Category Archives: Auctions

Chester Weber Pays It Forward (and Back!) When His WEG Winning Ribbon Is Returned to Him

Chester Weber donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fund raising event and donated the proceeds to the Humane Society. (Photo courtesy of My Elizabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (April 21, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, thought he was bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon when he donated the signed ribbon to a fund raising event. Weber considered it a “pay it forward” act, knowing that the proceeds from the ribbon were going to benefit the Humane Society of Marion County, Florida, in Weber’s hometown.

Weber said he felt content knowing his winning ribbon would be auctioned off on eBay and ultimately make a difference in the lives of the shelter animals. “I figured if the ribbon could raise money for a good cause, it would be much better than having it hang in my tack room,” he said.

What Weber didn’t expect, however, was for his ribbon to come back to him. While Weber’s attempts at “paying it forward” were acknowledged by fans everywhere, one fan took it a step further and bought the ribbon and returned it to Weber.

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Chester Weber Donates Signed Winning Ribbon from WEG to Raise Money for Humane Society

Chester Weber, here with teammates James Fairclough and Tucker Johnson, has donated his signed winning 2010 WEG ribbon to a fundraising event that will auction the ribbon on eBay and donate the proceeds to the Humane Society. The deadline for the auction is April 5th. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Bid on Ribbon on eBay through April 5

Ocala, FL (March 31, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion who has competed for the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, is bidding farewell to his 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Silver Medal ribbon. Weber has donated his signed winning WEG ribbon to a fund raising event that will auction the ribbon on eBay and donate the proceeds to the Humane Society of Marion Country, Florida.

Weber, who recently won the FEI Horse Team division at CAI Live Oak, said it’s not difficult to say goodbye to the ribbon when it benefits a worthwhile charity. “I’m a big supporter of animals and the Humane Society is a wonderful organization,” Weber said. “If the ribbon can help support what they do, then that’s much better than having the ribbon hanging on my wall.”

Weber’s Silver Medal ribbon is currently on eBay and bidding will continue through April 5th. Diane Charipar, of Ocala, Florida, is spearheading the fundraising event and is thrilled that Weber donated the ribbon. “A mutual friend told Chester about this venture and with incredible generosity he offered his signed WEG Four-In-Hand Team driving ribbon,” Charipar said, adding that she has sold thousands of ribbons on eBay and donated the money to the Humane Society.

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Chester Weber Donates Carriage Ride to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra Ball’s Live Auction and Bidding Is Expected to Be Fierce

Ocala native Chester Weber is donating a carriage ride to the live auction at the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Ball, Friday, April 8th at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. (Photo courtesy of Live Oak Combined Driving)

Ocala, FL (March 24, 2011) – Ocala residents love their native son Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, whose home base is Live Oak Stud in Ocala. Weber is known for his involvement in education and the arts in his hometown community and will be donating a carriage ride, pulled by his world-class combined driving team, to the live auction of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Ball, Friday, April 8th at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club.

“Chester’s generosity in donating this carriage ride is sincerely appreciated by the Ocala Orchestra Board of Directors and Membership. The carriage ride will be presented during our Live Auction program segment and is expected to bring some of the highest bidding of the evening,” said Cindy Van Heyde, Vice President of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

Van Heyde said she expects fierce competition as bidders battle to win the carriage ride with Weber, a local celebrity as well as the United States’ leading combined driver. “Many of the people who will be attending the Symphony Ball are familiar with the annual driving event that Chester hosts at Live Oak Stud every March, and they appreciate the beauty of the farm and the sport of combined driving. I fully expect a very competitive bidding environment,” she said.

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Darragh Kenny Leads the Fun & Games at Fete Cheval for The EQUUS Foundation

Fete Cheval winner Darragh Kenny riding Leia, with Visse Wedell, Clea Newman Soderlund, Jenny Belknap Kees, and Elizabeth Press. Photo By: Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – March 15, 2011 – This year’s Fete Cheval was a huge hit that featured fantastic riders performing games on rescue horses on Friday, March 11, 2011. The beautiful night, presented by Foundation Farm, benefitted The EQUUS Foundation, which helps equestrian and horse related charities across the United States. There was a beautiful dinner for guests, catered by White Horse Tavern Catering on the grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center at their Special Events Tent.

The evening’s events got underway at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction, which were followed by a dinner buffet. The main event, the Gymkhana Games, got underway at 8:00 p.m., with horses provided by Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue and a group of world class riders. This year’s riders included Max Amaya, Derek Braun, Nick Dello Joio, Sandy Ferrell, Patricia Griffith, Charlie Jayne, Darragh Kenny, Kate Oliver, Kim Prince, Havens Schatt, Louise Serio, Shane Sweetnam, Jimmy Torano, and McLain Ward. As part of the silent auction, guests could bid to become a guest rider, which went to junior rider Alex Crown. The judges for the night were Ralph Caristo and Leo Conroy, along with special guest judge Kim Jacobs, with emcee David Distler.

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Come Prepared to Ride at the Fete Cheval to Benefit The EQUUS Foundation

Rodrigo Pessoa at the 2010 Fete Cheval to benefit The EQUUS Foundation. Photo courtesy of The EQUUS Foundation.

WELLINGTON, FL – March 7, 2011 – It’s a sell out for dinner, but performance seating is still available for the Fete Cheval to benefit The EQUUS Foundation and presented by Foundation Farm, which will be held on Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. Performance seats are $100 per person and include an open bar and great entertainment!

One lucky winner of the Fete Cheval Rider Raffle will have the opportunity to ride with professional riders, Max Amaya, Pablo Barrios, Derek Braun, Molly Ashe Cawley, Nick Dellojoio, Mario Deslauriers, Hillary Dobbs, Sandy Ferrell, Brianne Goutal, Patricia Griffith, Charlie Jayne, Darragh Kenny, Laura Kraut, Kate Oliver, Rodrigo Pessoa, Kim Prince, Havens Schatt, Louise Serio, Shane Sweetnam, Jimmy Torano and McLain Ward. Raffle tickets at $100 per ticket will be on sale at the event. The winner must be a guest at the event, and wear appropriate riding attire for the games, including a riding helmet.

The International Club will be closed for the evening to focus all the festivities in the Special Events Tent, where, prior to the games, a cocktail reception, auction, and dinner will be held starting at 6:00 p.m.

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Houston Dressage Rider Buys “The Love of Her Life” at 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction

Nancy Kempe and her new Isabel stallion Cupido Interagro accept a custom made saddle from Cary Wallace of Custom Saddlery and his daughter Eva Wallace. (Photos courtesy of Darcy Scott)

Wellington, FL (February 28, 2011) – Almost 300 guests were in attendance at the 2011 Lusitano Collection International Horse Auction when dressage rider Nancy Kempe purchased her dream horse, a beautiful Lusitano Isabel stallion named Cupido Interagro, that she described as “the love of her life.” The four-year-old stallion with a sterling pedigree was the highest selling horse at the glamorous auction, and Kempe’s story touched the audience and rounded out an evening filled with festivities and splendor set amidst the backdrop of the beautiful Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

The audience applauded for Kempe, who lives in Houston, Texas, when she hugged her horse during a touching awards presentation following the auction. Kempe was the highest bidder of the evening and won a beautiful brand new dressage saddle from Custom Saddlery as a result. Kempe was also thrilled to learn that she had won a complimentary weekend getaway from the Ritz Carlton Residences of Singer Island for being the highest bidder, and that she would get the chance to be pampered in a luxurious setting right on the ocean.

Kempe was given the opportunity to address the audience and explained in her heartwarming tale that she has a lung condition which made it difficult for her to sit the trot on the warmblood she already owns. Her trainer recommended Kempe buy a Lusitano and Kempe flew to Florida three weekends in a row to view and ride the horses available in the Lusitano auction.

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