Rolex Wis a 1997 KWPN gelding, (Larix x Dorena/Wilhelms), bred by M. de Boer, the Netherlands, and previously owned by Michael Freund. An outstanding performer, Rolex is cur- rently used in the top team in the left lead in dressage together with his partner Grumus. A versatile horse, he has won competitions in all four positions in the team. In the spring of 2005 Rolex began to take on the role of a marathon and cones wheeler, proving that he is truly an asset on all three days of competition.
It took three years of thorough training to develop Rolex into a star, during which he learned most of his driving from Chester Weber and Olof Larsson at Live Oak Combined Driving in Florida.
“Rolex is an interesting horse,” remarks Olof. “I’d say he’s the best quality horse in the driving world right now. I’m usually a modest guy, but you can ask anyone. He came to us green and he was talented to start with. My wife Stacy rides him quite a lot – many dressage riders think he’s a waste as a driving horse! Rolex has the movement we’re looking for; he goes in the lead, which is where you usually have your best- moving horses with the most presence.”
Senate is a 2000 KWPN gelding (Balmoral x Emka/Ureterp), bred by J.A. De Haas of the Netherlands and previously owned by Peter Bennet in England.
Senate is a compact and handsome horse, and though he joins Jamaica at the wheel he has the talents and expression to earn a position in the lead. His versatility shows in the fact that he can go in all four positions in the team.
Taren and Senate have a special history together, since Senate belonged to Taren’s former employer, and he broke the horse as a three-year-old in England. “I’ve known him so long I have a very good connection with him,” says Taren. “Chester bought him at five and a half, and I was over here by then – actually I broke Senate in April of ’03 and by June I was at Chester’s.”
Taren continues, “Senate wants to play with the neighbor and be in everybody else’s business. Instead of doing his job he wants to play around.”
Boy Wis another 2000 KWPN gelding, (Manno x Dereda/Wilhelmus), bred by S. Daniels in the Netherlands, and previously owned by Michael Freund.
Boy is used in the top team in the left and right wheel along with Senate throughout the three days of competition. He was found as a youngster in Holland by Peter Bennett and then went on to Boyd Exell’s program, where it became apparent that he was going to be too valuable to be just an indoor wheeler. He was scooped up by Global Team partner Michael Freund who competed with him several times in the 2006 season after Weber acquired him. According to his han- dlers, Boy is an eager and energetic horse that will do any- thing to please the people around him.
Training to Win
It takes a great deal of time and dedication to create a top-class team of driving horses, and the task comes with its own set of difficulties.
Chester points out, “A challenge with the breeding and bloodlines for driving is it’s often a little hard to get them working over their backs – their conformation tends to be flat-backed and high necked.”
Olof’s wife Stacy is a Grand Prix dressage rider and often schools the horses under saddle to get them working correctly. Olof rides as well, though Chester does not personally ride the horses.
Getting horses started on the right track is important. “When I break young horses I first make sure they know how to steer on long lines, then pull a tire on a dray, then drive single,” explains Chester. “With the older horses that are broke to drive I’ll even put them in the lead of the team and they fig- ure out driving’s not so bad, because there’s no pull in the front. They have to really know their flat work then.”
He continues, “Lungeing and long lin- ing are part of my daily routine. I do a lot of individual work with the horses, especially in winter; in the heart of the season they spend more time working as a team.”He notes that in Florida the driving season starts at the beginning of March, pauses in July and August when it’s too hot, and then resumes September to October.
Close up shot during cross country 18
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