Ocala, FL (September 16, 2010) – Chester Weber, the United States’ reigning National Four-In-Hand Combined Driver, turned up the intrigue on the exciting and challenging world of Combined Driving when he was interviewed on the radio show “Horsetalk With Heather” on September 14. Weber is part of the United States Combined Driving team that will compete at the upcoming 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky.
Radio show host Heather described Weber as a “Combined Driving legend and King of the Chariot,” while interviewing the Four-In-Hand Champion. Weber did his part to uphold that status earlier in the year when broke his own record by becoming the first driver to win the National Championship eight years in a row. With the goal of winning the National Championships behind him, Weber is now preparing for the wild ride of competing at the World Equestrian Games.
While on the radio show, Weber described Combined Driving as a “Ben Hur-like” ride, and not only described the work involved in preparing seven horses for competition but also talked through the three different phases in the competition, dressage, the marathon and cones, and the equipment needed for each phase.
“We have seven horses all fit and ready to go to WEG,” Weber said. “We are allowed to take five horses, but all seven recently took part in training sessions with our WEG teammates. My horses are home in Florida now and will have an easy week and then we will head to Paris, Kentucky, for our final training sessions with the coach. Then on October 4th we will move the horses onto the show grounds at WEG.”
Weber, who has competed in two previous World Equestrian Games for the United States, is looking forward to competing on home turf. “In terms of how I am hoping to finish at WEG, I am looking for my personal best. As for the US team I am impressed with what I have seen from my fellow drivers during the training camps and have high hopes,” Weber said.
Weber has spent years bringing the sport of Combined Driving into the limelight, and in 2008 he became the first American to win an Individual Medal at the Four-In-Hand World Driving Championships in Europe. Weber also gave the sport a giant boost in 2008 when he earned the prestigious title of USEF Equestrian of Honor and one of his equine teammates was named USEF Horse of the Year.
“There is a wonderful organization of people behind each and every competitor at WEG, and I couldn’t do any of this without my village of people, including my stable manager Olof Larsson, coach Michael Freund and my many sponsors. I am very appreciative of all their support,” Weber said.
WEG 2010 will take place September 25 – October 10 in Kentucky and will mark an historic event, as it will be the first time WEG has been held in the United States. For more information on WEG visit their website at www.alltechfeigames.com. For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com.
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Chester Weber