Well before this year’s silver anniversary celebration and the event burgeoning into a combined driving success story, Live Oak International was a small, mostly local affair.

In the 1990s, the event was held in a covered arena near Ocala, not the expansive outdoor course that it boasts today on the property of Live Oak Plantation. But the sport was also young then. It had only been recognized about 20 years earlier.

The Weber family bred and raised show-quality Clydesdales in addition to racing thoroughbreds in the 1980s and 90s. They hosted the Live Oak Invitational Draft Horse Show through the early 90s.

It was those draft horses which caught a young Chester Weber’s interest and soon his fascination with driving began in earnest.

Weber had to sit out the first Live Oak International. He was too young to officially compete. But once he got his chance, he would go on to become a dominant force in the sport.

The competition and Chester Weber have grown on almost parallel levels.

In 2014, Weber arguably had his best year ever. He won the Royal Windsor Horse Show in England, the Saumur show in France and became the first American to win the Aachen show in Germany before winning a silver medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Caen France.

In addition, he is a12-time USEF National Four-in-Hand Champion and has won his four-in-hand division at the Live Oak International since 2003.

At the same time, the show has also grown in popularity and stature. It routinely draws some of the best horses, drivers, trainers and owners from around the world. The show is one of only two internationally sanctioned events in North America.

For information about the Live Oak International event, please feel free to contact us today.