FEI Horse Four-In-Hand Driving Competition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show will run from May 11-14, 2023, following the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. The sport of Combined Driving was created by King Charles’s late father HRH Prince Phillip in 1970 when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the then-president of FEI, produced the first rule book. 

In the shadow of the Windsor Castle, the first year since the passing of Queen who so enjoyed “her” show, Combined Driving at the highest level will be center stage for four days. 

Chester Weber Begins His Summer Four-In-Hand Season

Chester Weber, 20 time National US Champion, knows what it takes to win in Windsor, having claimed the title twice already in his illustrious career. ” I am excited to get back to Windsor, a show that I have had good results over the years,” said Weber. “My team is in good form and we are ready to begin the European tour.” Weber a father of two young boys has his routine down, traveling back and forth to Florida returning after Windsor for his sons’ final days of school before the summer. Nest stop after the Royal Windsor Horse show for Team Weber will be Aachen CHIO 2023, June 30-July 3.

Scott Dancer and Kathrin Dancer Ready to Dance Down “The Long Walk”

In the CAI 3* US husband and wife duo, Scott Dancer and Kathrin Dancer will return to Windsor, each competing a pair. Their horses are based in Belgium with Glen Geerts, who gave their horses some experience during the World Cup season using one in his four in hand team. The Dancers are experienced competitors who have both represented the USA at multiple World Pair Driving Championships. They are focussed on Windsor, and the following week Bornem (BEL) as opportunities to qualify for the USA and the FEI Driving World Championships for Pairs Le Pin au Haras 2023 (FRA) in late September. 

“There is so much to see and do that it’s hard to compete at the Royal Windsor< said Kathrin. “It’s especially difficult to focus on walking the marathon course. Each time you are distracted by the ladies side saddle class, or the Mountain and Moorland ponies. And… then there’s the shopping.

With their sights set on earning points to qualify for the indoor World Cup season an impressive line up of drivers and teams is led by World No. 1, Boyd Exell representing Australia. Already an 11-time winner at Royal Windsor.  Most recently he was victorious in the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final held in Bordeaux, Exell will face stiff competition from the experienced Ijsbrand Chardon and compatriot, Koos de Ronde; both multiple Dutch National Champions.

Additionally US FEI individuals officiating at the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2023 are Marcie Quist as an FEI Steward, and FEI Driving Committee member Heather Briggs is assistant course designer.

Officials

Back From Baby Break

Germany will be represented by Mareike Harm, the first woman ever to qualify for a FEI Driving World CupTM Final. Harm took the 2022/2023 World Cup season off preparing for the birth of her daughter, February 26. 

Mareike will be joining another first time Mom, Charlotte DuJarin makeing their post baby return to competition.  The only woman vying for her return the the World Cup Stage, all-round horsewoman and talented Harm is looking forward to bringing her horses back on the world stage.

Frenchman Anthony Horde will travel to Windsor full of confidence following a 2nd place finish in the Four-In-Hand at CAI3* Exloo earlier in the year.

Brooks-Ward said: “The Driving is always a thrilling contest and Boyd has obviously dominated proceedings in recent years. His FEI World CupTM Final win suggests he will once again be tough to beat, but nothing in sport is guaranteed, so it’s sure to be an exciting few days of competition.”

The CAI 3* Give a Sneak Peak at What’s to Come for the FEI World Pair Driving Championships

With the Dancers working to qualify their Belgian based horses, Ewoud Boom is another heading to Windsor in fine form following a third-place finish in the Horse Pairs at CAI3* Kronenberg. Also traveling across from the Netherlands to contest the Pairs will be Rens Egberink and Erik Evers. German-born Baroness Amely von Buchholtz will be representing Argentina, with Hungarian Driver Martin Hölle and Marc Theisen from Luxemburg adding to the international nature of the field.

Kelly Houtappels-Bruder, who actively competes in both Driving and ridden Dressage competitions, will lead the way in the Singles Horse Division. The Canadian, now based in the Netherlands, was the World Championship individual silver medallist in 2020 and bronze medallist in 2022. Houtappels-Bruder will be joined by father and daughter pair Franz Schiltz and Marie Schiltz of Luxemburg. Franz Schiltz, the current FEI Athlete Representative for Driving, has regularly represented Luxemburg at Championships for 20 years. Daughter Marie following in her father’s footsteps, has had a a successful youth career, which included an individual silver medal at the FEI European Youth Championships in 2021.

• List of Competitors
• List of Horses
• Schedule for Combined Driving
• Officials