Driving is one of the most spectacular, adrenaline-fuelled equestrian sports, with fearless horse and driver teams displaying incredible skill, stamina and versatility.

FEI Driving facts and figures 2022

Top 3 NFs with events in Driving

Top 3 NFs with registered athletes in Driving

Top 3 NFs with registered horses in Driving

Major Events 2022

FEI Driving World Cup™ Final, Leipzig (GER)

Bram Chardon of the Netherlands won the FEI Driving World Cup™ championship in Leipzig, reclaiming his 2019 title after losing it to nine-time winner Boyd Exell of Australia in 2020. With his sister Lianne Chardon as his navigator and Maurits Hallo as backstepper, Chardon beat Exell by more than four seconds in a thrilling drive off, having led the field since Day one.

Exell, who was hoping to make Leipzig his tenth FEI Driving World Cup™ Final win, had to settle for second place, along with Emma Olsson, his navigator, and his backstepper Hugh Scott Barrett. The bronze medal went home with Glenn Geerts of Belgium, who moved up from Friday’s fourth-place finish with his team of Charlotte van Gorp and Rodrigo Verstraeten.

Podium

FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses, Szilvásvárad (HUN)

It was a great weekend for Germany’s Jessica Wächter at the FEI Driving World Championships for Young Horses, as she saw herself win a medal in each category and of each colour. In the 5-year-old category she won silver with Best Buddy 8 right behind Marion Gandolfo and Lemmy.K from Switzerland, while bronze went to Lara Krejcerik with Rexona W.

Dream Catcher 19 would then make the dream of gold come true for Wächter in the 6-year-olds and silver would go to compatriot Bettina Winkler together with DSP Balisto. Agnes Paulovics and L-Grappa-WK took bronze for the host nation.

Lastly, in the 7-year-old category, it was Winkler’s turn to take home gold for Germany with DSP Noble Lady. USA’s Lelsie Berdnl and Kareltje landed silver and Wächter completed her medal set winning bronze together with Eckstern.

5-year-old Podium

6-year-old Podium

7-year-old Podium

FEI Driving World Championship Horse Single, Le Pin au Haras (FRA)

The FEI Driving World Championship Horse Single saw the French triumph on home ground as a nation and take the second step of the podium individually with Marion Vignaud. Team Silver went to the Netherlands, while Germany took bronze. Saskia Siebers was able to take individual gold and Canada’s Kelly Houtappels-Bruder won bronze.

Team Podium

Individual Podium

FEI European Driving Championship for Youth, Aszár Kisber (HUN)

The future generation of drivers was extremely motivated at the FEI European Driving Championship for U25, Juniors & Children in Aszár Kisber. Ten teams fought it out for national glory and among the youngsters, The Netherlands proved to be the dominating nation. Germany followed close behind taking silver, and Hungary won bronze on home ground. Individually it was also these three nations that dominated each of the podiums across all categories.

Team Podium

Pony U25 Horse Single

Podium U25 Pony Single

Podium U25 Pony Pair

Podium Juniors Pony Single

Podium Juniors Pony Pair

Podium Children Pony Single

FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand, Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA)

The FEI Driving World Championship 2022 got off to a great start under sunny skies at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. The first day of competition featured 19 of the 37 Driving teams from 16 nations in the Dressage test.

Despite the best attempts from strong rivals such as Bram Chardon, Australia’s Boyd Exell was able to keep a cool head all the way throughout the championship and earn the title of individual world champion for the 6^th time in a row, after his first win 12 years prior in Lexington (USA).

His greatest opponent in Pratoni, the four-time champion Ijsbrand Chardon (NED), challenged him every step of the way, but Boyd way not going to let the gold medal slip through his hands. Keeping steady under pressure, he came through and left Ijsbrand Chardon no choice but to settle for silver. The individual championship also earned Germany’s Michael Brauchle a second medal after having taken team silver, this time bronze.

It was a tight race between The Netherlands and Germany at these World Championships, but the Dutch ultimately proved to be the dominant nation once again, Belgium completed the podium taking home bronze.

Team Podium

Individual Podium