Meet The GB POD TRAINING TEAM

Julie began her carriage driving career in 1993 after moving over from eventing and has since become a respected figure in the sport. She has represented Great Britain in five Combined Pony World Championships and has been involved with the GB Para Driving Squad since 2016, where she now proudly serves as Chef d’Equipe for Team GB. Passionate about inclusivity and opportunity, Julie is dedicated to integrating drivers with disabilities into mainstream competition. Alongside her role running the GB POD Training Group, which specialises in developing both drivers and equines in the art of sports driving, she is also the CDSGdd Para Liaison Officer. Julie is always on the lookout for emerging driving talent and is deeply committed to ensuring that drivers at all levels have access to high-quality training and the chance to reach their full potential. She owns three experienced schoolmaster driving ponies who have played a key role in helping POD and Para drivers build confidence and refine their skills.

Robert has an exceptional ability to assess equines, quickly identifying their potential and creating tailored training pathways to help them reach it. He is passionate about developing a secure foundation of training that allows both horses and drivers to progress confidently towards advanced levels. His approach focuses on stabilising partnerships, building trust and balance before developing through each stage of the training pathway. Robert trained Team GB for the 2005 and 2007 World Championships alongside Boyd Exell, and has since gone on to train the British Para Squad and Team at the last two World Championships, achieving bronze medals at both. He has prepared ponies and horses to compete successfully from Novice to Advanced level across carriage driving, eventing, and dressage, and has produced ponies for Julie Camm, competing with them successfully throughout Europe. Robert is also passionate about supporting drivers at competitions, whether they are taking part in their very first event or representing their country at International or World Championship level. Specialising in the classical and correct way of going, Robert is dedicated to developing harmony, balance, and performance in every equine he trains.

Maria Lawrence- Mills is a dedicated horse trainer with a lifelong passion for developing young horses and helping every horse reach its full potential. Having grown up surrounded by horses, she brings a wealth of hands-on experience alongside a strong classical foundation in training and horsemanship.Maria has competed up to Advanced level in British Dressage and takes particular pride in improving suppleness, rideability, and confidence in the horses she works with. Her sympathetic and progressive approach focuses on building correct foundations that allow horses to thrive both in training and in competition.Alongside dressage, Maria has evented as part of Under 18 Youth Teams and successfully took the wonderful Matt around Badminton Grassroots — a highlight of her competitive career.Maria enjoys working with all types of horses and ponies, from young prospects starting their education to established horses needing further development, always aiming to bring out the very best in each individual.

Lucy has been part of GB POD Training Group since its inception in 2019 and is now a highly valued member of the training team. She first joined the POD as a novice driver and, with the support and guidance of the POD community, progressed rapidly through the levels to Advanced, winning both the Open and Advanced Single Pony National Championships. She grew up riding ponies and competing with her local Pony Club, representing them in both Mounted Games and Show Jumping teams. At 15, she discovered her passion for Scurry Driving and has been driving ever since. Her main pony, Maestro, a talented Welsh Section C, has taken her to two Pony World Championships, where they achieved an impressive 10th place overall at Le Pin Haras last September, including one of the fastest times in the second water obstacle. Lucy also enjoys driving a pony pair, combining Denny, her other Section C, with her sister’s pony Bryn. During the winter months, when the driving ponies have a well-earned rest, she competes her Welsh Section D, Big M, in Show Jumping and Arena Eventing. As one of GB POD’s main trainers, Lucy brings a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and empathy to every session. She is also a highly experienced backstepper, offering excellent guidance and helping drivers build confidence on the marathon. Passionate about helping both drivers and ponies reach their full potential, Lucy’s aim is for everyone to have fun while learning and improving their ponies’ way of going, setting and achieving goals, no matter how big or small.

Averina represented GB at three world championships with her pony pair. She has recently given up competing to become more involved in logistics and running of the sport to facilitate equal opportunities for broader participation. She is a Chartered Accountant and held senior Finance and Risk positions in an international bank. Her experience includes operational risk, Board governance and industry technical committees. So, it is no surprise that she is interested in how our sport is run. She says reading Rule books is an excellent antidote to insomnia and, being a poor sleeper, she has read them many times. Her motto is “You don’t have to know everything; you just have to know where to find the answer” If you have a question about any aspect of the sport Averina is happy to try and find a solution.

Chris has been carriage driving for more years than she cares to remember, competing successfully in Private Driving, Attelage, and Driving Trials. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience working with singles, pairs, and four-in-hand, developing a deep understanding of the skills and precision each combination requires. As an LHHI and UKCC Level 2 Coach, Chris’s aim is to promote confidence and knowledge, helping drivers at all levels achieve their personal goals. She is also the team’s expert in harness fitting, ensuring comfort, safety, and performance for both horses and drivers. Chris has been involved with coaching and supporting drivers with disabilities and the Para Squad for many years, bringing her expertise and encouragement to help every driver reach their potential. She is passionate about supporting traditional turnouts and rein handling, keeping the art and elegance of carriage driving alive.

Giselle was one of the first drivers to become a member of GB POD when it launched. Having attended a training day at the Unicorn Centre she was smitten and inspired by the GB POD approach, philosophy and enthusiasm to develop drivers and equines.

She has owned horses and ponies for most of her life and had the privilege of exercising the Cavalry Black horses when they were sent to Germany for rest and recuperation.

 Her driving experience is with singles and pairs including BDS show classes, indoor and outdoor driving trials. She is also Chair of the Carriage Driving Sports Group (Drivers with Disabilities) as well as being an RDA carriage driving coach.

 Giselle is also a UKCC Level 2 carriage driving coach, an RDA Driving Coach, a qualified Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner and a Master Practitioner in Linguistic Programming and runs a small coaching practice.

Deborah Daniel is a retired police officer and has been a paraplegic for 28 years. Deborah started carriage driving when she was a paraplegic and wheelchair dependent some 19 years ago. She started with the RDA and with her RDA group attended CDSG-dd training clinics; for which she is now a Trustee. She did lots of fun things with the RDA but decided she wanted to do outdoor Carriage Driving Trials. Deborah has represented GB a record "7" times as part of the British Para Team at the FEI Para World Championships. Debs retired from competitive driving at her 7th and final World Championship, in 2025, already having attained her FEI Gold Badge of Honour in 2023..She has been the Para National Champion a number of times and also competed in able bodied competitions Nationally up to the highest possible level, Advanced Single Pony. She absolutely puts this achievement down to her training with GB POD Training Group and the unwavering support it gave her.Debs has been a member of the GB POD Training Group since its inception and was already working with Robert Buck as her dedicated trainer. Deborah is available to any member of the POD Training Group to help with any aspect of driving, whether that be advice through her experiences, adaptations to carriages, seats, etc. Debs has helped POD members in the past with their Competition Performance Management; in particular novices and those entering competions for the first time at grass roots level. 

Debs is passionate about carriage driving and supporting drivers with disabilities, as well as drivers at grassroots level, she aims to help make people feel comfortable, relaxed, secure and happy so that they can enjoy their driving just as much as she does, whatever limitations or ambitions they may have. "It's all about loving our horses and ponies, enjoying ourselves and having fun." 

Click here for Horse Welfare Policy 

I have always loved my job. I qualified as a vet a ( really scary) 40 years ago and ran my own practice doing equine work for most of that time. Since I sold my practice 10 years ago , I’ve been doing locums, which gives me freedom to pursue my hobbies, mostly carriage driving! Starting in carriage driving was really by accident about 20 years ago when we lost both our ridden hunters and I was left with a home bred pony, Flash ,who didn’t grow big enough to ride, but I was so lucky that he developed into the most fabulous fun driving pony. We learned together and we had many laughs. He even made it to the BC promotional banner! Driving folk soon discovered I was a horse vet and I gradually got involved and invited to do FEI and GB team work. I’ve had lots of exciting times working at competitions and have been going to be team vet at world championships since 2012, and I’m a Ukcc level 2 coach.I consider myself very fortunate to be involved in our amazing sport, and with the development of training schemes I’m proud to think I can contribute more. As well as carriage driving I cycle, trek, keep fit, ski and mountaineer , so I take the “athlete” bit quite seriously! Looking forward to carriage driving season 25 and beyond. 

I am delighted to have been appointed to this Safeguarding Lead within   GB Pod Limited.
After qualifying as a lawyer, I spent 25 years in legal practice before moving into the housing sector,
where I am now CEO of a Housing Association. My role includes responsibility for policy
development, governance, safeguarding, and complaints handling, giving me extensive experience in
dealing with concerns fairly, impartially, and constructively.
Away from work, I compete in carriage driving at Open level with my wonderfully obliging—and very
white—pair of Welsh Cross brothers, who keep me both humble and smiling.
I am passionate about the sport and look forward to supporting the group by helping ensure that
complaints are handled with fairness, respect, and integrity.

Click here for Safeguarding policy