Lake City, FL (November 11, 2010) – Combined Driver Chester Weber is passionate about driving and never misses an opportunity to share his passion for the sport. As the reigning eight-time USEF National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champion, Weber spoke recently at the CHA Conference at the Oaks of Lake City, home of the O'Connor Signature Equestrian Center in Lake City, Florida.

"While at the Oaks of Lake City Equestrian Center, I had the chance to introduce the sport of combined driving to everyone attending the conference," Weber said. "It was an intimate group, so in addition to demonstrating different aspects of combined driving, I was also able to field questions from individuals."

Weber is fresh off his third time competing in the World Equestrian Games. Weber, along with U.S. Combined Driving teammates James Fairclough and Tucker Johnson, won the team silver medal at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. Weber won the cones phase of the Combined Driving event with an almost record-setting time to help the U.S. Team clinch the silver medal.

"Combined driving is my passion, and I love to share my passion with others," Weber said. "The facilities at the Oaks of Lake City are breathtaking, and I really enjoyed speaking and presenting a demonstration there. Combined driving is a thrilling and engaging sport, and I know those who attended the conference enjoyed learning about the sport that I love so much."

Weber, who is well-known for setting goals and focusing on the future, is once again looking ahead, now that the World Equestrian Games are behind him. "We are beginning to plan for the 2012 World Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany," Weber said.

Riesenbeck holds good memories for Weber. In 2004, he became the first American to win the prestigious German Fahrderby at Riesenbeck, an achievement he repeated in 2008. Weber also accomplished in 2008 what no other American has done before, when he won the Individual Silver Medal at the World Driving Championships.

For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, contact:

Chester Weber
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.chesterweber.com
1-352-895-1139

Newsroom Associate
Staff Writer
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"Don't Just Survive... RIDE!"

What better way to prepare for the American Eventing Championships and fall events than riding with Olympian Karen O'Connor? The OEC hosted a weekend of education and training with Karen that taught the basics of connection and what it truly means to ride. Saturday started off with flat work exercises, which pointed out the gaps in the riders' training and aides. Being able to manipulate the horse's body in direction and tempo was the key lesson learned by the pairs to guarantee their success over fences. Then, during grid work exercises, riders were pushed to extend their flat work knowledge to the strides between the fences. All riders focused in on riding the strides they wanted instead of riding the fences as a single entity. Direction, speed, balance, and rhythm became the mantra for all riders as they worked the exercises on Saturday.

Sunday morning brought a brief cross-country position discussion on the three jumping positions before heading out to the course. During warm-up, all riders were encouraged to apply the morning's discussion on rider position and leverage to their particular horse. Some mounts took more leverage than others at the gallop to adjust their direction, speed, balance, and rhythm, without relying on the use of the reins. Karen helped each rider learn to ride the horse they have instead of being a passenger "holding on for survival". The new-found connection between riders and their mounts proved to be beneficial as they worked through the exercises Karen created on the cross-country course. Coffin complexes set at an angle, jumps into and out of the water, and bank exercises all challenged the riders to get out of their comfort zone and... RIDE!

All participants came away from the clinic with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for the fall season. We are looking forward to Karen's return to the facility in early winter. Be sure to check out calendar, and watch out for the e-blasts for more details!

Released: August 31, 2010

JUST IN! - Equestrian Olympian David O'Connor will be the keynote speaker for the CHA Meet-and-Greet Reception at the CHA International Conference at The Oaks Equestrian Center in Lake City, Florida on Thursday, October 21, 2010!

With a resume that includes three Olympic medals in three-day eventing, including the history-making individual Gold aboard Custom Made, two Pan-American Games medals, and many wins at the international level, David has solidified himself as one of the most successful international competitors of our time. David's consistent performances also led to the award of USEA Rider of the Year in both 1996 and 1997. As the president of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), David is passionate about the opportunity to promote all horse-related sports.

Also JUST IN! – Chester Weber to do a Combined Driving Demonstration at the CHA International Conference

Combined Driver Chester Weber, whose name has become synonymous with Four-in-Hand driving throughout the world, achieved a record-setting win in October, 2009 – becoming the first driver to win the USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Championships seven consecutive years in a row. He is competing at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next month. Chester is also the owner of Jamaica, the USEF Horse of the Year and Combined Driving star.

Other Wonderful Speakers Coming this year and Their Topics:

Daniel Stewart has been a highly-successful international competitor and trainer for over 20 years. From 1999 to 2007, he coached riders on several U.S. teams to success at many world championships and olympic events. He currently divides his time between Andalusia, Spain and Santa Barbara, CA and is the author of the internationally-acclaimed book, Ride Right. Prior to becoming a U.S. coach, he earned a degree in Exercise Science and Psychology and worked as a consultant to other national riding teams, including Portugal and Canada.

• Balance Board Workshop
• How to Develop an Equestrian Cross Training and Fitness Program for Your Riders
• Sports Psychology on Your Horse

For the first time ever, an equestrian sport psychology class... on a horse where you belong! As riders, we continually encounter stressful and unpredictable events, and how we handle them greatly influences our ability to succeed. This session will teach riders how to control feelings of stress, confusion, doubt, and performance anxiety in their practice, so that these negative emotions will no longer affect them in their riding. Most riders agree that one of the greatest challenges we face while schooling and showing is mental, yet most of our practices focus only on the physical. Let the BOX, ZIPPER, DICE, TEST, BLIND, and GOAL help you gain control of your motions, by helping you to gain control of your emotions.

Dale Myler and his brothers Ron and Bob are third-generation horsemen, as well as three of the world's leading bit designers. Because of Dale's extensive research into equine dentistry and equine physiology, the Mylers have brought this added understanding of the connection between bitting and the equine mouth to their designs. Together, they developed the Myler System, an innovative approach to bitting that gives the horse increasing tongue relief as he progresses through his training.

Karen Murdock has been training animals for over 30 years, using a combination of shaping techniques, a specialized clicker system, and positive reinforcement. Her unique approach uses games and play as a way to connect and bond with animals to build confidence, increase focus, and improve performance. Karen's horse, Lukas, is a 17-year-old, registered, off-the-track Thoroughbred gelding. He ran in three races as a two-year-old and bowed both front tendons. After leaving the race track, he changed hands several times over the following years and ended up neglected and emaciated in a backyard. He was rescued and rehabilitated and then advertised for sale when he was not fitting in at a jumping stable. Karen purchased him as a "green project horse" when he was 10 years old. He went from being very uncooperative, and even dangerous, to being listed on Yahoo, Google, and the World Record's Academy as "The World's Smartest Horse". In addition, Guinness is considering a record related to his feats: "most numbers identified by a horse in one minute." Karen has been heard on Pet Life Radio, RFD Radio, and The Confidence Club and contributes to many newsletters, blogs, forums, and magazines. She will be teaching Trick Training for Your Students and School Horses and Trick Training Hands-On

Dawn Samuelson is a nationally-recognized clinician and presenter. She has presented at events such as Equine Affaire® and CanAm. She specializes in Equine Behavior Training and problem horses. Her love for horses developed at a young age and laid the foundation for personal and professional development. Dawn's Equine Behavioral Training uses her ability to read the body language of horses and translate this into a training plan for both horse and handler, building confidence, trust, and open lines of communication between them. Dawn lives with her husband and two children in Chautauqua County, New York, on the family's 120-acre farm. For more information on Dawn and her program, visit www.throughthehorseseyes.org.

Julie Goodnight has more than a quarter-century of horse-training experience. Her varied background ranges from dressage and jumping to racing, reining, colt-starting, and wilderness riding. She teaches "Classic Skills for a Natural Ride" and travels coast-to-coast and beyond to film her television show, Horse Master, as well as to appear at horse expos, conferences, and clinics. Her training and teaching techniques are frequent features of Horse & Rider, The Instructor, The Trail Rider, and America's Horse. In 2008, she was named Equine Affaire's Exceptional Equestrian Educator - one of only three awards ever given. Julie is clinic staff for CHA and the association's international spokesperson. Visit www.juliegoodnight.com for more information. She will be teaching and you can ride with her in:

• Advanced Maneuvers at the Canter and Lope
• Riding Exercises on the Ground for All Levels
• Equitation Problems and Exercises to Solve Them
• Lengthening and Collecting Exercises

Teresa Kackert has been a CHA Clinic Instructor since 2003. She is also Chris Irwin Natural Horsemanship "Double-Gold" Certified and a Richard Shrake Resistance Free-Riding Master Level Trainer/Instructor. Teresa is the creator of the "Soft Touch" Training Program - Classical Equitation and Natural Horsemanship - and has over 20 years' professional experience as a Rider, Competitor, Trainer, Instructor, Clinician, and Personal Coach. Teresa specializes in: confidence building in both horse and rider, horse behavior modification, motivational personal coaching, and skill enhancement for riders and horses of all levels and disciplines. See www.GreatHorses.org for more information, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 Ken Najorka is a horse trainer and clinician from the central Florida area, who helps horses with their people problems. He trains reining horses at his facility, Dragon Fly Farms, in St. Cloud, Florida. Besides reining horses, he trains many breeds from Quarter horses to paints, mules, gaited horses, driving ponies, and more. His facility is shared with his wife, Norma, who runs The Canine Center and rescue facility. With over 30 years of gentle horsemanship techniques, Ken helps riders to better understand their horses mentally and physically. Ken is the coach for the University of Central Florida Western Equestrian Program (IHSA) and for the first High School Western Equestrian Team in Central Florida, and he is also a member of the IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association). Ken is an Instructor for Dennis Reis Universal Horsemanship and can be seen on RFDTV. Ken will soon be a presence in the "green" community of Harmony, Florida as the head of the new Equestrian Center. He will be teaching reining and horsemanship classes.

JoAnne Young has been teaching riding and training horses for over 40 years, and she is happy to still be learning. Every student and every horse bring fresh challenges that keep life interesting. She has been privileged and blessed beyond her wildest dreams to study with such wonderful instructors as Walter Zettl (dressage coach to the Canadian event team when they won the bronze at Los Angeles Olympics), Bertin Potter in Germany, Molly Sivewright (FEI judge and past chair of the Fellows of the British Horse Society), Carel Eijkenaar (FEI judge), Eddo Hoestra (F.E.I. Trainer), and Doris Halstead (Physical Therapist and author of "Releasing the Potential: Physical Therapy Modalities for Horse and Rider". Jo-Anne is the author of the M.A. thesis, "Preparing Students for Riding Instructor Certification Through College Curricula".

Mitzi Summers has been a CHA Clinician for many years, as well as a Level IV Centered Riding Instructor and Bitless Bridle Instructor. Her specialty is "Teaching People to Train their own Horse Using Non-Abusive Methods". She has given clinics throughout the United States, Europe, and New Zealand. She has also judged for many years, attaining her American Judging Association Certification in Hunt Seat, Stock Seat, and Saddle Seat. She rode and traveled at one time with the Royal Lipizzan Stallion Tour, and also attended the Northern School of Equitation in Ormskirk, England. Her business is SUMMERSET (Summers Equine Theory), in which she holds workshops for owners, instructors, and trainers. Mitzi can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.MitziSummers.com.

Heidi Potter is a full-time instructor, trainer, and clinician, with over 40 years of horse experience. Her program, "In Harmony With Horses", is designed to improve the relationship between horses and humans in a calm, clear, and consistent manner. Heidi's work has been greatly influenced by her training in the martial arts, as well as by Ms. Sally Swift, the founder of Centered Riding©. She is a Level III Centered Riding Instructor/Clinician, a CHA Clinic Instructor, and Master Level Instructor. Her training program is supported by techniques that help ensure the ethical and thoughtful treatment of horses. Heidi teaches, trains, and conducts clinics throughout the country, as well as at her family's southern Vermont farm, Maple Ridge Stable. To learn more, visit www.InHarmonyWithHorses.com.

Jim McDonald is a lifelong horseman and a lifelong learner. In the year 2000, he started a non-profit organization dedicated to horsemanship education. Part of its mission is to make the joy of a relationship with a horse available to people who would not ordinarily have that opportunity, and that was the original motivation for founding the Graham Equestrian Center. They work closely with anyone who wants to advance their horsemanship skills and knowledge.

And these are just some of the speakers and their sessions. There are equine vets, dentists, chiropractors, trail experts, and more – this is an event that you do not want to miss! Click here to see the full schedule of speakers and sessions.

Attend the CHA International Conference in Lake City, Florida at The Oaks Equestrian Center on October 21 - 24, 2010, and receive all of your CHA continuing education credit hours for three years! Lake City is rolling out the red carpet for CHA, and you will be treated like royalty by the hotel, The Oaks, and the city!

Visit here to register today, and get the Early Bird $25 Discount. Or register directly on the CHA website. Remember you can only take one discount.

Please click here to register at the Holiday Inn in Lake City for only $99 a night! Deadline for this room rate is September 20, 2010.

Make sure to fly into the Jacksonville, Florida airport (JAX) for the shuttle service. being provided at $24 one way for six in a van (you must call ahead and reserve your space on the shuttle at 904-405-2801 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), and the hotel is just over an hour away from the airport. Bussing is included with your registration to and from the Holiday Inn hotel to The Oaks Equestrian Center.

Check out the full schedule of speakers and topics. Your students, horses, and program will be greatly benefitted by your attendance. Remember that full conference participants get to ride in sessions on great school horses!

By Christy Landwehr

Certified Horsemanship Association 2010 International Conference in Lake City, FL

Release: November 03, 2009

Please save the date and plan on joining us for the 43rd Annual Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) International Conference, to be held in Lake City, FL, at The Oaks Equestrian Center - an O'Connor Signature Facility - on October 21–24, 2010. This event is for riding instructors, barn managers, equine facility owners, trainers, horse professionals, and general horse owners and enthusiasts. Participants get to ride in sessions on school horses. This event is open to the public.

The CHA Conference will include mounted workshops, ground lessons and lectures from top instructors, trainers, veterinarians, equine dentists, leather craftsmen, equine chiropractors, business professionals, saddle, fitters and many others. Visit www.cha-ahse.org/conferences.htm to find out the speakers and sessions as they get scheduled.

Here is the tentative schedule of events:

Thursday, October 21, 2010
Extra fee - Business Workshop
Welcome Lunch and CHA Annual Meeting at Lake City Community College, Noon
Sessions at the Lake City Community College, 1:30pm–5pm
Florida Horse Organizations Meet-and-Greet Reception at the college, 6pm–7pm

Friday, October 22, 2010
Breakfast on your own
Mounted sessions at The Oaks Equestrian Center, 9am–11:45am
Lunch at The Oaks
Mounted sessions, 1:30pm–5:45pm
Dinner on your own or visit the Trail Encampment for outdoor cooking at The Oaks!

Saturday, October 23, 2010
Breakfast on your own
Mounted sessions at The Oaks Equestrian Center, 9am–11:45am
Lunch at The Oaks
Mounted sessions, 1:30pm–5:45pm
CHA Annual Awards Banquet at the Lake City Community College, 7:00pm

Sunday, October 24, 2010
Breakfast on your own
Sessions on CPR and First Aid with EquineU.com at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 9am–12pm

The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education for the benefit of the horse industry. CHA certifies instructors and trail guides, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals, and hosts regional and international conferences. For more information on the Certified Horsemanship Association, please visit www.CHA-ahse.org or call toll free (800) 399-0138. To find a certified horseback riding instructor or accredited equine facility near you, visit www.CHAinstructors.com.

By Christy Landwehr