This week’s participant in our new “getting to know you” series is Chester Weber, who is the reigning national champion in the advanced/FEI four-in-hand division. He also won the individual silver medal at last year’s FEI World Driving Championship in Holland. Chester hopes to secure his seventh consecutive national championship at next week’s Lexington Combined Driving Classic / WEG test event, here at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Where do you live?  Florida

For those who don’t know you: How are you involved in the driving/carriage world? Mainly combined driving; however, I am a member of the NY Coaching Club and enjoy coaching at Newport too

How old were you when you began driving?  Started driving at 10 with draft horses, and at 13 was in my first CDE

How did you become interested in this sport/world? My family has a Thoroughbred farm and it started as a family hobby

Do you come from a driving/horsy family?  Yes, Live Oak Stud, my family’s farm, is very active in racing and my wife and niece ride jumpers too

What was your first driving equine?  A draft horse named George

What do you drive now?  Four-in-hand of mixed warmbloods

What types of carriage(s) do you drive/collect?  Mainly sport carriages, but I still have two old hitch wagons that are of great importance to me; both are on original gears, one is a stake wagon and the other has solid sides

Do you have a favorite vehicle among your own collection?  The large hitch wagon

What is the most interesting/far-flung place that your driving has taken you?  Eastern Germany

Do you have a favorite carriage museum?  Stony Brook [the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages]

Do you have a favorite horse-drawn vehicle (past or present) that you’ve only seen somewhere?  I love Skeleton Breaks

Do you have a favorite carriage type, builder, era, etc.?  Brewster

Is there a particular era/time period/type of vehicle in history that you would enjoy traveling back to … and driving in?  Would like to drive a coach down Park Avenue in NYC

As a competitor, what’s your favorite type of competition / class / CDE phase?  CDE marathon and dressage

Do/did you ride or participate in other horse sports?  Rode a bit as a child

What do you like best about driving as a hobby/sport? The people are friendly and share a passion that leads them to need to do large amounts of work for little cash rewards yet great personal pleasure, I guess we are all crazy?

What spectator sports do you enjoy watching?  Tennis

Who is your favorite player?  Federer

What car do you drive?  Porsche Cayenne

Do you have a “dream” car you wish you could drive?  Not yet

What was your first car?  Volvo wagon

Do you have any other pets?  Yes, a dog named Steffi

What is your favorite food/cuisine?  French this week

What was the last movie you saw?  Julie and Julia

What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas, because of family and the smiles