Who's Who!
Jamaica, Chester Weber’s combined driving horse, captured the nation’s attention last year when he won the most prestigious horse title in the country and became the 2008 USEF Farnam Platform Horse of the Year. As the Horse of the Year, Jamaica served as an ambassador for the USEF, making public appearances, promoting rescue organizations and horse adoption and taking part in a variety of charities.
Jamaica’s rags to riches story began in Belgium when he was rescued from a slaughterhouse. He then famously became part of Weber’s record-breaking international Four-In-Hand Combined Driving team. Now 18 years old, Jamaica has been a member of all seven of Weber’s National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving National Championship teams.
While Jamaica’s story captivated the nation, his role as USEF ambassador also earned him a fan following. “Jamaica’s story really meant a lot to a lot of people, and whether we were at shows or at home, fans would bring him presents and carrots and place them in front of his stall and ask to pose for photos with him,” Weber said. “His journey has been pretty unbelievable and I am certainly glad to have been part of it.”
As the USEF ambassador, Jamaica began his reign by donating his winning year’s supply of Farnam feed to two horse rescue organizations. His public appearances also included appearing inside a Seminole Feed Store where Jamaica posed for pictures and Weber signed autographs.
During the year, Weber and Jamaica took part in a “Kiss the Horse for Literacy” fundraising campaign and appeared as the Horse of the Year in cartoon form in Sidelines Magazine. Jamaica and Weber were featured in two books being published during the year, For The Love Of The Horse, Volume III and True Horse Stories, and Jamaica helped raise money for the ReRun Thoroughbred organization by painting a picture with his muzzle, a picture that will be auctioned off on eBay to raise money for ReRun.
“It really has been a great year and I am proud that Jamaica has helped promote combined driving and equestrian sports in general. It isn’t often that a horse that pulls at everyone’s heartstrings also had the chance to represent the USEF, the backbone of our equestrian sport in our country,” Weber said.
Even though Jamaica’s run as Horse of the Year is coming to an end, the spunky bay gelding isn’t ready to be put out to pasture yet. Weber is hoping that Jamaica will be part of his team as they defend their Four-In-Hand Combined Driving National Championship title in the spring for an eighth time and Weber also hopes the former rescue horse will be part of his 2010 World Equestrian Games team.
For more information on Weber and Jamaica, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com.
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