Chester Weber is a top international four-in-hand driver sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER) and its Team Member, Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies. In a newsletter wrapping up his achievements for 2011, Weber reported that he was chosen as a USEF Equestrian of Honor. He also was awarded the Becky Grand Hart Trophy given by the USEF to the best competitor in international driving, endurance, reining, vaulting, or para-equestrian competition.

Driving a team that included three new horses, Weber sewed up a victory at the 2011 Katydid CDE in Aiken, South Carolina by winning each phase of the event. In addition, he served as chef d'equipe for the U.S. drivers at the FEI Pony World Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia. His support helped the U.S. drivers bring home individual and team medals from the prestigious competition.

Chester Weber, a combined driver who is an eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Champion, is one of eight U.S. horsemen and horsewomen who received the title of Equestrian of Honor earlier in 2011. Votes are now being cast to name one of these equestrians as 2011 USEF Equestrian of the Year. This rider or driver will be chosen on the basis of a vote of the USEF general membership, the USEF board of directors, and members of the media.

Weber has spent years supporting the equestrian community. He serves on numerous committees including the USEF High Performance Driving Committee, the National Driving Committee, the Safety Committee, the Hearing Committee, the Licensed Officials Committee, and the Driving Technical Committee. Weber is also the chairman of the Active Athlete's Committee and has served on the Dressage Search Committee.

To keep his competition horses in top condition, Weber uses feeds and products formulated by his sponsors, Kentucky Equine Research and its Team Member, Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies. All KER and Pennfield products are designed to support the demands of high-level training and performance. They provide maximal nutrition including the protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals necessary to keep Weber's driving horses performing at the championship level. 

If selected, Weber would be the first combined driver to win the prestigious title. To cast a vote for Weber, go to http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/7915/2011/12/14/usef_announces_the_2011_equestrian.aspx. The winner will be announced in January 2012, during the USEF Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Shelly Temple has been appointed to a seat on the United States Equestrian Federation's Driving High Performance committee. She is excited about supporting the sport of driving in this role, as driving is less well-known than some other equine disciplines.

Shelly, a driver sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), reports that she is giving her competition pony Cooper some down time after a busy fall schedule. Many horses in training benefit from a vacation during the winter months, and Shelly knows Cooper will come back into spring training with a fresh and eager attitude. Cooper won't be completely inactive, as Shelly still plans to do some pleasure driving with him through the winter months.

Though there are few if any driving competitions scheduled right now, Shelly will stay busy training her new ponies. She also has a number of students in the Aiken, South Carolina area and will continue to work with them as they progress.

Shelly's website features the KER products that she uses to keep her equines in top condition. She says, "I have been using KER and KERx products for many years, and I depend on them to keep my horses healthy and feeling good so they can train and compete at their best."

"Some products I use on a regular basis and recommend are KER-Flex, an oral joint supplement; Preserve, a vitamin E and selenium supplement; Synovate HA, a liquid hyaluronic acid supplement; Restore and Restore Paste, great electrolyte supplement; Hemabuild, a trace mineral and B-vitamin supplement; and Nano E, a unique vitamin E supplement."

"I'd be happy to answer any questions about how I use these products. I'm very proud to have KER as a sponsor. I have visited KER's facility and was most impressed with its staff, innovative research and attention to detail. Visit www.KER.com to access a wide variety of research papers and to subscribe to the company's electronic newsletters, which are filled with helpful information to keep you informed and up-to-date on the latest horse care subjects."

World-renowned combined driver Shelly Temple and her Morgan gelding Cooper (LR Ami B-Line) are en route to Germany to prepare for the World Pony Driving Championships.  

Along with two carriages, harnesses, and other equipment, Shelly is taking a slew of Kentucky Equine Research (KER) products to keep Cooper in top form. For years, KER-sponsored Shelly has used KER's Restore and Perform, both of which will be important for the grueling three-day competition, to be staged in Slovenia.

Prior to the competition, Shelly and her team will stay in Frankfurt, Germany and train with Michael Freund, the USET driving coach for the United States Equestrian Team and a multiple world champion. While in Germany, Shelly and Cooper will compete at Minden, the German National Pony Championship, with other shortlisted drivers from the United States.

Shelly and Team Catalyst are excited about the opportunity to represent the United States and compete in their second world championship competition. In 2007 Shelly was a silver medalist in dressage and a member of the bronze-winning United States team. Shelly and Cooper have been the USEF National Champions for the past two years. To follow Shelly's progress, visit her blog at  www.catalystdriving.blogspot.com or on her website at www.catalystdriving.com.

Shelly Temple, a KER-sponsored elite equestrian and national champion combined driver, has set her competition goals for 2011, including representing the United States at the World Combined Pony Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia, located in central Europe.

Temple's competition schedule for the spring and summer include Sunshine State (Florida), Little Everglades (Florida), Live Oak International (Florida), and Southern Pines (North Carolina).

Her expertise is not confined to competition, and Temple will once again serve as a judge at a few of the country's top combined driving events: Nature Coast HDT (Florida), Metamore CDE (Michigan), and The CDE at Inavale (Oregon). In 2010, she officiated at eight competitions.

Temple is based in Windsor, South Carolina and can be reached through her website.

Shelly Temple, a KER-sponsored elite equestrian, shared her enthusiasm for combined driving at two different venues last year.

Temple was a featured speaker at the 2010 Driving Forum, The Premier Driving Conference and Trade Show in Nashua, New Hampshire. This event, held in March, attracted more than 1600 combined driving aficionados.

The following month, Temple presented a webinar for the American Driving Society. The title of her presentation was "Driven Dressage, the Basics," and the live webinar attracted more than 300 viewers. Participants were encouraged to ask questions at the end of the webinar, and Temple fielded these queries with ease.

The webinar is available through the American Driving Society website.

Temple's business, Catalyst Driving Center, is based in Windsor, South Carolina. Learn more about Temple and her accomplishments on her website.

Combined driver Chester Weber, the eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving champion, will donate a package for two days of training during the silent auction at the upcoming "Salute to Driving" USET Fundraiser for driving. Weber will give the winner of the silent auction two days of instruction with either his or her own horses or Weber's.

Weber is a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) sponsored equestrian.

The "Salute to Driving" fundraiser is a weekend for all levels to learn and have fun. The event includes two days of Advanced/FEI-level and ADS lower-level clinics, a benefit party, combined test, and other activities to help educate equine enthusiasts from other disciplines.

"Salute to Driving" will be held on Chateau Log Farm and Courage to Lead Farm in Windsor, South Carolina, and the Country Dinner Benefit will be held at Trout Walk Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. The event will take place February 19 - 21, 2011. "I am really looking forward to the "Salute to Driving" weekend and especially offering a package for two days of training at the silent auction. I believe the USET is a very worthy cause and the money raised during this weekend will go toward sending the U.S. driving athletes to international competitions," Weber said. "During the weekend there will be developing drivers clinics given by Larry Poulin and a two-day advanced long-listed drivers clinic with Michael Freund, so it should be a fantastic experience for everyone involved."

The weekend will also include a combined test judged by Freund, Marth Nicoll, Marsoe LaRose, and Craig Kellogg. During the lunch break of the combined test, there will be a pas de deux with Phillip Dutton riding and Shelly Temple driving. Both Dutton and Temple are also part of KER's elite lineup of sponsored equestrians.

Shelly Temple, a KER-sponsored elite equestrian, earned top ribbons at some of the country's most prestigious combined driving competitions in 2010.

A rundown of her accomplishments includes victories at Laurels at Landhope CDE (Pennsylvania; advanced single pony), Iron Horse CDE (Illinois, advanced single pony), Pine Tree CDE (North Carolina, preliminary pair pony), and the Katydid CDE (South Carolina, preliminary pony pair).

At the Live Oak International CDE (Florida), Temple claimed top honors in the FEI single pony division and won the prestigious Hanzi Award, selected by the judges and given to the best horse or pony at the show).

Temple was named the USEF National Champion-Single Pony and her Morgan gelding Cooper was chosen as the 2010 USEF Horse of the Year for Combined Driving. The 2011 driving season is just around the corner, and Temple is looking forward to a new set of challenges.

Temple's training base is at Catalyst Driving Center, Windsor, South Carolina.

The Kentucky Cup Driving Event, a test event for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, was held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The competition showcased drivers of singles, pairs, and four-in-hand horses and ponies in dressage, marathon, and cones courses. Chester Weber piloted his four horses to a record seventh United States Equestrian Federation National Championship, leading his division after each phase of competition. Weber is based in Ocala, Florida and is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research and also by KER Team Member Pennfield Feeds.

Chester Weber

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has joined forces with combined driver Chester Weber, becoming the latest Team Weber sponsor to join the championship team as they head toward the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Weber, a force to be reckoned with in the field of four-in-hand combined driving, became the first American to win an individual medal at the World Championships and his high-profile team includes the now-famous Jamaica, the 2008 USEF Horse of the Year.

KER is a world-renowned nutrition and consultation company that works with feed manufacturers to develop horse feeds suited for the particular regions in which they are to be fed. Dr. Joe Pagan, president of KER, believes research efforts are the cornerstone of KER and he personally directs all scientific trials. Conclusions drawn from these trials are used in the formulation of technologically advanced feeds.

"KER is very pleased to join Chester's team of sponsors and we look forward to working with him," Pagan said. "Our partnership will be a beneficial one as both Chester and KER believe in accomplishing what is best for the horse."

The world-class horses that make up Team Weber use Restore, a carefully formulated electrolyte supplement designed to match the composition of horses' sweat. "Developed by KER, Restore is designed to replenish electrolytes in any situation where horses might sweat, particularly after training, travel, racing, during hot weather or competition," Pagan said.

Chester Weber

Weber and his team are the United States Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champions, a title they have held for the past six years. Team Weber is currently preparing again for the U.S. Championships, hoping to earn an unprecedented seventh consecutive win.

"My horses are top athletes and they work hard and sweat hard," Weber said. "Restore is designed for elite athletes and I have confidence that this product will do the job it is designed for."

In addition to its research endeavors, KER has a rich tradition of providing top-of-the-line feeds to the greatest equine athletes in the world. In 2000, the company was tapped to be the official nutritionist of the United States Equestrian Federation. KER has also played a pivotal role in procuring feeds for the last four Olympic Games as well as other international competitions.

KER formulated the feed for Pennfield Equine Feed Technologies, another Team Weber sponsor. "Chester feeds his team the EnuroEvent Ener-G feed from Pennfield's Gold Medal Line. It is a feed designed for the intense needs of high-performance horses," Pagan said. "Chester has dominated the field of combined driving for many years and it isn't by accident. He works hard and makes sure that his horses have the best care, nutrition and training possible."