2018 World Championship Para-Driving Team Selections

by USDFD on July 20, 2018

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NOMINATED TEAM USA 

The world’s best para-equestrian carriage drivers will be competing atKronenberg, the Netherlands for the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships from August 28 – September 20.  
 
US Equestrian (USE) has recently nominated the four athletes who will represent the United States as team and individual competitors:  

 

NOMINATED TEAM MEMBERS (alphabetical):
Tracy Bowman
Robert Giles
Diane Kastama
NOMINATED INDIVIDUALS:
Theresa Leal
STAFF – The following individuals will serve as staff:
Chef d’Equipe – Marcie Quist
Coach – Sara Schmitt·
Veterinarian – Dr. Hildegard Skowronek (GER)
Tracy Bowman, Martinez, Ca
Tracy, a certified Instructor with the British Horse Society, began her thriving three-day eventing competition business in 1984 in California. Tracy has produced multiple riders to the CCI4* level and mentors many young professionals. She began competing in combined driving 8 years ago, and with her partner of the last 7 years, Taylormore Laurabelle, Tracy this year won the advanced intermediate division at Clay Station. She also won the Shady Oaks CDE Advanced Single Pony division in 2017, came in 2nd in the 2016 Shady Oaks CDE Intermediate Single Pony division and won the 2015 Sargent CDE Intermediate Single Pony division.
 
Robert Giles, Morriston, FL
Bob was a member of the 2014 United States team that competed in the Federation Equestre Internationale World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships at the Royal Estate in Sandringham, England, where driving a leased pony he came home with Individual Silver Grade 2 and a team Bronze Medal.
Bob grew up in the foster care system where he discovered a passion for horses. Later he joined the Marines and served our country in Vietnam.  He is the recipient of three purple hearts for his service.  He was wounded by mortar, rocket and grenade and has overcome his injuries to train and work with drivers and driving horses at his Winter Hill Driving Center in Morriston, FL.
Diane Kastama, Arroyo Grande, Ca
In 1991 Diane became paralyzed from a car accident and found carriage driving in 1994.  It is a sport that has welcomed her and fed her competitive spirit.  Diane has been to 6 World Championships for Para Drivers as a Grade 1 Driver she has come home with Individual Gold, Individual Silver and Individual Bronze, alone with Team Silver and 2 Team Bronze Medals.  She has competed with her own horses Jasper and Rupert and also leased horses.  Diane has been awarded the Becky Grant Hart Pegasus Award, FEI Silver Medal of honor, Chronical of the Horse Driver of the Year and been named to the USEF Elite Drivers.
Diane also serves as President of United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc.where she spends countless hours bringing carriage driving to the disabled community.  She strongly believes that carriage driving is an equalizing sport.
Theresa Leal, Auburn, Ca
Ginny has, been driving with a disability for about 8 years and have done serious competitive driving for 7 years. She had polio when she was 5 years old in San Francisco. She is a school counselor/LCSW and am semi-retired. She has had some experience in grant writing and enjoys actively recruiting new para drivers into the competitive arena graciously loaning her own pony and carriage. She drives two Haflingers, Mr. Maurice & Dancer. She went to the 2012 World Para-Driving competition as an alternate. She will be competing with Zoobie a lovely Fjord and she cannot thank her trainer Leslie Berndl and Zoobie’s owner Teressa Kandianis enough for this wonderful opportunity.

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