• Share:

Combined Driver Chester Weber To Be Featured In Southern Living Magazine

by Sarah Evers | Nov 26, 2008, 10:45 AM

Southern Living magazine recently photographed Silver medalist combined driver Chester Weber at his farm in Ocala, for an upcoming article in the magazine. Known for bringing readers the best of everyday life in the South, Southern Living journeyed to Weber’s Live Oak Stud for a chance to capture the magnificent farm and the man behind the name that has become synonymous with combined driving.

The article and photos will appear in the Florida People and Places section of Southern Living and will take reader’s on a visual trip that showcases the spreading canopy of live oaks, the lush green grass and the gently rolling hills of Live Oak Stud. The trip to Live Oak wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at the stables that house Weber's horses—top European Warmbloods that have led him to countless victories in the field of combined driving. Weber's horses helped him make history in 2008, when he became the first American to win an Individual Silver medal in the FEI Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships in The Netherlands.

Weber grew up at the farm in Ocala, in the heart of Florida’s horse country, where to this day his family still runs a thriving Thoroughbred racing and breeding business. Southern Living readers will enjoy a glimpse into the life of the world-class combined driving champion—a man who also has the compassionate heart of a true Southern gentleman.

As a testament to his compassion, Weber stepped in to help his friend, eventer Darren Chiacchia, after Chiacchia had a disastrous fall that left him incapacitated and in the hospital in critical condition. In the midst of competing for the national championship, Weber acted as CEO of Chiacchia’s business, managing his farm and overseeing the staff, horse sales and lessons. This selfless act proved that Weber is not only a true champion, but a man to be counted on.

Being a champion is Weber’s goal, and amidst the grandeur of his stable at Live Oak Stud, he maintains a rigorous competitive schedule as a world-class combined driving competitor. In addition to winning his Silver medal, Weber has also competed in the FEI World Equestrian Games twice and the World Championships four times. In the United States, he has won the Four-In-Hand National Championship title six years in a row. He and his wife also run a jumper sales business.

With his outstanding record in combined driving, paired with the beautiful scenery of Live Oak Stud, Southern Living readers are sure to enjoy learning more about Weber and perhaps catch the equestrian "bug” themselves.