Live Oak International at 35.
Live Oak International is one of the few events in the United States that combines combined driving and show jumping at a world-class level—on grass and designed to impress.
That distinction sets it apart. In an era when many competitions rotate through large, multi-week venues built for volume, Live Oak remains something rarer: a once-a-year championship atmosphere hosted at Live Oak Stud in Ocala. The setting is intentional. The scale is deliberate. And the experience feels elevated—from the horses stepping onto the turf in the main arena to the VIP guests enjoying delicacies in the hospitality tent.
Now entering its 35th year, Live Oak International marks a milestone that reflects decades of consistency and care. In two sports defined by movement—circuits expand, venues rotate and competitions stretch across multi-week schedules built for scale—longevity is not accidental.
Live Oak International has chosen a different path. It remains singular: four days, once a year, on the same stretch of Florida turf.
That continuity has allowed the event to develop something increasingly rare in modern equestrian sport—identity. Riders return knowing the feel of the grass beneath their horses’ hooves. Spectators return seeking the family fun that can only be found once a year under the live oak trees. Drivers navigate a property that has hosted decades of championship moments. Spectators mark their calendars not for a circuit stop, but for an annual tradition.
Live Oak International’s appeal extends far beyond the competition itself, offering a full weekend of experiences that celebrate community, hospitality and fun for all ages. VIP ticket holders enjoy prime ringside seating with premium hospitality—including reserved tables with buffet and open bar options, access to special VIP areas and curated food and beverage service—creating a social and comfortable way to take in the world-class equestrian action. Beyond the arena, spectators can partake in the quintessential Live Oak traditions: spirited tailgating along the marathon course, themed Saturday evening festivities, a lively Biergarten atmosphere and activities like the AdventHealth Ocala Kid Zone that ensure families have plenty to enjoy together.
For the Weber-Reid family, this is not simply a date on the calendar. It is the culmination of year-round preparation and a deep respect for horsemanship.
“LOI feels like my child,” Chloe D. Reid says. “Our team works so hard all year for a one-week event. I know all the ins and outs about the event, and it is really fun to nurture it and then watch it succeed.”
That sense of stewardship is reflected in the caliber of competition the event draws. Combined driving at the four-in-hand level represents the pinnacle of the sport—four horses, one carriage and a driver guiding them through marathon and cones phases under championship pressure. Show jumping at the CSI1* and CSI4* levels brings elite riders into the same arena, competing for increased prize money in 2026.
“Our team works so hard all year for a one-week tournament. I know all the ins and outs about the event, and it is really fun to nurture it and then watch it succeed.”
This year, Live Oak International hosts USEF National Championships for Four-in-Hand and Youth Driving, placing national titles on the line and drawing some of the strongest fields in the country. For younger athletes, the opportunity to compete in the main arena, on grass, under championship conditions is both rare and formative.
At the center of it all is Chester C. Weber, widely recognized as one of the most accomplished combined driving athletes in the world. A multiple medalist at the FEI World Equestrian Games and 22x USEF National Champion, Weber has helped define the sport at its highest level. Hosting Live Oak International at his family’s farm is not simply about staging a competition—it is about creating an environment that reflects the sport at its highest level.
The weekend’s competitive flow unfolds across four days. Thursday opens the event with combined driving dressage in the main ring, marking the first phase of driving competition. On Friday, driving dressage continues alongside the early show jumping classes, including the CSI4* Qualifier. Saturday features the driving marathon across the property in the morning, with additional show jumping in the arena later in the day, including the CSI1* Grand Prix and CSI4* Stake. Sunday brings the final driving cones and obstacles phases in the morning, followed by the CSI4* $200,000 Live Oak International Grand Prix in the afternoon, closing out both disciplines and highlighting the crescendo of competition from start to finish.
While the sport anchors the event, the atmosphere extends well beyond the arena. Tailgating—long a Live Oak International tradition—takes on a new dimension this year, with curated food and beverage packages delivered directly to reserved spaces. Hospitality areas, including wine gardens and the Biergarten, offer places to gather between classes, and the AdventHealth Ocala Kid Zone returns for younger spectators.
And then there is Saturday night. Each year, the event closes its most competitive day with a themed celebration that has become its own tradition. This year’s “Out of This World” party once again promises an evening that departs from the arena entirely, with entertainment revealed only as the night unfolds.
With national championships on the line and world-class competitors descending on Ocala, Live Oak International returns March 12-15, 2026. Advance General Admission tickets are $15, children under six are free, and VIP hospitality packages begin at $300.
For one week each spring, Live Oak Stud becomes a championship venue—and a gathering place—where tradition, competition and community meet on the grass.
While the sport anchors the event, the atmosphere extends well beyond the arena.
