The Defender U.S. Driving Team delivered a solid performance at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Pair Horses this past weekend, finishing 11th overall in a highly competitive international field. The team included Jacob Arnold (Paris, Ky.), Taylor Bradish (Windsor, S.C.), and Vernon Helmuth (Hazelton, Iowa), with support from Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist, Team Veterinarian Dr. Laura Werner, and Team Leader Steven Morrissey.
“While we didn’t get the result we had hoped for overnight, our drivers gave it their all,” said Quist. “This is a talented and experienced group in their prime, and they truly supported and motivated each other. The future is bright!”
Competition began with the dressage phase. Helmuth kicked off the U.S. campaign with G.T.’s Finn, a 2016 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Famous V x Candace) owned by George and Kathryn Dickerson, and Magnum, his own 2017 KWPN gelding (Eebert x Cinola), earning a score of 56.00. Bradish followed with Checkmate, a 2006 gelding, and Maestro H, a 2017 KWPN stallion (Sir Arie x Germadora), both owned by Exell Holding BV, scoring 51.64 to keep the U.S. in the mix.
The standout performance came from Arnold, who posted a 39.83 in dressage with Ivor, a 2013 KWPN gelding (Crescendo x Uliena II) owned by Exell Holding BV, and Kenzo, his own KWPN gelding (Crescendo HBC x Zodancy M). His effort placed him third individually and boosted the U.S. to fourth in the team standings heading into the marathon phase.
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Arnold maintained his momentum in the marathon, earning second place with Kenzo and Barichello, a 2006 KWPN gelding (Veldheer x Rianne B) owned by Carlo Vermeulen, on a score of 100.65. Helmuth, driving Fernando, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Zeppelin Let’s x Rustina) owned by Sebastian Warneck, and Magnum, recorded a 115.40. Bradish rounded out the phase with Ferry Beauty, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Patijn x Tarola) owned by Misdee Wrigley Miller, and Maestro H, scoring 120.74. By the end of the marathon phase, the U.S. team sat fifth overall with a combined score of 307.52 heading into the cones competition.
On the final day, Helmuth opened with Fernando and Magnum, completing the competition with a final score of 185.50. Bradish followed with Ferry Beauty and Maestro H, adding 31.52 penalties in cones for a final score of 203.90. Anchoring the team, Arnold and his pair of Kenzo and Ivor added 20.51 penalties in cones, finishing inside the top ten individually—a milestone result for U.S. Driving, marking the best individual finish in the Horse Pairs division in over 20 years.
Together, the team’s collective performances secured 11th place overall for the United States at this year’s World Championship.
