Le Pin au Haras, France – The Defender U.S. Driving Team saw two combinations complete the 2025 FEI World Championships for Combined Ponies hosted at the renowned Haras National du Pin Stud, in Le Pin au Haras, France. The team was led by Chef d’Equipe Jeff Legg, Team Veterinarian Dr. Crystal Riczu and Team Leader Steven Morrissey.
“There were highs and lows this week, but all combinations will leave the World Championship feeling they gained invaluable experiences which can be applied to their future driving,” said Chef d’Equipe Jeff Legg. “It is great to have graduates from the USEF Developing Athlete Program on the Team and was a pleasure to have two combinations attending their first World Championship paired with an experienced athlete at her second World Championship.”
Sarah Reitz (Honoye Falls, N.Y.) and her own Fferm Gwenffrwd Onxy Star, a 2007 Welsh pony gelding (Hilin Peredur x Cottrell Charmer) finished as the highest-placed U.S. combination, taking 31st overall in the class of 40 entries, with a final three phase combined score of 168.93. The pair earned 59.83 in the dressage phase and completed the marathon phase with an additional 93.13 penalties, which placed them 11th in the individual marathon phase results. The duo crossed through the timers in the cones phase with 15.97 added penalties to confirm their final championship score of 168.93.
Teammate Anna Koopman (Middleburg, Va.) and her own Chandler Creek Eclipse, a 2010 Morgan gelding (Thunder Michelangelo x FP Sunday Morning Coffee), finished in 39th overall, marking their second FEI World Championship for Combined Ponies together, after having also represented the U.S. in 2023.
Denise Loewe (Fort Collins, Colo.) and her own Steppy IK, a 2013 Haflinger cross gelding (Stepke IK x Hanna) earned a 56.37 in the dressage phase, to sit as the highest-placed U.S. combination after the first day of competition. Loewe made the difficult decision to withdraw from the remainder of the competition following dressage out of an abundance of caution, as it was observed Steppy IK was not feeling 100% at his best.
The 2025 FEI World Championship for Combined Ponies completed the trio FEI Driving World Championships hosted throughout this summer. The next FEI Driving World Championships will take place in 2026, with the FEI Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hand Horses taking place as part of the FEI World Championships hosted in Aachen, Germany, next summer. The FEI Driving World Championships for Single Horses will also take place from September 1-6, 2026, in Munich, Germany.
Results
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