Chester Weber, one of the most talented drivers in the world, brought home a trunkful of championship ribbons from his international competitions during the summer of 2011. Weber, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), drove his four-in-hand of bay geldings in numerous competitions both in the United States and abroad, consistently finishing near or at the top of the field.

At competitions in Vecses, Hungary and Altenfelden, Austria in June, Weber guided his horses to grand champion finishes in both events against high-level European competitors. Also in June, Weber finished in third place at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany. July saw a trip to Riesenbeck, Germany where the horses again earned grand champion honors.

Returning to Pennsylvania, Weber drove to a reserve champion finish at The Laurels at Landhope, a prestigious event with a long history of elite competitors. He plans to spend the winter competing and training in Florida.

Regarding KER's nutritional supplements Hemabuild, Nano•E, and Restore, Weber said,   "KER products help my horses perform at their peak and stay conditioned despite the rigorous training, travel, and competition schedule."

The U.S. pony driving team, including KER-sponsored driver Shelly Temple, won the bronze at the 2011 FEI Pony World Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia. The team's three-phase total of 402.3 guaranteed bronze behind the driving powerhouse nations, Germany and The Netherlands.

Individually, Temple finished just outside the top 10 with LR Ami B-Line, ending up 11th on 130.97. She was also a member of the 2007 U.S. bronze-medal team.

Temple uses KER supplements, including:

• Preserve, a source of vitamin E and selenium;
• Hemabuild, for trace minerals and B vitamins;
• Restore powder and paste electrolytes;
• Synovate HA, a liquid hyaluronic acid supplement for the support of healthy joint function in horses;
• Nano•E, a water-soluble natural-source vitamin E supplement for horses.

Shelly Temple, a combined driver sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), has qualified to represent the U.S. at the World Pony Driving Championships in Lipica, Slovenia, September 22-25.

Temple hopes to build upon her success as a member of the 2007 U.S. bronze-medal team and individual silver in dressage. She and her Morgan gelding LR Ami B-Line (Cooper) have been working with U.S. driving coach Michael Freund for the past year to qualify for the team and prepare.

"I am thankful for the USEF's support and the training and instruction from Michael Freund over the past year," Temple said. "Michael's coaching has been instrumental at improving all aspects of my driving."

Temple uses KER supplements, including:

• Preserve, a source of vitamin E and selenium;
• Hemabuild, for trace minerals and vitamin B;
• Restore powder and paste electrolytes;
• Synovate HA, a liquid hyaluronic acid supplement for the support of healthy joint function in horses;
• Nano•E, a water-soluble natural-source vitamin E supplement for horses.

Coverage of the World Pony Driving Championships will be available online.

For the second year in a row, Shelly Temple and her Morgan gelding LR Ami B-Line (Cooper) won the title of USEF Single Pony Champion in combined driving. The team also was crowned champions in 2006. Temple is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

This year's competition was held at CAI Live Oak International CDE in Ocala, Florida. Under the warm, sunny skies of Florida, Temple jumped to an early lead in dressage.

Shelly Temple and her Morgan gelding LR Ami B-Line (Cooper) won the title of USEF Single Pony Champion in combined driving. Photo courtesy Ann Schurtz.

"We've had the benefit of working with U.S. Team Coach Michael Freund and his brother Fred Freund and they have been a huge help with Cooper's improved engagement and expression in dressage," Temple said. "I was very pleased with our test and scoring."

The second day of competition saw Temple, Cooper, and her husband/navigator Fran Doto compete in the marathon, conducted over approximately 15 kilometers with difficult hazards.

"The hot day made the difficult marathon obstacles a challenge," Temple said. "Cooper stayed strong throughout and excelled in several of the seven tough obstacles, and we achieved our goal of keeping our first-place position."

On the third and final day of the event, the cones competition, Temple maintained her overall lead to follow up her 2010 win in the single pony championships. Temple was thrilled with their performance. "Cooper was really on his game and I stayed focused with a clear round just three seconds over the time to win our very competitive class. Two world champions (Suzy Stafford and Randy Cadwell) really put the pressure on!"

For the second year, the judges selected Cooper as the best horse in the entire competition, and recognized him with the Hanzi Award.

Temple is also appreciative of the sponsorship support she has received over the past year.

"I am delighted to be sponsored by KER and to use the company's Restore, Perform, KER•Flex, and Synovate HA. I just started using KER's Hemabuild to aid in Cooper's endurance," Temple said. "The KER newsletter is top-notch. I enjoy receiving it via e-mail weekly, and have learned a great deal from it over the past year."

Watch for Temple and Cooper at the Southern Pines CDE at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC, April 15-17.  

Catalyst Driving Center is an equestrian driving facility in Windsor, South Carolina specializing in the training of all levels of drivers and horses.

Chester Weber and Shelly Temple, both combined drivers sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), finished the 2010 show season on top in their respective divisions.

Weber's team won the 2010 USEF Horse of the Year for Combined Driving Four-In-Hand Horses.

Weber, who is considered a dominant force in his sport, is already looking to the future with plans to win his ninth USEF National Championship title at the Laurels in September 2011. He is also making plans for the 2012 World Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany.

Weber is also an active member of the USEF and in January was elected to serve on the USEF Executive Committee at the group's national convention in Lexington, Ky.

For the third time, LR Ami B-Line, a Morgan gelding owned, trained, and competed by Temple has been named the USEF Horse of the Year for Combined Driving-Single Pony. The gelding has been honored twice previously in 2006 and 2007.

Temple has set her sights on the 2011 World Pony Championships in Slovenia, at which she hopes to build upon her 2007 success as a member of the U.S. bonze medal team as well as silver medalist in dressage. Follow Temple and Team Catalyst on their efforts to make the U.S. team for the 2011 Pony Driving World Championship.

Shelly Temple of Catalyst Driving, the most recent addition to Kentucky Equine Research's collection of sponsored equestrians, has added another victory to her 2010 competition results.

Temple captured first place in the Advanced Single Pony division of The Laurels at Landhope International, a selection trial for the USEF World Championship.

Temple uses several KER products, including Pre-Competition Paste, Restore, and Perform.

Read more about Temple.

Driver Chester Weber added last weekend's Iron Horse CDE to his impressive list of combined driving wins. Weber, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), stated earlier this year that he planned to use the event to fine-tune his team for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, which will be held in West Grove, Chester County, Pa., September 10-12, will be the final U.S. driving selection prior to the Games.

Weber has been named the U.S. Equestrian Federation Four-in-Hand Driving Champion for eight years in a row. See Chester Weber's profile.