Tracy Bowman, left, and Jolie Wentworth with Taylamor Laurabelle. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
You may know Tracy Bowman as a top eventing trainer at Kismet Farms in Martinez, California. What you might not know is that Tracy also competes at the highest level of combined driving and has been selected to represent the U.S. at the 2018 FEI World Para-Driving Championships for Single Horses, which will take place Aug. 28-Sept. 2 in Kronenberg, Netherlands.
Tracy has enjoyed a slew of success with Taylamor Laurabelle, her 16-year-old Welsh Cob mare, and together they have racked up wins competing against able-bodied riders. Tracy and “Bella” most recently won the Advanced/Intermediate Single Pony division at Clay Station CDE this year, as well as the Advanced Single Pony division at Shady Oaks CDE division last year.
“Driving has given me the opportunity to get back into the ring as a competitor, and it is a very exciting sport,” Tracy said. “I am very fortunate to coach many incredible three-day eventing riders, and doing so has taken me to events all across the globe, but this trip will certainly be unlike any other if we are able to get the funds together in time.”
Jolie Wentworth, who Tracy coached to the CCI4* level with GoodKnight and Killian O’Connor, said she hopes the eventing community will support Tracy’s dream to represent her country on the world stage.
“Tracy is a very well-rounded horsewoman. What she has accomplished in her driving career is very impressive and if you have ever seen a driving competition, then you realize the magnitude of how difficult and thrilling of a sport it really is,” Jolie said.
“I hope our community can come together to help her achieve her goal of competing in the Netherlands, especially because she has helped so many top riders in equestrian sports achieve their dreams.”
Tracy and Bella have a specially designed custom carriage, and the cost to get them and their carriage to Europe and back will be about $30,000. An online auction is running through July 22 with all proceeds going to fund the trip to the FEI World Para-Driving Championships. Click here to bid. You can also make a tax-deductible donation through SCES.
You can watch Tracy and Bella in action at Clay Station CDE in the video below. We wish Tracy and Bella all the best as they gear up to make the trip to the Netherlands. You can follow along with their journey on Facebook. Go Combined Driving!
[Let’s Get Tracy to the World Championships! Online Auction]
