Source:  News Release/Starting Gate Communications

Live Oak International Set to Begin!
Show Jumping and Driving Coverage on USEF Network

2004 Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil competed in the inaugural CSI2* Live Oak International, recognized as a top three ‘Specialty Event’ by the North American Riders Group. Photo by www.PicsOfYou.com

Two-time World Driving Championship silver medalist Chester C. Weber of Ocala, FL, won the FEI Four-in-Hand division at the 2012 Live Oak International. Photo by www.PicsOfYou.com

Ocala, Florida – Live Oak International, the only equestrian event in North America to feature both world-class driving and show jumping, takes place from March 20 to 24 at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, FL.  For the first time, live coverage of Saturday and Sunday’s events from the Live Oak International will be available for viewing on the USEF Network, www.usefnetwork.com.

A total of 14 nations will be represented in the show jumping competition, including 2004 Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, and 1996 Olympic team silver medalists Leslie Howard of the United States.  Newly crowned 2012 Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher of Great Britain will also be in attendance, as will Andres Rodriguez of Venezuela, a winner at last year’s Live Oak International.

Featured show jumping events include Friday’s $5,000 1.30m Waldron Wealth Management Power & Speed competition at 2 p.m. and the $10,000 E2 Show Jumpers Welcome Stake at 4 p.m., Saturday’s $50,000 CSI2* Live Oak International Grand Prix at 2 p.m., and Sunday’s $33,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round at 2:30 p.m.  As an added incentive for competitors, G&C Farm will offer a $10,000 Leading Rider bonus while Jerry Parks Insurance Group will reward the Leading Junior Rider and the Leading Amateur Rider.

Two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios will be setting the tracks in the John Deere Arena, one of the few grass show jumping venues in the United States, while Damian Guthrie will manage the show jumping competition with assistance from Spruce Meadows personnel.

While show jumping is being offered for the second year, Live Oak International has hosted international driving competition for more than 20 years.  This year, it will offer the highest amount of prize money of any driving event in North America in addition to hosting the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Championship for Pairs.  Sanctioned as a CAI-B driving event by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and offering single, pair and four-in-hand divisions for horses and ponies, Live Oak International attracts the top driving competitors from across North America.  In the four-in-hand division, four entries will vie for top honors, including last year’s winner Chester C. Weber, who is also the Co-President of the Live Oak International.

“We are overwhelmed by the amount of support that this year’s event has received from both the show jumping and driving communities,” said Weber, a two-time World Championship individual silver medalist.  “We are in a unique position of having more entries in both disciplines than we can accommodate.  With the best athletes in the sport and the addition of live coverage on the USEF Network, those watching in person and from afar will be treated to world-class competition at this year’s Live Oak International.”

Driving will be held in three phases, beginning with Dressage on Thursday and Friday morning, Saturday’s Driving Marathon phase is especially thrilling as carriages negotiate complex obstacles, each individually sponsored.  Sunday’s driving events feature the all-deciding cones competition.  In 2012, over 5,000 spectators turned out to enjoy Saturday’s Driving Marathon competition followed by the $50,000 CSI2* Grand Prix for show jumping.

Held at Live Oak Plantation, the private 4,000-acre farm of the Weber family, the Live Oak International is produced by nine-time winner of the USEF Four In Hand Driving Championship Chester C. Weber of Ocala, FL, and his sister, Juliet W. Reid, who led the Washington International Horse Show as President of the Board for the past four years.  Offering unparalleled hospitality, competitors will enjoy the fun and excitement of Saturday night’s Denim & Lugano Diamonds Exhibitor’s Party.

Given the recent concerns over the spread of EHV-1 in the state of Florida, Live Oak International is working diligently with the organizing committees of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and the Stadium Jumping competitions in Tampa, FL, to establish protocols and enact biosecurity measures to ensure a seamless transfer of horses between the three venues. Live Oak International also acts as a qualifying event for the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G&C Farm in Tampa, FL, on April 6.

In addition to the competition, spectators can enjoy the Classic Car Show, sponsored by Palm Chevrolet & Kia, as well as a vendor village and the Signature Brands Kids Zone featuring pony rides and a bounce house.  Admission is $10 per person, $5 for children under 12, with proceeds benefiting the Marion County Therapeutic Riding Association.

Live Oak International wishes to recognize its generous sponsors for their support, including 14 Hands Vineyards, ABBA, Adequan, American Invitational, Michael Ayers, BB&T Chazel Insurance, Beloved Farm, Ned Bliss, Brandywine Tent, Camping World, Cannon Carriages, Cape Code Finished Wood Siding, Charles Owen, Cheney Brothers, Jane Forbes Clark, The Clothes Horse, Coast to Coast Truck & Trailer, Connollys Nursery, Dever, Don Stewart Stables, Dutta Corp, E2 Show Jumpers, Equine Journal, Fidelity Investments, Dr. Rae and Nancy Fischer, Florida Express, Freund, G&C Farm, Gloria Austin, Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, Grand Oaks Resort & Carriage Museum, Great American Insurance Group, Hermitage International Training Center, Hillcroft Farm, Hilton, Hollow Creek Farm, Wayne Humphreys, Insight Credit Union, Iron Spring Farm, Jerry Parks Insurance Group, Joan Pletcher Realtor, John Deere, Johnson Horse Transportation, Pixie Keating, Kentucky Classic, Kentucky Equine Research, Mary Mott-Kocsis, John Levy, Louisburg Farm, Lugano Diamonds, Marion County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Mark's Steak House, Mid State Electric, MorganStanley, Ocala Star-Banner, Palm Chevrolet & Kia, Party Time Rentals, Pine Flakes, PlaneSense, Peterson & Smith, RBC, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, The Sanctuary, Seminole Wellness, Shepherd Kaplan LLC, Signature Brands ,Sleepy P Farm, SmartPak, Christine Smith-Byerly, Stella Artois, Stonecliff Farm, Tequestrian, Trout Walk Farm, Waldron Wealth Management, Harley Waller, Waterside Environmental Care, Woodside Stables, WR Ranch and Dave and Boots Wright.

For more information on the Live Oak International, including VIP Hospitality seating and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.liveoakinternational.com.

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