In September, Breda Hippique in The Netherlands will be host to the seventh edition of the FEI European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand, not held since 1981. This edition is open to both European and non-European drivers and will also count as a qualifier for the indoor FEI World Cup™ Driving, which is held during the winter season. Only competitors from Europe can claim the individual and team medals.

The FEI European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand were first held in 1971 in Budapest and continued to be held every two years until 1981 at which stage they were discontinued.

 The Individuals and Team Results as well as the names of the new 2011 Champions are available below:

SOMETHING IN THE WATER...
Hungary has won five out of six available team European titles, and on the individual front, two Hungarians stand out from the crowd: Imre Abony – individual winner in 1971 and 1975 and Györgyi Bardos, triple consecutive winner in 1977, 1979, 1981.

IN THE BEGINNING...
The first European Championships took place in Budapest in 1971 and moved on to Windsor in Great Britain in 1973, Sopot in Poland in 1975, Donaueschingen in Germany in 1977 and in Haras du Pin in France in 1979. The sixth and last edition took place in 1981 in Zug, Switzerland.

THE VENUE
Breda has hosted the only Nations competition (CAIO) for Four-in-Hand horses in The Netherlands for many years. In 1995, Breda hosted the first FEI European Driving Championships for Four-in-Hand ponies and in 2010 was host to the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships. Aside from the four-in-hand teams, Breda will also host international pony teams and national horse pairs at the event this year.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT ...
Hungary has won five out of six team gold titles.
Auguste Dubey from Switzerland was the only non-Hungarian European Champion, he won the Championships in 1973.