On the Rise: Ben Weaver

While Ben Weaver was seen this summer hustling around the Saratoga barn he was working in—riding the stable pony out with sets, meticulously examining horses' legs, casting an eye that the shedrow was tidy—it was less about doing a job than gaining an education.

As the only child of two extremely skilled and accomplished horsemen, Cindy Hutter, a former assistant trainer and exercise rider, and his father, multiple grade 1- and Breeders' Cup-winning trainer George Weaver, Ben is looking to carry on the family legacy.

Yet only a couple of years ago, the now-23-year-old was embarking on a much different path—one that had nothing to do with the racetrack.

Ben Weaver's answers are edited for clarity and length.

BloodHorse: Not that long ago you were studying engineering at the University of Central Florida when you had a change of heart about your career path. Why was that?

Ben Weaver: I was going to college for about three years to be a mechanical engineer. But after a while, I didn't like it as much (as the racetrack). I started coming back to the barn, which I had been around plenty growing up, and I was like, 'Yeah, I want to come back and work in the industry.'

I like science and math, and engineering is a lot of that. You know how you have an idea—but sometimes once you actually start doing the work, you change your mind. That's what happened to me. You spend three years doing something, and then you change your mind, and you kind of feel like, 'Oh, did I waste my time? Should I go back? What am I doing?' But now that I've made that change, I've become more comfortable with the decision. 

BH: Were your parents OK with your change in plans?

BW: They've always been very supportive with what I do; it's nice to have supportive parents.

BH: What do you recall about your days around the barn when you were younger?

BW: Mostly messing around with the grooms and stuff, jumping in buckets, just having fun. When you're a kid, you're not really focused on stuff other than that, but honestly, being around the horses was always really cool. They're such interesting animals. 

BH: When did you start learning how to ride?

BW: I rode with my dad a couple times, like really young, maybe 5 or 6 years old. Then my mom taught me down in Florida (at Palm Beach Downs) when I was around 14 years old.

BH: Having the benefit of learning from two parents with so much experience has to be something you appreciate so much.

BW: My mom taught me almost everything I know about horses. She taught me how to pay attention to the horses, how they stand, how they walk, and how they're feeling. Now my dad's taking that part over. 

BH: When your mom was seriously injured in a riding accident four years ago, which ended her time in the saddle, how did the family cope?

BW: At first we didn't get to talk to her because she was unconscious. It was really worrying. You didn't know what's what. There was so much uncertainty. You didn't know what's gonna happen. But luckily, she came out of it, and she's been working real hard to improve every day. 

That's simply an inspiration on its own to always do your best every day.

BH: When you look around the racetrack and you see the children of prominent trainers now training so successfully on their own—Miguel Clement, Riley Mott, and Will Walden—is that a motivator for your future plans?

BW: It's definitely an inspiration. It shows you can do as well (as your parents), and that it definitely helps to be in the business at a young age, and to start making good client relationships. It's pretty cool seeing other people doing the same thing (I want to do).

BH: How long do you want to work in your dad's barn before you begin training on your own?

BW: I'll give myself seven years, until I'm 30, and then I'll split off.