Ocala, FL (January 23, 2012) — Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four- In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, had a stellar 2011 on both the national and international field, ending the year with the highlight of being  named a 2011 USEF Equestrian of Honor. As America’s most decorated combined driver, Weber also won the Becky Grand Hart Trophy, an awarded presented to international-level non-Olympic athletes.

Weber was presented the Becky Grand Hart Trophy during the United States Equestrian Federation’s Annual Pegasus Awards ceremony. The prior evening, Weber’s team of horses made a clean sweep of the National Combined Driving Four-In-Hand Horse of the Year category. Splash, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, took home the Championship with Weber’s horse Reno W earning the Reserve Championship. Uniek, also owned by Clark, along with Weber’s horses Rolex W, Para and Boy W rounded out the Four in Hand Horse of the Year honors.

The Becky Grand Hart Trophy also was awarded to Weber thanks to a banner year with his team, which included winning four CDEs in the United States and sweeping across Europe driving into the winner’ circle at some of the world’s most prestigious shows. Weber and his team won at CAIO Veces, CAI Altenfelden and CAIO Riesenbeck.

Weber, who is well known for supporting the field of combined driving, also served as the chef d’equipe for the 2011 FEI World Pony Team Championships and the FEI World Pair Championships. “I was thrilled and very honored to win the Becky Grand Hart Trophy,” Weber said. “I was equally pleased that our horses took home the Horse of the Year titles. Everyone associated with Team Weber worked hard throughout the year and it was great to be rewarded for our effort.”

Weber added that 2011 was enhanced by the addition of Clark’s horses to his team. “We competed Splash and Uniek throughout the year and it was great to see Splash end up on top, taking home the Championship in the Horse of the Year for Four-In-Hand horses.”

Weber, who was part of the winning Silver Medal 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Combined Driving team, was also named a USEF Equestrian of Honor in 2008 and won the Becky Grand Hart Trophy that year. Weber’s star horse, Jamaica, was also in the spotlight in 2008 when he won the USEF Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year title. “I love the sport of Combined Driving, it truly is my passion, and it is always a great joy for me to be honored by the USEF. Part of my passion for Combined Driving includes promoting the sport and I am pleased to be involved in the USEF and the USET. I was named to the USET Foundation Board of Trustees early this year and that was certainly another fantastic moment in my career,” Weber said. In addition to his outstanding competition accomplishments, which includes representing the U.S. in three World Equestrian Games, Weber is a prime mover in the organization of three combined driving events, including the top rated CAI-B Live Oak International. Taking place on his own Live Oak Stud, 2012 CAI-B Live Oak International will for the first time include a Grand Prix jumping division.

To learn more about Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com.

Photo: USEF President David O’Connor (left) and Chester Weber. Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand

Combined Driving Champion, was named a 2011 USEF Equestrian of Honor and took home the Becky Grand Hart Trophy

at the USEF’s recent Pegasus Awards banquet. Weber’s team of horses were also honored, sweeping the Four-In-Hand

category in the race for Horse of the Year. (Photo courtesy of Geoff Oliver Bugbee/USEF)