the FEI Grand Prix Competition. They also provide the popular hospitality tent for competitors near the stabling with food, live streaming monitors, and comfortable seating throughout the event. Brook Ledge manages all of the shipping and International Transport for the US Four in Hand Team Gold Medallist, Chester Weber, manager of LOI. 

We qualified at Live Oak to be considered to represent the USA at the FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies, which will be held in Ászár-Kisbér (HUN) September 25-29. Regardless of whether we were selected, this was the year to head to Europe and train with one of the greatest families in Driving Sport.

After we were done our awards ceremonies (we finished second in the FEI Advanced Pony Pair Division) we sat by the arena and met Will Phipps the Brook Ledge agent who had been at the show all week. It was then we learned that Brook Ledge also manages Domestic and International Air Transport as well. We also learned of new developments which would greatly reduce travel time from Florida to the airport. We were getting quotes to fly four ponies to Europe in July, to train and compete with Bram Chardon at his family training center in the Netherlands.