USEF Driving Athlete Pathway Programs, Emerging, Developing and Elite

US Equestrian has announced the 2021 revisions to the Athlete Pathway Programs for combined driving. The Driving Sport Committee completed a thorough review of the Elite Athlete and Developing Athlete Programs for combined driving, including a better understanding of the goals for each. The criteria for both programs have shifted based on a statistical analysis of FEI Driving World Championship results, and the Developing program encompasses a two-step progression while the Elite status is set at a higher goal.

Watch this thorough review of the Athlete Pathway Programs to better understand these changes

The full program outline can be reviewed on the Combined Driving page of usef.org.

The Driving Sport Committee also hopes to launch the new Emerging Program this year (this was delayed in 2020) to offer support for educational opportunities and introduce NEW drivers to the sport.

US Equestrian celebrates the athletes and horses or ponies who have competed on USA Driving Teams over the past 20 years. These athletes deserve recognition for their achievements in representing the U.S. at FEI Driving World Championships. This list will be updated annually to honor those teams and individuals and their successes.

U.S. at FEI Driving World Championships

Congratulations to the current 2021 Combined Driving Elite Athletes:

• Jacob Arnold, with Steve Wilson’s Endorro, Mr Lindsey G, Tuzes
• Taylor Bradish, with Jennifer Matheson’s Katydid Duchess
• Jennifer Keeler, with her own Amazing Grace
• James Miller, with his own Agussto’s Armoei, Eldorus, Gentleman
• Jennifer Thompson, with her own Funnominial CG
• Chester Weber, with his own Amadeus, Boris W, First Edition, Julius V, Reno

The list of Combined Driving Developing Athletes is pending final review, and will be published in the next few weeks.

Applications for the Developing Athlete Program are still being accepted online through January 31, 2021, and will re-open for consideration from June 1-30, 2021. Online applications can be found on a member’s Athlete Dashboard. Contact Director of Driving, Danielle Aamodt, for more information: daamodt@usef.org.