Be part of history in the making! Support the Morgan Team and help as they become the first Morgans to ever compete at the WEG!
Click here to learn more about how you can contribute
How about those Morgans!
For the very first time, the United States will host the World Equestrian Games (WEG) this fall in Lexington, Kentucky. The WEG can be considered the Equine version of the Olympics and governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). WEG are held every four years and two years prior to the Summer Olympics. An estimated 57 countries, represented by more than 800 athletes, will compete in eight equestrian disciplines: combined driving, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, paraequestrianism, reining, show jumping, and vaulting.
The WEG Combined Driving discipline is competed by four-in-hand drivers only. This means that each driver drives a team of four horses throughout the three competitions of the event: Driven Dressage, Marathon, and Obstacle Cones Driving. Final placings are determined by the team with the lowest number of penalties, throughout all three competitions. There are only three drivers selected to represent each Country's Team, however a number of individual drivers will also be selected to represent their Country. Since United States is the host country there is a possibility an additional six drivers may be able to compete at WEG as individuals. The WEG U.S. Team is slated to be announced by the first week in September.
This Team consists of the only American Morgan Horses to compete at the World Equestrian Games. There are two pairs of full brothers that make up the team: Nordby Coalie's Duke & Nordby Coalie's Coal Dust and Nordby Shadow's Sam Spade & Nordby Shadow's Rocky. The two team alternates are Meddo's Chief George and In-Glens' Priz Party. Under the expert guidance and direction of the very accomplished four-in-hand driver David Saunders, the Team has put in solid performances at three WEG driving selection trials events in Florida this year. At the first competition of the year, Little Everglades International, Saunders finished in fourth place and was the third-place American. At the Sunshine State Combined Driving Event in February, he was third overall, and at the Live Oak International in March, after placing third in the driven dressage, he finished fifth overall, out of 14 competitors. At the Bromont CAI-I in Quebec, CAN June 2010, they placed 3rd overall, with success in being the fastest time in two hazards. As of August 13, 2010, the Team received word from FEI via United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) that they will be one of 10 U.S. four-in-hand driving team that will represent the United States at the WEG.
Video Clips - See What it is All About!
Four-in-hand Combined Driving Demonstrations, Competitions, and Others
Greater Boston Charity Horse Show, Topsfield, Massachusetts - May 29, 2010: (Video Clip)
New England Morgan Horse Show, Northampton, Massachusetts - July 31, 2010: (Friday Video Clip) (Saturday Video Clip)
Bromont CAI-I, Quebec, Canada - June 29, 2010: (Hazard 1 Video); (Hazard 2 Video); (Hazard 3 Video); (Hazard 4 Video); (Hazard 5 Video); (Hazard 6 Video); (Hazard 7 Video)
The Laurels at Landhope CDE, West Grove, PA - Sept 11-13, 2009: (Video 1); (Video 2)
Little Everglades Ranch CDE, Dade City, Florida - January 29-31, 2010: (Hazard Video); (Dressage Video)
Live Oak CDE, Ocala, Florida - March 25, 2010: (Dressage Video); (Gulch Hazard Video); (Cones Video)
Black Prong CDE, Bronson, Florida - February 2010: (Dressage Video);
For more information about David Saunders, visit www.davidesaunders.com
You can also become a fan of the Team on Facebook by visiting our fanpages Morgans to the WEG and USA Morgan Driving Team
for their encouragement and support!
Why Make a Contribution?
Not only does this Team represent an all American breed but it also represents the hard work and dedication of a group of mostly volunteers. While these horses are no strangers to the combined driving events, many hours have gone into conditioning these horses for the solid performances seen over the last couple years. David Saunders, of Morriston, Florida has donated his expertise and skills to train this mismatched team of family-owned and trained Morgans. And the proud horse owners, Maureen & Alan Aulson of Georgetown, Massachusetts have passed the reins to David who has brought the horses together as a team. Other volunteers include:
- Mieke Wouters (Belgium) groom and navigator, horse caretaker, and assistant trainer;
- Denise Nichols (Bronson, FL) groom and caretaker;
- Julie and Gregg Anthony (Morriston, FL) fellow driving enthusiasts, vet support, grooms and navigators, other support;
- Marc Johnson (Hamilton, MA) fellow driving enthusiast, training, and other support;
- Ray and Pam Knisley (Chiefland, FL) fellow driving enthusiasts, marathon carriage owners;
- Henk van der Wiel (Belgium) dressage harness maker;
- Michelle Aulson (Arlington, VA) owner, daughter, competition groom, and PR support;
- Ryan Atherton (Georgetown, MA) family friend, competition groom and navigator;
- Tracey Higgins (Oldwick, NJ) fellow driving enthusiast, competition groom, and PR support;
- John of PicsOfYou.com (Dry Fork, VA) photography support;
- Raymond Lessard (Frelighsburg, Quebec) Van den Heuvel marathon carriage;
- Mike and Joyce Caudill of Summer Hill Training Center (Dry Ridge, KY) Hosting the Team for 3-weeks in September leading up to the WEG
- Elizabeth Hobby of The Morgan Connection (www.morganconnection.net) a premier Morgan horse print magazine offering advertising, news and feature articles
- Cavalor (www.cavalor.com)
an innovator in performance horse feed and supplements is the Official Feed Sponsor
- Horse Care: Bob Hudson (Weirsdale, FL) and Glenn Kriz (Ipswich, MA) Blacksmiths; Dr. Steven Murphy (Reddick, FL) Veterinarian; Mary Beth Mikles (FL) Horse Massage Therapist
- Donations: Heidi E Harvey (Waltham, MA); Brenda Dewey, Clifton, CO; Susan Young (Lake Oswego, OR); Ko vanTuijl (Netherlands); Mickie Bowen (Unionville, PA); Mike & Nilda Burke (Ballston Spa, NY); Ann Sullivan (Guilford, CT); Anne & Jim Canavan Silverstone Morgans (Crossville, TN); Jacque White (Herald, CA)
- David's family support his wife Dorothy Saunders and daughter Samantha Clendenin and her husband Jesse;
- and many more who have donated equipment and supported this Team!
Please make a much needed contribution in support of your American Morgan Team as they represent the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this October. No donation is too small or too large!
For your convenience, we have two easy ways for you to contribute.
Make checks payable to David Saunders
Mail checks to
Morgan Driving Team USA
ATTN: Michelle Aulson
905B S Rolfe St
Arlington, VA 22204
Click the button below to Donate via PayPal
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NEW Option to Support the Team
Shop Pampered Chef from now until 10/9/2010 and 20% of the proceeds will go to Support the Team!
It's easy just click on the Pampered Chef link, go to
"Shop Online" and in the first Hostess Line enter "Morgan Driving Team USA" and begin shopping.
Interest in Being a Team Sponsor?
We want you to put your name or farm on our carriage, it may get you airtime on NBC! Or sponsor the care for one of the six horses or the Team's stabling fees for one of ten days. Do you have equipment, bedding, other supplies you'd like to donate? Now is your change to be involved!
Time is running out, contact us today for more information on sponsoring or support this team: MorganDrivingTeamUSA@gmail.com