horses’ strengths to their best advantage, Chester has com- bined their talents to create a world-class team of driving horses.
Jamaica is a 1991 gelding by the Hackney/KWPM cross stallion Cambridge Cole S974 out of Welkom, a Noran mare. He was bred by A. J. Kwast in the Netherlands and was previously owned by Valere Standaert in Belgium.
Jamaica has made headlines since he was rescued from slaughter before becoming a world-class driving horse (see sidebar). “He’s still not quiet and calm,” says Chester with a smile, “but I’m hoping by the WEG in 2010 he’ll have settled down.”
“Jamaica is the oldest one here obviously,” states Taren. “He was a bit of a late develop- er and didn’t mature into his work until he was 12 or 13, where most horses mature around six or seven. In general he’s probably the easiest to handle, though he still has the odd day you have to chase him around the field with a halter!”
According to Olof, “Jamaica likes to work hard. He may not be the most sociable horse in the barn but he’s one of my favorites, if I look at the more experienced horses.”
Taren also comments, “Jamaica doesn’t spend the day with the other horses; he keeps to himself. He puts his head down and gets on with the job. He’s been around long enough that he knows what’s going on. It’s a shame he’s getting old; you’re lucky at this level to get an 18 or 19-year- old still going, but he’s a clever horse – he knows when he can let another horse do the pulling. He’s in good shape and we still count on him for the team.”
Taren says that Jamaica is set in his ways, and when his 4:00 pm feeding time comes, he starts kicking the door if his dinner is a minute late. While Jamaica gets plenty of massage and special treatment as the patriarch of the team, he’s actually an easy keeper and relatively low maintenance.
Grumus is a 1997 Warmblood gelding, (Grusus out of Ofraah/Orbaldo), bred by Bernhard Mothe in Poland, and previously owned by German driver Michael Freund. He is a full brother of Janosch, a long-time, very good left wheeler of Michael Freund and Team Weber.
Known as “Mecki” around the barn, Grumus leads the team along with Rolex W. Rolex is very refined, but Grumus is a more old-fashioned heavy boned type of horse. In spite of appearances they are an unbeatable combination.
His steady nature makes Grumus adaptable to new situa- tions and his willing character allows him go in all four positions, left and right, lead and wheel. His experience in the left wheel was especially appealing to Team Weber. For all his talent, though, he is not without a few quirks.
“Grumus is not exactly friendly,” explains Taren. “I can only put him next to one horse, Boy, who’s the only one he likes. He hates the dog and chases him out in the paddock. He loves humans, but to other animals he’s a killer. When we fly to Europe he has to be with Boy, and on the end so that he doesn’t have another neighbor. On his first flight to the U.S.
Chester, Olof and T
aren compete cross country
.
he went at it with the horse next to him like cats and dogs; it was nine hours and not a lot of fun!”
Parava is a 1997 KWPN gelding (Harmonie x Irzela/Renovo), bred by C. Van Etten in the Netherlands and previously owned by Valere Standaert of Belgium.
He has extensive experience in the international singles sport, with many dressage wins to his credit. His strong cadence, extreme movement and expressive front end make him stand out on any show ground. Additionally, his sensitive nature brings to Team Weber the reliability necessary for the most consistent work. Para is a very friendly personality with a reliable nature.
“Para is very eager to please, as they all are to be successful,” says Olof. “He’s very versatile, though he spends most of the time in the wheel because he tends to look around.”
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