FEI 4-in-hand Championship

2012 FEI Four-in-Hand World Driving Championships

Reisenbeck, Germany August 16–19, 2012

The following drivers have been named by the United States Equestrian Federation to represent the U.S. in the 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships.

Cover Photo: Pics ofyou.com

James Fairclough Team Member Born: July 25, 1958 Hometown: Newtown, NJ

Charlie Brown – 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by James Fairclough Coletto – 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by James Fairclough Kavango von Falkenstein CH – 13-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding owned by James Fairclough Levin – 14-year-old Austrian Warmblood gelding owned by Top Brass Farm Valentino – 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Patsy Wooten James Fairclough made history at the 2002 FEI World

the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, the Yellowframe Farm

Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, as part of the group that

Combined Driving Event and the Gladstone Driving Event. He

won the Team Silver Medal. Prior to this, the best finish the U.S.

also finished a close second in the USET Four-In-Hand Champi-

had ever garnered at a Four-In-Hand World Championship was

onship, which was held at the Fair Hill International. Fairclough

fourth place in 1984 and 1986.

won the 1992 and 1993 USET Pairs Championships. His seventh

Fairclough qualified for the 1992 USET Four-In-Hand World

place finish at the 1993 World Pair Driving Championship was

Championship squad, but declined so he could remain eligible

the U.S.’s best, earning him the 1993 USET Pairs Champion-

for the 1993 World Pair Driving Championship, serving instead

ship. One month later, Fairclough was reserve champion in the

as the team’s Chef d’Equipe. Fairclough has won the USET

USET Four-In-Hand Championship at the Fair Hill International.

Four-In-Hand Championship four times — in 1982, 1994, 2001

Fairclough was a member of the Gold medal team at the 1991

and 2011. He also has been reserve champion nine times. In

World Pairs Championship in Zwettl, Austria, and was the

1997, Fairclough won the advanced Four-in-Hand division at

highest-placed American, finishing fourth. In July 2002, he

2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships

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James Fairclough

helped the U.S. to a second place team finish at CAIO/CAIP-A in Breda, The Netherlands.

In 2004, Fairclough won the CAI-A Allentown Four-in-Hand in New Jersey and finished third in the CAI-A National Four-inHand Championship in Ocala, FL. He has represented the U.S. at the Four-In-Hand World Championship in 1980, 1982, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002. In 2008, Fairclough once again represented the U.S. in Beesd, The Netherlands, at the FourIn-Hand World Driving Championships. Fairclough finished off the 2009 season with a solid fourth-place finish at the USEF National Four-In-Hand Driving Championships in Lexington, KY. Fairclough started off the 2010 competition season strongly, finishing in second place at the Little Everglades CDE in January. In March, he and Jane Clark’s team claimed Reserve Champion honors at the USEF Four-in-Hand National Championships held at Live Oak. He finished the year by winning the Team Silver medal for the U.S. at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

In 2011, Fairclough won the Advanced Multiple Horse class at the Laurels at Landhope event.

In April of 2012, he won the Advanced Four-In-Hand Horse class at the Southern Pines Combined Driving Event.

Fairclough and his wife, Robin, a well-known hunter/jumper trainer, own and operate Top Brass Farm in Newton, NJ.

Photo: Shannon Brinkman

4 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships

Chester Weber Team Member Born: June 3, 1975 Hometown: Ocala, FL

Boy W – 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Chester Weber Horus du Bois – 17-year-old FRA Trotter gelding owned by Chester Weber Para – 15-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Chester Weber Splash – 9-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Jane Clark Uniek – 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Jane Clark Chester Weber consistently has ranked as a top U.S. driver

national title under his belt, Weber headed to Europe where he

and is listed among the top 10 internationally. His success in

enjoyed a very successful summer. In July, Weber won the Time

combined driving started early. At age 18, he was the young-

Shuttle prize at the prestigious CHIO Aachen, posting a score

est driver to be named to the United States Equestrian Team

of 36.48. He and his team finished Aachen winning third place

(USET) and to qualify for the World Pairs Driving Championship.

overall in the Four-In-Hand combined driving competition, less

By 1999, Weber had won 12 consecutive advanced combined

than one point behind the second place finisher. The culmina-

driving events and then transitioned to Four-in-Hand driving,

tion of his 2008 European tour was at the Four-in- Hand World

where he not only has made a name for himself internationally,

Driving Championships held in Beesd, The Netherlands, where

but also has amassed an unprecedented streak of eight national

he took the Silver medal.

championships in a row.

Weber had another banner year in 2009. He won again at the

Weber was the U.S. Four-In-Hand National Champion in

Live Oak CAI in Ocala in March. In October, Weber was able to

March 2008 at the CAI Live Oak in Ocala, FL. With this sixth

achieve a feat that no other American Four-In-Hand driver has

2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships

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Chester Weber

been able to do when he captured his unprecedented seventh straight national championship.

In 2010, Weber won at every turn. In March, he collected his eighth straight USEF Four-in-Hand National Championship on

Weber has amassed many impressive honors on the inter-

home turf at his family’s Live Oak Plantation. Prior to his win at

national circuit. In 2002, he helped the U.S. Driving Team earn a

Live Oak, Weber claimed top honors at the Sunshine State CAI.

Silver medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games and placed fifth

Weber continued his domination by picking up wins in June

individually in the renowned competition held in Jerez, Spain.

at the CAI-B Garden State CDE, and in Canada at the Bromont

The next year, he claimed his first, USEF Four-In-Hand National

International CAI-A. He and his team completed the 2010 sea-

Championship title.

son by representing the U.S. at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian

In July 2004, Weber became the first American to win the prestigious German Fahrderby held at CAI-A Riesenbeck. In

Games, where they won the Team Silver medal.

In 2011, Weber kept up his winning streak, collecting victories

2005, Weber decided not to compete overseas. In the U.S., he

at Sunshine State, Little Everglades, and Live Oak before travel-

recorded several wins including his third consecutive national

ing to Europe. Weber dominated on a tour to Europe in the

title. He won each of the competitions he entered, which

summer of 2011. He won all three CAI4s he entered in Europe,

included three CAI and two CDE competitions. Weber was

picking up victories in Hungary, Austria, and Germany.

again selected to represent the U.S. at the FEI World Eques-

Weber kept his streak alive in 2012, winning the Little Ever-

trian Games in 2006, where the team took eighth place. Again

glades International FEI Four In Hand class in February. He

in 2007, Weber made the choice to compete his horses only in

traveled to Europe in June where he won the CAIA4 competi-

the U.S. and again won every competition he entered that year,

tion out of 38 riders in Germany before finishing ninth and

including another national combined driving championship.

fourth respectively in Austria and the Netherlands.

In addition to his rigorous competition schedule, Weber actively promotes the sport of combined driving. In 2009 he was the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. team at the 2009 World Pony Driving Championships in Greven, Germany. He currently is on the USEF Board of Directors, the High Performance Driving Committee, the National Driving Committee and the Safety Committee, and is Chairman of the Active Athletes Committee.

Photo Credit: Shannon Brinkman

6 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships

Joe Yoder

Team Member Born: June 28, 1981 Residence: Zwartewaal, The Netherlands Caletta – 10-year-old Austrian Warmblood mare owned by Dhr. Koos de Ronde Celena 6 – 11-year-old Austrian Warmblood mare owned by Dhr. Koos de Ronde Majoor – 18-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Dhr. Koos de Ronde Ruby – 14-year-old KWPN mare owned by Dhr. Koos de Ronde Sarasko – 10-year-old Hessen gelding owned by Misdee Wrigley Miller Joe Yoder is quickly making a name for himself in the world of Combined Driving. Yoder hailing from Bozeman, MT could often be seen driving in events in the western part of the U.S.

fourth a month later in the FEI Four-in-Hand Class at the Sunshine State Combined Driving Event.

In 2011, Yoder began driving for Jack Wetzel. The driver

But in 2011, Yoder moved to the east coast and spent a few

finished second in the FEI Pair Horse at the Little Everglades

years at his base in Aiken, SC. Yoder currently lives in Zwart-

International. Exactly a month later, he won the USEF Pair

ewaal, The Netherlands.

National Championship at Live Oak. He traveled to Germany

In 2009 Yoder drove at the Teddy Bear CDE and Happ’s CDE

that summer and finished sixth in the CAIO Two Horse Nations

in Ethel, WA in June. At these events Yoder gained valuable

Cup. Yoder also represented the U.S. at the 2011 FEI World Pair

experience.

Driving Championship.

Yoder’s first major placing came in January of 2010 when he placed ninth at Little Everglades in the Four-in-Hand division.

In June of 2012, Yoder finished 22nd at the CAIA4 event in Lahden, Germany.

2010 would turn into a breakout year for Yoder as he finished Photo: Pics ofyou.com

2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships

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Ed Young

Chef d’Equipe Born: November 15, 1947 Residence: Geneseo, NJ Ed Young is a retired teacher of mathematics for “at risk” stu-

Elizabeth Staller Team Leader Born: November 7, 1966 Residence: Bedminster, NJ

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Staller has been involved in equestrian sports

dents. Now that he has retired from teaching, most of his time

since the age of 10 when she began riding with Sally Graburn.

is spent with some aspect of equestrian sport. His experiences

Although her chosen sport was eventing all of Graburn’s

include officiating as a Technical Delegate, scoring, organiz-

students were taught to drive a pony. After completing school,

ing, competing and volunteering. He also assumes the position

Staller rode and trained with noted Canadian eventer, Lorraine

of show manager for the Walnut Hill Driving Competition in

Laframboise.

Pittsford, NY, as well as the Florida Carriage and Horse Festival

An equine radiology and endoscopy technician, Staller worked

in Weirsdale, FL.

at the University of Pennsylvania’s Large Animal School of

Young holds credentials as a Technical Delegate for com-

Veterinary Medicine New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA.

bined driving with the FEI, USEF and the American Driving

After moving to New Jersey in 1992, Staller spent several years

Society (ADS). Additionally, he is carded as a Pleasure Driving

with well known Four-in-Hand driver James Fairclough and

Technical Delegate with both the USEF and the ADS. Young has

had a formal introduction to driving. She was taken with the

served as the Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Four-In-Hand Driving

sport and helped Fairclough with his team, grooming horses,

teams in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 and Chef d’Equipe for the

assisting at vet checks, and riding on the carriage. She went to

U.S. Singles Driving Team in 2008.

many combined driving events in the U.S. with the Fairclough

He presently serves as vice-chairman of the USEF’s Interna-

team, and in 1996 assisted him at the World Championships in

tional High-Performance Committee for Driving, is a member

Waregem, Belgium.

of the USEF’s Technical Committee for Driving and sits on the

Staller worked at the USET Foundation in 2004, fundraising for

boards of the Pittsford Carriage Association and the Gladstone

the Olympics in Greece.

Equestrian Association.

In the spring of 2009 she joined the USEF as the Director of High Performance Driving Disciplines.

With her husband, Bill Denney, Staller keeps a home in Philadelphia as well as in Bedminster, NJ. Staller and Bill have three children between them, Andrew, Will and Sophia.

Photos: USEF Archives

8 2012 FEI Four-in-Hand Driving World Championships