Meet The Clinicians

Ben Simonsen:  A rider from the age of 7 and member of the Finnish national stadium jumping team throughout his teens, Ben has been training, riding and driving horses for nearly 40 years.

His involvement with, and passion for, Combined Driving took hold in 1994.  In 1995, he was invited to join Finland's national team, driving single and became National Champion in 1998. Ben is an accomplished pair driver as well, but an accident and serious injury to one of his horses in 2002 forced a return to driving singles.  In 2004, he won his first world title, as FEI Top Driver.

Ben emphasizes the value of early training in dressage as the foundation for driving.  He excels at the marathon but is most sought after for instruction in how to drive fast and clear in cones, a skill he attributes to his years in show jumping.

In his personal life, Ben and his family operate the largest organic farm in Finland, along with a boarding and training facility of some 60 horses, as well as breeding Finnish warmbloods.  In addition to participating in driving competitions, Ben is also an accredited international course designer (since 1997). 

Vivian Creigh:  Long-listed for a place on the US Equestrian Team for the 2005 World Driving Championship, Vivian began riding as a child, and competed through her teen years on the "A" circuit. In her thirties, she acquired her first two Fjord horses after taking time off for marriage and children.

Now working at the FEI level, Vivian has been driving for 17 years and won many national competitions. Her skills in the marathon are well-known. She was first at the Can Am last year, the Laurels in the fall, Black Prong and Live Oak.

For Vivian, Combined Driving is an equine endurance sport which brings together all the best aspects of horsemanship with so many things to take into account in each phase. She is committed to keeping up with every new development in technology and helping others who want to take up this exciting sport at events and through the clinics she gives at her farm in Vermont.

We are delighted that Vivian has agreed to come up, now and then, and give us some pointers on what she has learned in her many years on the CDE circuit.

Olaf Nyby:  Olaf Nyby is an advanced level driver and expert horseman who has competed nationally in combined driving with pairs.

Background:  Olaf has driven horses since he was a child, competitively and commercially, and trained all breeds of horses, including trotters, draft horses, Arabians, Lippizaners, Hackneys, Friesians, Fjords, warmbloods and ponies. In addition, he has traveled extensively in Europe, including stays at the Royal Mews in England, Sweden and Denmark.

Current Activities:  Today he operates his own stable where he trains driving, trotting and some western horses. At the same time, he makes and sells harness, importing Smuckers harness (US), Tarnjo (Sweden), Dobert whips (Germany), as well as English and Hungarian lamps. He is an authorized dealer for carriages from Tidaholm (Sweden), Mill Run (US) and Poland.

Olaf's Philosophy:  During his clinics, Olaf stresses his belief that a horse needs to work and that its training should match its mental and physical potential. His watchwords are education, discipline and the importance of respect and humility in working with horses. His philosphy is not to rush the horse or to force know-how. The objective is a relaxed horse, working on the bit.