Tag Archives: Little Everglades CDE

Chester Weber Reigns at 2016 Little Everglades CDE

Photo courtesy of Pics Of You.

Dade City, FL (February 3, 2016) – The 12-time Four-in-Hand U.S. National Champion and three-time World Equestrian Games Silver medalist, Chester Weber, opened his 2016 competition season with a win this past weekend at the Little Everglades Ranch CAI 2* combined driving event in Dade City, Florida. The competition saw substantial rainfall for an additional factor to the CAI 2* competition, which served as a Selection Trial for the Four-in-Hand drivers setting their sights on the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships.

Leading right from the start, Weber with his and Jane Clark’s team of KWPN geldings dominated their Four-in-Hand division in all phases despite the inundating weather conditions. “My team did a super job, especially in the torrential downpour,” Weber commended.

Weber received a 43.57 in dressage, 101.27 penalty points in marathon, and closed strong in cones with 4.80 time penalty points to finish with a final score of 149.64.

Not only was the win a victory for seasoned veteran charges Ultra, Para, Senate and Danzer, but it was also a special conquest for new rising star on the Team Weber roster, Amadeus. The 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Talos) has been praised as an “all-around wheeler” who contributed to multiple driving achievements by Hungarian driver Jozsef Dobrovitz.

“I have only had him for two and a half weeks now, and I think he is going to make a terrific dressage horse,” Weber praised with great hopes for the horse’s future career. “He is very true and has a lot of potential.”

Weber also praised Danzer’s performance, stating, “I am also super pleased with Danzer; he has really come a long way.” Danzer was added to the prestigious line up during the first competition of 2015 at Florida Horse Park’s Kingdom of the Sun CDE, where he contributed to the team’s champion placing both in the wheel in dressage, and in the lead for marathon and cones. The prospect then went on to secure his spot in the victory gallop throughout Weber’s summer competing across Europe, and finished his introductory season contributing Weber’s historic twelfth USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship at the Kentucky Classic CAI 2*.

Now Team Weber has its sights set on the 2016 Four-in-Hand National Championships held February 24-28 at this home base of Live Oak International in Ocala, Florida. This year marks Live Oak International’s 25th year as one of the largest combined driving events in the country that attracts the best drivers, trainers, coaches and owners from around the world. The event combines show jumping and combined driving on the pastoral grounds of Live Oak Plantation, a 5,000-acre thoroughbred breeding farm, and home of Team Weber.

Team up with Team Weber throughout Florida competitions as they drive to qualify for the 2016 World Four-in-Hand Championships in Breda this summer. Follow news, live posts, video and photo galleries, and preferred product reviews at www.chesterweber.com.

For more information, contact:
Chester Weber
chester@chesterweber.com
1-352-895-1139

Hamilton and Weber Earn Top Honors in Selection Trials Divisions at Little Everglades CDE

Nifty Hamilton (Picsofyou.com)

Lexington, Ky. – The top drivers in the country kicked off the 2016 season this weekend at the Little Everglades CDE in Dade City, Fla. The CAI2* divisions served as Selection Trials for Four-in-Hand and Single Horse drivers aiming for the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships. Nifty Hamilton climbed the leaderboard to win the CAI2*-H1 division, while Chester Weber led from start to finish to win the CAI2*-H4 division.

Hamilton (Alva, Fla.) had a solid dressage test with Makari Design in the horse’s FEI debut, receiving a score of 59.47 to put her in fifth place. She and the 2008 KWPN gelding, owned by her and Milton Hamilton, won the marathon phase with a fantastic performance, adding 76.76 penalties to their score to move in to second place on the leaderboard. Another winning performance in the cones phase with just 1.33 time penalties clinched the CAI2*-H1 win for Hamilton on a final score of 137.56.

“We are really, really proud of him; we have been taking the time to bring him up through levels,” Hamilton said. “For dressage, the weather was terrible and ring was very soggy, but we got through. The marathon was really smooth and flowing, and the hazards were terrific. We won the phase, which was surprising, but great. For cones, we ended up winning with just some time. He is a fun horse and tries really hard, so it was a really fun and exciting weekend.”

Sterling Graburn (Paris, Ky.) and Mannkato, his and Laura Corsentino’s 2001 Dutch Harness gelding, finished in second place with a final score of 138.79, while Leslie Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) and Uminco, her 2001 Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding, were third with a score of 150.24.

Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com)
Chester Weber (Picsofyou.com)

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his and Jane Clark’s KWPN geldings had a dominating performance in the CAI2*-H4 division, winning all phases of the competition. They delivered their signature expressive test in the dressage phase to receive a score of 43.57. Weber and his team had a strong marathon phase, adding 101.27 penalties to their score. They clinched the win in the cones phase after collecting 4.80 time penalties to finish with a final score of 149.64.

“I was really pleased with the horses,” Weber said. “We had horses that hadn’t competed as a group before for the dressage phase. The weather was unfortunate with torrential downpours, but they did well. Marathon day was beautiful. We added Amadeus, a new horse from the Hungarian team at last year’s European Championship, in the right lead, giving us some added depth for things to come this year. We finished well in the cones phase with some time penalties for a great weekend overall.”

Allison Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) and Willow Star LLC’s team finished in second place with a score of 171.89.

View complete results.

By Kathleen Landwehr