Morgan trainer Tristanne Weber Childress, 34, of Siler City, NC, passed away March 17, 2008, following a short illness.

Weber was born and raised in Colorado where she attended Evergreen High School before moving to Tulsa, OK, to train with her Morgan horses. She attended college while beginning her career as a professional horse trainer. Horses and her husband, Ed Childress, were her passion. Prior to opening her own training facility, Silhouette Training Stables, Weber was trainer at Flintlock Morgan Farm in North Carolina and also worked for Peggy Knight in Oklahoma.

Weber started riding when she was three years old and showing Morgan horses at the age of five. As a junior exhibitor, she had horses with Martin Cockriel, Mary Cockriel and Bob Kellert. At age 10 she competed successfully at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show. She won her first reserve world championship at age 11 riding Vali-Hi Hickory B. She loved her horses and their owners and was diligent about their success. She had many show ring successes on the local, regional, and Grand National level. Two horses she trained and showed earned three world championships in recent years: Carmen Miranda, 2004 World Champion Hunter Pleasure and World Champion Hunter Pleasure Ladies for Michael and Jamie Jaeger Fiocco; and HVK Hard Rock, 2005 World Champion Carriage Pleasure Driving Single for Marilyn North. Weber also had many good wins on the regional open carriage circuit against all breeds, doing a wonderful job of promoting the breed.

The American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Youth Program was an instrumental part of Weber's education. She contributed greatly to others throughout her involvement of developing and running youth programs, including the AMHA Youth Program. She was an active member of the Virginia-Carolinas Morgan Horse Club and was the longtime youth coordinator for the club. She helped start the Youth of the Year Contest at the Southern States Regional and ran this successfully for many years. She always seemed to find a horse and outfit for a kid when it came to the youth activities.

Weber is survived by her husband, Ed C. Childress; parents, William and Sharon Weber; and grandmother Paula Weber.

The Virginia-Carolinas Morgan Horse Club is proud to sponsor a fund that will be set up to sponsor and encourage Morgan youth in Weber's name. In lieu of flowers, the family and friends of Weber would appreciate donations to this worthwhile cause. All who knew her would agree that this is what she would have preferred.

Please send contributions to: Mr. Mitch Ehrlich, VCMHC Treasurer, 4500 Hollow Oaks Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Make checks payable to VCMHC. On memo line, indicate "Tristanne Childress Youth Fund."