Ocala, FL (March 13, 2012) – Combined Driver Chester Weber, the eight-time United States National Four-In-Hand Champion, has been named to the Board of Directors at the Florida Horse Park Foundation, located in Ocala, Florida. Weber, a favorite son of his hometown of Ocala, is one of America’s most decorated Combined Drivers as well as a strong supporter of the equestrian community.

Weber’s extensive resume continues to grow each year, and Weber and his award-winning team of horses kicked off 2012 by driving into the winner’s circle at the Sunshine State CDE, which took place at the Florida Horse Park. He followed Sunshine State with a victory at the 2012 Little Everglades CDE, taking the FEI Four-in-Hand Division with a spectacular dressage test. Weber also had a great deal to celebrate in 2011 as the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) named him a 2011 Equestrian of Honor and he was also the recipient of the Becky Grand Hart Trophy. He was named the 2011 Driving Horseman of the Year in The Chronicle of the Horse Magazine’s annual American Horses In Sport issue. Weber’s successful 2011 included a European tour that kept him in the winner’s circle, with wins at CAIO Veces, CAI Altenfelden and CAIO Riesenbeck. “We had our best results ever at Aachen, it was truly a memorable summer,” Weber said.

Weber, who said he is honored to be part of the Florida Horse Park Foundation Board of Directors, is no stranger to serving the equestrian community. He served as Chef d’Equipe to the United States Pony and Pony Pairs teams at the 2011 World Pony Driving Championships, and has served on the USEF Board of Directors, the High Performance Driving Committee and the Driving Safety Committee. He also served as Chairman for the Active Athlete’s Committee and the Dressage Search Committee.

“I am very pleased to join the Board of Directors at the Florida Horse Park Foundation,” Weber said. “I am passionate about the sport of combined driving but my desire is to see all equestrian disciplines excel.  I am excited to be a part of the park’s growth.” The Florida Horse Park is the winter training grounds for the United States Eventing Association, and there are major plans in the works to expand in the future.

Weber now has his sights set on the 2012 World Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany, and the CAI Live Oak International, March 22-25 in Ocala. “This year marks Live Oak’s 20th year of competition. While I am proud of the event that we have created, I am also proud that Live Oak provides a service to the community as the proceeds from the event will benefit the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association,” Weber said.

Weber’s success in combined driving started early, when at 18 years old he was the youngest driver to be named to the USET and to qualify for the World Pairs Driving Championship. By 1999, Weber had won 12 consecutive Advanced combined driving events and transitioned into Four-in-Hand driving. Weber has competed in three World Equestrian Games for the United States and in 2004 he drove into history as the first American to win the German Fahrderby held at CAI-A Riesenbeck, an achievement he repeated in 2008 and 2011.

For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com. For more information on the Florida Horse Park, visit their website at www.flhorsepark.com.

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