Tag Archives: Chester Weber

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

April 21, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

ChesterWEberWEG2010byMyWeber — 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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Time Is Running Out for You to Cast Your Charitable Vote for Combined Driver Chester Weber to Be Named America’s Favorite Equestrian

April 14, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

weberIMG_5668 — Chester Weber is still in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian. Vote now to have Weber advance in the competition. Each vote donates $5 to The EQUUS Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Live Oak Combined Driving)

Ocala, FL (April 14, 2011) – Fans of United States Combined Driver Chester Weber have the chance to keep voting for Weber by phone or online in order to keep him in the running for America’s Favorite Equestrian. Each vote costs $5 and 100% of the donations will be used to support horse and equestrian charitable causes across the country.

Weber, a member of the winning Silver Medal 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Combined Driving team and the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, has made it through the first round of America’s Favorite Equestrian. Weber was among eight drivers in the Driving category of America’s Favorite Equestrian, but as of March 31, the six drivers with the most votes continue on to Round 2.

The America’s Favorite Equestrian contest is an interactive fund raising effort presented jointly by partnership of The EQUUS Foundation and The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to raise funds to advance the equestrian sport on an annual basis. The contest started with eight equestrians from each discipline: jumping, driving, dressage, eventing, reining, vaulting, endurance, and para-equestrian.

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Jamaica Retires – Breyer Event Honors Chester Weber’s Famous Equine Teammate Jamaica

April 7, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

weberIMG_1897 — Chester Weber is presented with Jamaica’s embroidered cooler during the Live Oak International CDE. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Ocala, FL (April 6, 2011) – Jamaica, Chester Weber’s famous combined driving equine teammate, will go down in history as an award winning horse known for his tale of being rescued from a slaughterhouse before going on to compete with Weber in international events, driving away with numerous USEF National Championships and earning the most prestigious title in the country when he was named the USEF Farnam Platform Horse of the Year. Jamaica’s story, from near oblivion in Belgium to a world of travel and fame, captivated combined driving and equestrian fans across the world. This year a new chapter in the horse’s life began as Weber retired the bay gelding with the quirky attitude. Jamaica will spend the rest of his life grazing on the verdant rolling hills of Weber’s Live Oak Stud as a retired star and champion for rescue horses everywhere. Jamaica’s official retirement from competition was announced at the Live Oak International Combined Driving Event in late March.

A week later, Breyer, Makers of the World’s Finest Model Horses, recently honored Jamaica with a retirement ceremony at Live Oak. A Breyer portrait model of Jamaica was released during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games when Breyer created a number of Traditional Series portrait models of key competitors from various disciplines.

The Breyer retirement party for Jamaica, who recently turned 20, was a star-studded affair that featured 200 “Committed Collectors” who were invited to share an experience that only Breyer could organize. “The 200 fans really enjoyed themselves. They were able to meet Jamaica and take a tour of the farm. Jamaica enjoyed the attention and showing off his new Draper Equine Therapy blanket which was embroidered and presented by Breyer,” Weber said, adding that Jamaica had developed quite a fan following over the years.

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

April 1, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

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 Proves Unstoppable with Another FEI Horse Team Win at Live Oak International Combined Driving Event

March 30, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

ChesterLiveOak2011Marathon — Combined Driver Chester Weber proved unstoppable at CAI Live Oak, when he won the FEI Horse Team Division for the ninth year in a row. (Photo courtesy of My Elisabeth Weber)

Ocala, FL (March 30, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, proved to be an unstoppable force at the CAI Live Oak International Combined Driving event when he drove away as the winner of the FEI Horse Team division. Live Oak International is considered to be one of the premiere Combined Driving events in North America and each year the show attracts an array of world-class competition.

Weber, who has added two new equine members to his team with Jane Forbes Clark’s horses, Uniek and Splash, was pleased with the Live Oak win. “My team went well and were technically easy to drive,” Weber said, adding that it felt great to win nine years in a row at Live Oak. “The two new additions from Jane have proven to be very helpful and have not only added to our depth but have moved our program forward.”

Weber, who is from Ocala and is based out of Live Oak Plantation, first drove into the winner’s circle in March with the new team when he won the FEI Four-In-Hand Division at Little Everglades, a USEF Selection Trial. During Live Oak, Weber competed Rolex W, Uniek, Splash and Para in the dressage phase for a score of 37.63 and followed up with Uniek, Reno, Para and Splash in the marathon and cones, with no penalties and a time of 2:55.63 in the cones.

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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

March 24, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

cheto3 — 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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Chester Weber Wins FEI Four-In-Hand Division at The Little Everglades International Combined Driving Event

March 7, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

ChesterLittleEvergladesCourse2011 — Chester Weber, with the new additions of Uniek and Splash, won the FEI Four-In-Hand Division at The Little Everglades International Combined Driving Event, a USEF Selection Trial. (Photo courtesy of Pics of You)

Dade City, FL (March 7, 2011) – Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, proved during The Little Everglades International Combined Driving Event that he could add new horses to his team and still drive into the winner’s circle. Weber, with the new addition of Jane Forbes Clark’s horses, Uniek and Splash, won the FEI Four-In-Hand Division at Little Everglades, a USEF Selection Trial.

“I was pleased with Uniek and Splash and feel that they have made great additions to our depth,” Weber said, following his win at Little Everglades. “I will continue to show them in an effort to learn about them at competitions and how they react.”

Weber added that competing at Little Everglades was a great experience. “The Blanchard’s, owners of Little Everglades Ranch, and Susan Gilliland and her team did a super job organizing the show,” Weber said. “The course was considerably technical in nature and the two new horses were great on the marathon, very straight forward and easy to drive.”

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Award-Winning Combined Driver Chester Weber Appears on HRTV Show Filmed at Live Oak Stud

February 21, 2011 Associate Editor 1 Comment

weber4horsehitchFILE — Combined Driver Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF Combined Driving National Champion, will appear on an HRTV show filmed on location at Live Oak Stud, Weber’s home, in Ocala. (Photo courtesy of Ray Jowers Ocala Digital Art Masters and Camera Club)

Ocala, FL (February 21, 2011) – Television crews and cameras descended on the rolling hills of Live Oak Stud in Ocala recently, to not only film a show about the farms success in the race horse world but to also interview Combined Driver Chester Weber and capture footage of his famous equine teammate Jamaica. While the show will chronicle the success of Weber’s mother, Charlotte Weber, the owner of Live Oak Stud who has solely guided the 4,500-acre Thoroughbred farm for the last four decades, it will also touch on Weber and his achievements in the combined driving world.

Raised on the family’s Thoroughbred operation, Live Oak Stud, Weber dreamed of being a jockey when he was young. At 6’2” he physically outgrew that possibility, so Weber turned his heart and his attention to driving. Weber soon discovered that driving brought out his competitive nature and he fell in love with the speed and challenge of combined driving.

Considered a force to be reckoned with in the Combined Driving world, Weber is the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Champion. He has competed in three World Equestrian Games, was the first American to win the prestigious German Fahrderby at Riesenbeck and he also accomplished what no other American had done before when he won the Individual Silver Medal at the 2008 World Driving Championships.

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Combined Driver Chester Weber Adds a “Unique Splash” to His Driving Team

February 15, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

weberFellowship-20110212-00011 — Two new faces welcomed at Live Oak Combined Driving. Splash (left) and Uniek (right) are now part of eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, Chester Weber’s Team. (Photo courtesy of Live Oak Combined Driving)

Ocala, FL (February 15, 2011) – As the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, Chester Weber has made history with his team of horses. Now, the highly-successful and decorated driver is adding two new equine teammates to his barn with the goal of increasing the depth and talent of his world-class combined driving team.

Uniek (pronounced unique and called Nick around the barn) and Splash, two bay, 16.2-hand KWPN horses bred in Holland, are now part of Team Weber thanks to the generosity of Jane Forbes Clark, an active supporter of high performance equestrian sports as well as President and CEO of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation. “Following the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Jane and I had a long conversation with the U.S. team coach, Michael Freund, and we identified Nick and Splash as two of the most talented horses in the sport,” Weber said. “We were lucky enough that they seem to fit with the group we have going in size and color. Jane had previously leased the horses but when we made the decision to move forward she purchased them.”

Nick and Splash bring international experience to the table, a component that benefits Team Weber. “With these new horses added to my existing team, our goals for 2011 are to prepare ourselves for the 2012 World Championships in Riesenbeck and to continue to insure our preparedness for the 2014 World Equestrian Games in France,” Weber said. “It would also be nice to win a ninth USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Championship.”

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Champion Combined Driver Chester Weber Named to USET Foundation Board of Trustees

February 10, 2011 Associate Editor Leave a comment

Ocala, FL (February 9, 2011) – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF Foundation National Four-In-Hand Driving Champion, has been named to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation (USET) Board of Trustees. The USET Foundation supports equestrian athletes, promotes international excellence and builds for the future of equestrian sports.

The eight High Performance equestrian disciplines supported by the USET Foundation are dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, reining, para-equestrian and vaulting. As one of the leading drivers in the United States, Weber’s experience — as well as his passion for promoting his sport — will serve as a benefit to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees.

“Chester and our other Trustees are people that have shown their leadership with the United States Equestrian Team through their involvement as ambassadors in International High Performance activities, and for their charitable support of our United States Equestrian Teams,” said Bonnie Jenkins, Executive Director of the USET Foundation. “We expect that Chester will continue to help us achieve our mission of supporting athletes, promoting international excellence and building for the future.”

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