DREW CALLAHAN - RESIDENT TRAINER

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Drew Callahan started competing in combined driving events more than 17 years ago. A majority of his driving and training career has been spent on the West Coast. To further his driving career, Drew has spent almost a year on the East Coast in 2002 during which he competed in several prestigious CDE competitions. Above Photo: Drew driving Robyn at Gladstone (photo by Jennifer Callahan).

Drew has a diverse background in the horse industry. Not only has he been heavily involved in the combined driving world, he also has been involved in other equestrian sports. Drew has shown horses in multiple disciplines, including dressage, the pleasure ring, and of course combined driving.

Above Photo: Drew riding Bacardi. (photo by Jennifer Callahan)

In his pursuit of an equestrian career, Drew has had the opportunity to work with some very talented trainers. Drew spent a year and a half training and riding dressage horses under the knowledge and guidance of Shirley Rector. Shirley is a respected dressage trainer, clinician, and judge. Shirley's credentials include a USDF gold medal, training several riders to their gold medals, being long-listed for the Pan Am Games, winning both the Grand Prix & Grand Prix Special at Devon and competing in European shows as well as winning multiple USDF Horse of the Year awards. Shirley's background and training include working with some of the world's greatest dressage trainers including being the first American student to train extensively with Johann Hinnemann and working with other European trainers such as George Theodorescu, Udo Lange & Christilot Boylen.

In addition, Drew has participated in dressage clinics with Brad Cutshall, who is a FEI rider, trainer & clinician over the last two years. Brad's background includes over 10 years of on-going training with world reknown trainer and rider Kyra Kyrklund. Drew continues his dressage education by coordinating & participating in on-going clinics with Brad. For additional information on Brad, his training philosophies, background, etc. please see our links page for details

Above Photo: Drew driving Terry Arnold's Friesian cross gelding Robyn.

Drew spent 10 months in 2002 working with driving trainer, clinician, and judge, Larry Poulin. During that 10 month period Drew was able to immerse himself in Larry's training program. Larry Poulin is a six-time national pair-driving champion. The training experience with Larry has proven itself invaluable. In addition, Drew participates in driving clinics to further his education including a clinic with Lisa Singer.

Drew recognizes the value in training and training correctly. In 2000 and 2001, Drew focused his energy on his training program, which he was able to capitalize on in 2002 when he and his Morgan, Export, were ready to compete in the most difficult division of a CDE, the Advanced division. Drew's first year in the Advanced division was extremely successful (see Competition Results page for details). Drew continued competed in the Advanced division with Export in 2003, including competing at the National Single's CDE Championship. Drew and Export were the 2003 Reserve National Combined Driving Singles champion, Export was also awarded the "Highest Placing Morgan Horse" of the National Championship show.

In 2004 Drew and Export continued their career by competing at the prestigious USEF National Championship show for a second year in a row. Having won the reserve champion title in 2003 Drew & Export spent most of 2004 preparing for the competition. The preparation paid off, Drew and Export successfully won the CDE and are the 2004 United States Equestrian Federation National Combined Driving Singles Champions.

Drew is currently accepting students and horses in training. Drew currently has and continues to accept both riding and driving students and horses in his program. In addition a lesson horse is available for riding and driving and students of all levels are welcome