Tag Archives: Driving

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Lázar Takes Individual Honours, but Dutch Claim Nations Cup on Home Soil at Breda

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Zoltan Lázar (HUN) scored his first ever CAIO win when claiming victory at Breda in the Netherlands ahead of Werner Ulrich (SWI) and Mark Weusthof (NED). (Photo: Rinaldo de Craen)

6 September 2010 – Hungary’s Zoltan Lázar scored his first-ever international four-in-hand victory at a CAIO when winning at Breda, the Netherlands, ahead of Werner Ulrich (SWI) and the best Dutch driver at this prestigious competition, Mark Weusthof, but the Dutch team once again proved invincible, staying well ahead of Switzerland and Sweden throughout the Nations Cup competition.

Twenty-eight drivers from 10 nations started at the beautiful Prinsenhoeve Estate in Breda, an outstanding venue which boasts the only Dutch Nations Cup competition in the history of Dutch driving. Breda has also been host to a number of other equestrian events this year, such as the FEI World Para-Equestrian Driving Championships, Pony Driving Championships, international and national Eventing competitions as well as national Jumping and Dressage fixtures.

Other vehicles and equipment
Breda was the last outing for the top drivers before the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The carriages and other equipment of the Dutch, German and Swiss teams have already been shipped to Kentucky and most of the drivers therefore started with borrowed vehicles and harnesses. Drivers like Koos de Ronde and Theo Timmerman from the Netherlands competed with different horses in Breda to save their best horses for Kentucky.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, JRPR, Publications/Media

Chester Weber’s Jamaica Featured in “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” Book to Be Released in September

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Jamaica is being featured in a new book called “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” by Sharon Miner. Jamaica was rescued from a slaughterhouse before becoming part of Weber’s award-winning team. (Photo courtesy of BlueCentaur.com)

Ocala, FL (August 30, 2010) – Jamaica, Chester Weber’s award-winning combined driving horse who was rescued from a slaughterhouse in Belgium, captured the nation’s attention when he won the most prestigious horse title in the country and became the USEF Farnam Platform Horse of the Year. Now, Jamaica’s rags to riches story is being told in the book Beloved Horses in Second Careers (Infinity Publishing) which will be released in September.

Written by Sharon Miner, the book focuses on horses who started their career in one discipline and then went on to have rewarding second careers. Jamaica’s “second career” turned out to be an amazing one, as he famously became part of Weber’s record-breaking international Four-In-Hand Combined Driving team. Jamaica, now 19, was a member of seven of Weber’s National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving National Championship teams.

Continue reading Chester Weber’s Jamaica Featured in “Beloved Horses in Second Careers” Book to Be Released in September →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI, JRPR, World Equestrian Games

Chester Weber Captures Four-In-Hand Championship at Iron Horse CDE

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Chester Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, won the Four-In-Hand Championship at the Iron Horse Combined Driving Event at Sherwood Farms. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Thompson, DVM)

Caledonia, IL (August 5, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber is gearing up for the World Equestrian Games the best way he knows how: by competing in and winning the Four-In-Hand at the Iron Horse Combined Driving Event at Sherwood Farms, in Caledonia, Illinois. Despite an issue in the marathon phase, Team Weber captured the overall championship with 152.2 points followed by Josh Rector with 170.58 points.

Weber said his team’s success at Iron Horse did include some bad luck, which occurred on the marathon. “We strive for our personal best and this was an example of being dealt lemons and making lemonade,” Weber said. “In the first obstacle in the marathon, Para my left wheel horse, somehow got his left front leg over Reno’s trace. Reno is the left leader, in front of Para. Olof, one of the two navigators on the carriage, got down and quickly resolved the problem in 25 seconds. The horses were unharmed and we proceeded to win the next three hazards.”

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Singles Driving Championships 2010 – Final Day

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From left to right: Bartolomiej Kwiatek (POL)-silver, Thorsten Zarembowicz (GER)- gold and Cristiano Cividini (ITA) – bronze. (c) Hippoevent

DOUBLE GOLD FOR GERMAN SINGLE DRIVERS

Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 1 August 2010 – After a nerve-wracking obstacle driving competition at the FEI World Single Driving Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, Germany took home both individual and team gold. Thorsten Zarembowicz is the new World Champion. Poland’s Bartolomiej Kwiatek took the silver and Italy’s Cristiano Cividini won the bronze medal.

World Championship course designer Christian Iseli is known for his challenging obstacle driving courses, and at Pratoni he built another selective course, sticking to his motto ‘Not easy, but Iseli!’  The course, which was underestimated by most of the drivers, consisted of many sharp turns and the tight time frame made it difficult, but nevertheless do-able.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Singles Driving Championships 2010 – Marathon

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Lucie Musy-Comune (SUI) won the World Championship marathon at Pratoni del Vivaro (c) Hippoevent

SWISS DOMINANCE AND GIRL-POWER IN THE MARATHON

31 July 2010 – Perfect conditions created a wonderful environment for the marathon of the FEI World Single Driving Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. Undulating tracks on a green meadow and the obstacle site nicely embedded in the hilly landscape ensured great sport.

The eight obstacles built by Austria’s course designer Christian Iseli offered the competitors countless route options. Two of them included extra large water elements, built and flagged in a modern and horse friendly way.

Before the start of the World Championship, the possible hot weather conditions in the summer in Italy was much talked about, but it could not have been better today. Twenty-seven degrees Celsius was the highest temperature reached. The marathon was heavy, but fair and selective, absolutely ideal for World Championship competition.

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Singles Driving Championships 2010

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Thorsten Zarembowicz (GER) is the new Dressage World Champion in the Single Horse class. (c) Hippoevent

GERMANY LEADS AT WORLD SINGLE DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PRATONI

31 July 2010 – Germany’s Thorsten Zarembowicz has set a new standard in the Single Horse Driving scene by putting down a wonderful score of 35,20 penalty points and taking the lead at the FEI World Single Driving Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy. The German Team is leading the Nations Cup after the first phase of the combined driving competition.

After two days of dressage in which the best 72 Single Horse drivers in the world showed their skills, Thorsten Zarembowicz is the new man to beat in dressage. Zarembowicz bettered the score of the title defender Jan van den Broek from the Netherlands by over six penalty points. The 31-year-old manager of the driving stable of former World Champion Michael Freund drove a wonderful test with the 8-year-old Holsteiner mare Sunrise. His test thrilled both the spectators and the judges.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Equestrian Assistance, Events, JRPR

Chester Weber Teams Up with Charles Owen and SUCCEED in Support of Drivers4Helmets at Iron Horse CDE

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Combined Driving Chester Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is encouraging all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign as a spin off of SUCCEED’s riders4helmets campaign. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com)

Caledonia, IL (July 23, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber knows the importance of safety, which is why he and his team always wear their Charles Owen helmets during the marathon at a Combined Driving event. Weber, the reigning USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is stepping up to encourage all drivers to wear helmets in a Drivers4Helmets campaign which is a spin on SUCCEED’s riders4helmets campaign.

During the upcoming Iron Horse Combined Driving Event at Sherwood Farms, in Caledonia, Illinois, Weber will join forces with Charles Owen and SUCCEED, two of his Team Weber sponsors, to auction off a Charles Owen helmet certificate during the competitors’ party silent auction. While one lucky person will go home with a new Charles Owen helmet certificate, which could save his or her life, all of the money raised for the helmet during the silent auction will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

“I believe it is essential for drivers and their team to wear helmets during the marathon, and hope that the silent auction for the Charles Owen helmet will be a step in the right direction for all drivers committing to wearing helmets,” Weber said, adding that he will present the silent auction winner with the helmet certificate.

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Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Single Driving Championships Return to Pratoni

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70-year-old Jan van den Broek (NED) will defend his World title in Pratoni. (c) Hippoevent

The FEI World Single Driving Championships return to Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) from 28 July to 1 August. Pratoni hosted the Single Horse Driving Championships very successfully in 2006 and the Italian Equestrian Federation is now welcoming the competitors on their site for the sixth edition of these Championships.

It was just 12 years ago that the first official FEI Single Championships took place at Ebbs (AUT). The next Championship was due to take place in 2000 in Gladstone (USA), but was cancelled at the last minute because of the West Nile Virus. The Championship made a return to the FEI calendar in 2002 in the picturesque village of Conty (FRA), which organises an international driving event every year. Conty will also host the 2011 FEI World Pair Driving Championships.

As one of the world’s leading single driving nations, Sweden had the honour to host the 2004 World Single Championships, followed by Pratoni in 2006 and Jarantów (POL) in 2008.

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Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI

FEI World Cup Driving Qualification – Aachen

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Boyd Exell, winner of the CAIO Aachen 2010. (c) Rinaldo de Craen.

EXELL RETAINS AACHEN TITLE

17 July 2010 – Boyd Exell (AUS) today notched up his third individual victory at Aachen, the most prestigious international Four-in-Hand Driving competition, to add to his wins in 2003 and 2009. The Australian had a head start in the dressage and held onto his lead throughout.

Four times World Champion IJsbrand Chardon (NED) finished second, ahead of Christoph Sandmann (GER), and it was the Netherlands that won the Nations Cup ahead of hosts Germany, with Switzerland in third.

Changed format

The CAIO and World Cup Qualifying competition in Aachen was run in a different format. The Four-in-Hand drivers drove the regular dressage test on Thursday, followed by the obstacle driving competition on Friday. The marathon, broadcast live on television, was run as the final phase to bring the combined driving competition to a dramatic finish.

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American Shetland Pony Club Gearing Up for 122nd Shetland Congress Show August 2-6

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Photo courtesy of Washburn Photography

Free Admission – Family Fun in Ardmore, Oklahoma

Morton, IL (July 12, 2010) – Small equines and fans from throughout the nation are preparing to attend one of the biggest events in their industry. This year the 122nd Shetland Pony Congress Show will be held in Ardmore, Oklahoma on August 2-6th at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum. Participants will have the opportunity to compete in classes for driving, halter, jumping, youth, and costume. Competitors will be looking to win not only National Championship titles and show off their versatile ponies to the world!

The Shetland Pony Congress spectators can enjoy a diverse array of Shetland Pony classes. Admission is free to everyone at the show and spectators will have the chance to learn more about the American Shetland Ponies.

“We are excited to bring the American Shetland Ponies to Ardmore. Each time we come to a new show venue we are able to share our ponies with a new local audience. Since admission is free and classes run all day and into the evening, the Shetland Pony Congress is perfect entertainment for families, horse lovers and children of all ages,” says Johnny Robb, Director of Marketing for the American Shetland Pony Club.

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