The 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies ended on a high note and under sunny skies in Le Pin au Haras, France for the 89 drivers from 19 countries. Throughout the day, the competitors and their entourages lived to the rhythm of the cones test, the final step counting towards the overall ranking. Between tension, disappointment, but also immense satisfaction, the atmosphere was simply incredible, with applause and cheers from the supporters.
Australian Janelle Marshall finished 15th from 40 competitors in the FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Singles after a terrific final cones phase on Sunday, where she added just 0.15 of a penalty to her score to finish the championship on a total of 150.47.
Partnered with Jacqueline Kane’s 15-year-old Welsh mare Halcyonia Mistletoe, Janelle shone on the world stage and bettered her 23rd placing with Erresistible from the 2023 edition of the championship.
A win for Tobias Bücker
The FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Singles was ultimately won by Germany’s Tobias Bücker. Leading after a controlled marathon, Vera Bütikofer of Switzerand was unable to avoid a penalty in the cone test with her pony Mc Queen. She was only one point ahead, and a penalty meant three more points on the scoreboard. This was just enough to hand the individual gold medal to her pursuer Tobias Bücker.
Fifty-year-old Tobias, originally from Westphalia, runs Bücker Trailer, a company specialising in the manufacture of horse trailers, with his two brothers and his father. Introduced to carriage driving by his father Bernhard, Tobias has one of the most impressive track records in the world of pony driving. Previously a four-pony driver, he was individual world champion in 2009, team silver medallist in 2013 and 2015, and individual bronze medallist in 2013. After retiring from international competition at the end of 2017, he returned to driving in 2021. Winner of two international competitions in 2024, he prepared for these championships in a single event last April. This is therefore his first title in this category.
FINAL RANKING: FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Singles
GOLD Tobias Bücker (GER) / 136.53 pts
SILVER Vera Bütikofer (SUI) / 137.50 pts
BRONZE Sebastien Pallen (BEL) / 138.39 pts
FINAL RANKING: FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Pairs
GOLD Rodinde Rutjens (NED) / 137.43 pts
SILVER Maria Buchwald (DEN) / 137.74 pts
BRONZE Anna Grayston (GBR) / 143.89 pts
FINAL RANKING: FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Four-In-Hand
GOLD Marijke Hammink (NED) / 137.56 pts
SILVER Steffen Brauchle (GER) / 138.74 pts
BRONZE Yannik Scherrer (SUI) / 145.27 pts
TEAM RANKING
GOLD Netherlands / 414.83 pts
SILVER Germany / 415.94 pts
BRONZE Belgium 429.09 pts
Full results from the FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies can be found here.
