Equestrian Network Magazine

Driving For The Disabled

by Leslie C. Hernandez

Carriage Driving is Hope Driven.

Carriage driving conjures up the image of a bygone era... of "Little House on the Prairie" or "Sense and Sensibility." To some, carriage driving equals hope. Through carriage driving, someone who has spent her or his entire life confined to a wheelchair can fly through a cones course. An individual unable to hike

through the woods can meander down a wooded path for the first time. Freedom like this does not have a price.

Cindy has been an avid horsewoman all of her life. Since she was a small girl, growing up in Kentucky, she competed in jumping and saddleseat equitation. She raced in point-to-points and steeplechases. Cindy even broke yearling race horses and could be found fox hunting several days a

week. When a tremendous fall left her unable to use her legs, she did the next best thing: bought a pony and cart to start driving. Now, she has been driving for over 25 years. Through this new outlet, she discovered United States Driving for the Disabled and its founder Sybil K. Dukehart.

Sybil began USDFD in 1982, after a visit to England had opened her eyes to the need in the US. She saw how driving could help those both in her community and, indeed, throughout the country. Through USDFD, Mrs. Dukehart established driving instructor

certification criteria. She also began to train her new drivers for international competition. Several drivers, including Cindy, met at Sybil's Maryland estate to train for the first IPC World Carriage Driving Championships for Disabled Drivers.

The United States Driving for the Disabled Team USA has brought home three Team Bronze medals (1994 non-IPEC), two Individual Gold metals (1994 non-IPEC), three Individual Silver medals (one 2002 first year for Pairs non-IPEC), and one Individual Bronze for the first IPEC recognized pair competition.

Since that first foray into international competition, USDFD has sent a "Team USA" every two years. Team USA has evolved into a talented group of athletes. The United States Driving for the Disabled Team USA has brought home three Team Bronze medals (1994 non-IPEC), two Individual Gold

medals (1994 non-IPEC), three Individual Silver medals (one 2002 first year for Pairs non-IPEC), and one Individual Bronze for the first IPEC recognized pair competition.

When not competing internationally, USDFD drivers compete at the same level as anyone else in the US. Diane Kastama, an experienced Team driver, has been competing at the Intermediate level in single, pair, and even tandem for the past few years. The most amazing part of driving is that whether competing at an upper level combined driving event or driving around a field at home, a challenged driver drives the same as an "able-bodied" driver.

Heather has spent her 24 years in a motorized wheelchair, barely able to use her limbs. This remarkable young lady, who finds it difficult to speak, can communicate fluently by typing on a computer. It was through her internet surfing skills that Heather found USDFD. She even found her horse Hank and her Thornlea carriage over the internet. Heather and her mom journeyed to USDFD headquarters in Kentucky to have a weekend of driving. With her unique feet abilities, USDFD volunteers devised a quick-release system allowing her to drive with her ankles. Heather's smile and laughter as she drove Hank around the facility excited everyone.

USDFD is a national organization. We specialize in assisting centers in their driving goals. We help in discerning what kind of equipment centers or individuals need such as carriages and safety devices. USDFD is currently rebuilding the relationship with other national organizations to

build up driving centers in our country. There are hundreds of therapeutic riding centers in the US, but only a handful offer driving. While riding is more accessible, driving can reach people who cannot ride, who are timid around horses, or who are difficult for volunteers to assist on horseback.

USDFD employs several programs to assist drivers. In 2004, we began the Mentorship program. We pair each individual with someone who can assist in driving at least once a month, to people who do not have a driving center nearby. The Hitch-up and Drive for Team USA program was launched in 2004 to assist in funding the Team's international competition. The sponsorship-fueled trail ride/drive helps raise donations for the entirely self-funded Team USA. USDFD also established the Sybil K Dukehart Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2006. Drivers can apply for assistance in paying for lessons, equipment, or even funding competition. Since 2004, USDFD has sponsored a Therapeutic Driving Instructor's Clinic. Individuals from all over the nation convene in Kentucky for a weekend of learning. Education and learning are the key components to helping therapeutic driving to grow throughout the US.

To learn more about USDFD and Therapeutic driving, please contact our main office: usdfdoffice@bellsouth.net or phone: (502)863-5113. Our website is www.usdfd.org.

Equestrian Network Magazine congratulates Diane Kastama who won the Individual Gold Medal in the Netherlands at the IPC World Carriage Driving Championships for Drivers with Disabilities Sept 6-10, 2006! Way to go Diane and Go TEAM USA!

Leslie C. Hernandez is the Executive Director of United States Driving For the Disabled, located at 3329 Cynthiana Road in Georgetown, KY, 40324. She may be reached at (502) 863-5113 or usdfdoffice@bellsouth.net. Born and raised in Kentucky, Leslie enrolled in Midway College in 1997 to spend the next two years refining her horsemanship. She took classes in hunt seat including jumping and theory, stock seat and reining, and dressage. She also spent both years as a Student Barn Manager honing her horse-care techniques. At the time, the Gayla Driving Center decided to lease Fredrick the Norwegian Fjord to Midway. When Leslie saw Freddie across that snowy paddock, it was love at first sight. Through Freddie, Leslie met Debbie Banfield and began her romance with the world of carriage driving. Leslie began working at the Gayla Driving Center in March of 1999. She worked part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. She transferred to Georgetown College, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.