A four-in-hand team of black Morgan geldings, owned by Alan and Maureen Aulson, are one step closer to their bid of making team to represent the United States at the World Equestrian Games (WEG), a first in the Morgan breed.

The combined driving four-in-hand team of Nordby Coalie's Duke, Nordby Coalie's Coal Dust, and the full brothers Nordby Shadow's Sam Spade and Nordby Shadow's Rocky have put in solid performances at three driving events in Florida this year, which were all selection trials for WEG. The team is driven by David Saunders. At the first competition of the year, Little Everglades International, Saunders finished in fourth place and was the third-place American. At the Sunshine State Combined Driving Event in February, he was third overall, and at the Live Oak International in March, he was fifth overall, out of 14 competitors. Currently, the team is sixth in the four-in-hand rankings, dated March 30. The World Equestrian Games will take place in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 25-Oct. 10 and is the first time they will be held in the United States.

Just got word from David, two of his horses didn't pass the vet. Very bad luck indeed, David was very suprised and saddened, however they're going to hang around and cheer everyone else on.

:O oh no. why didnt they pass??

Still not sure why, WEG panel found them unfit to drive, which is a fitness thing, not medical or lameness.

U.S. driver David Saunders had to withdraw Wednesday from the combined driving competition after two of his five Morgan horses failed to pass the pre-competition vet inspection.

Because two horses were ruled out by the ground jury, Saunders, who was competing as an individual, did not have the necessary number for a four-in-hand team.

U.S. chef d'equipe, or team manager, Ed Young said afterward the inspection results were a shock because U.S. team vets had deemed the horses fit.

"Very disappointing," Young said. "It was a complete surprise to us. We were baffled."