Affectionately known as "Tommy", Winding Oaks Tom Foolery and his full brother Tanner captured the 2017 US Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pair Pony Combined Driving National Championship by winning the FEI Pony Pair CAI2* at Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida, in March.
It was the second consecutive year in which Tommy was part of a USEF Pair Pony Combined Driving National Championship team, following the title he and Tanner earned when they won the FEI Pony Pair CAI2* at the Kentucky Classic CDE in 2016.
In 2017, he was part of the winning pair at the FEI Pony Pair CAI2* at the Palm Tree CDE at Little Everglades and at the Kentucky Classic CDE; took the Advanced Pair Pony division at the Southern Pines CDE; and capped his season by representing the United States at the 2017 Pony World Championships finishing 9th in the pair pony division.
Tommy is more than a superior combined driving athlete. He's also a top-flight carriage pleasure driving competitor, taking home championship or reserve championship honors in US Equestrian's Horse of the Year awards in the Pair, Tandem, and Single Pony pleasure divisions several years running.
His show ring exploits also included winning the single pony championship at the American Driving Society's Grand Oaks Classic Pleasure Driving Show in Ocala, Florida, and the pair pony championship at the Carriage Association of America Carriage Festival in Lexington, Kentucky.
Katie Whaley began her involvement with horses at the age of three and began driving competitively at the age of 11. She earned numerous top results at prestigious competitions, with six USEF Combined Driving National Championship titles, including two pair horse, two pair pony, and two four-in-hand pony titles.
In addition to her national success, Whaley represented the U.S. at FEI World Driving Championships for Ponies in 2003, 2005, 2009, and 2013. She competed with a pair of ponies and a four-in-hand of ponies at the world championships, something only a handful of drivers have accomplished.
Aside from all the time that Whaley dedicates to competition, she serves on the US Equestrian Athletes' Advisory Committee, Carriage Pleasure Driving Committee, Driving Sport Committee, Hearing Committee, and the Licensed Officials Committee, and is a professional hat maker.
Named a National Horse of Honor in 2017 by US Equestrian, Tommy, guided by the able hands of Whaley, prove that it's the team that makes for great success.
"Very few ponies or horses have the brain or the talent to do both combined driving and carriage driving, but Tommy is one of the exceptions," said owner Katie Whaley.
