The Live Oak International, named after its signature trees draped with Spanish moss, is a boutique horse show extraordinaire. Started 30 years ago as a combined driving competition, it is the only fixture in the U.S. that offers both grand prix show jumping and top-level driving (five advanced national championships were awarded this weekend).
Unlike the crowded grounds of the major show series, Live Oak offers thousands of peaceful acres where horses can relax, grazing and walking peacefully through wide open spaces in a setting that feels like what we call “old Florida,” before the days of high rises and retirement villages.
Horses feel peaceful standing under the live oaks. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
The show is put on by the Weber family. Chester Weber is among the best four-hand drivers in the world, while his sister, Juliet Reid, formerly was president of the Washington International Horse Show. Her daughter, Chloe, is a professional show jumper who upheld the family pride by winning a class at this year’s show.
Since 2015, Live Oak has been the final qualifier for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final ™. That’s particularly exciting during the years riders aim for the final in Las Vegas (2015 and 2020), because everyone is so eager to ride in that glittering city.
It always puts a little extra excitement into the $100,000 qualifier, and today’s class was no exception. The course was artfully designed by Olaf Petersen Jr., who is also laying out the routes next month for the final at the Thomas & Mack Center. His trademark is putting together designs that challenge the best riders while not overfacing those who aren’t at that level. And his favorite number for a jump-off is eight, which is what he got today.
Even better, the rounds got faster and faster in the tie-breaker, where the top three were all clocked in 37 seconds and change.
Adrienne Sternlicht is still bringing back her fantastic mare Crystalline, who was injured when she was on the gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games
Finishing the $100,000 class was a must-do requirement in order for Adrienne to be able to ride the 12-year-old in Vegas. But she did far better than that, with WEG teammate McLain Ward helping from the sidelines. Adrienne was clocked in 37.96 seconds, beating the previous mark set by Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., 38.66 aboard Caspar’s Lasino, owned by Olympic multi-medalist Anne Kursinski’s Market Street in Frenchtown, N.J.
Devin Ryan and Caspar’s Lasino. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
But when Margie Engle set off on Dicas, the crowd was leaning forward, riding with the famous speedster as she turned in a time of 37.37 seconds to move in front of Adrienne.
Daniel Coyle, the red-headed Irishman who rides for Canadian Ariel Grange, was last to go and managed despite a slip by Farrel to edge Margie in 37.05 seconds.
When Farrel slipped, Daniel thought he had lost and wondered if he would still be able to catch the leaders.
Winner Daniel Coyle of Ireland and Farrel. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“Both Margie and Adrienne have fantastic horses and are fantastic riders,” said Daniel. “Our plan was to go to come to Live Oak International with the hopes of qualifying for the Final and this win has done that for us.”
Farrel obviously was excited about his victory. He reared several times, as Margie distracted Dicas from the antics of Daniel’s horse with a few well-placed pats on the neck.
Farrel made sure everyone knew who won the big class. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
Adrienne, had a close call in terms of being able to compete in the $100,000 class after falling off in the Friday qualifier for the grand prix when the other horse she brought to Live Oak, Benny’s Legacy, took off long at a fence. Normally, she wouldn’t have been able to compete today, but since there were less than 40 vying for a spot in the big class, she got in.
Her performance this afternoon made her first in the Eastern sub-league of the Longines-sponsored North American League of riders qualified for the finals, with Beezie Madden second and 19-year-old whiz kid Brian Moggre standing third. Devin also won his ticket to Vegas, though he will ask the horse’s owner before making a final decision on whether to go West. But Margie is headed for Vegas with or without her horse; she loves to gamble.
The runaway winner of the Western sub-league is Karl Cook, while a seventh place finish today put Jenni McAllister into a Vegas slot, along with Alex Granato, who did not compete in Ocala.
The driving marathon Saturday drew a great crowd around the obstacles, where Chester (who had the best score in all of the hazards) drew the loudest cheers. He won his 17th national four-in-hand championship wire-to-wire, taking first in dressage and cones as well, while looking toward this summer’s world championships in the Netherlands.
Jacob Arnold drove a stunning duo of grays to claim the advanced pair horse trophy. Taylor Bradish took the advanced single horse title, as she aims for that division’s world championships for the first time. Katie Whaley (who designs the most intriguing hats) was the advanced pony pairs champ for the fifth time (while mulling moving up to a pony four-in-hand.) Three-time single pony titleist Jennifer Keeler is awaiting the first foal from her beloved Amazing Grace, whose offspring is arriving courtesy of a surrogate.
Chester Weber in the cones on the way to his 17th national championship. (Photo ©2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
So you can see that Live Oak is special, but it’s concerning that the show has lost its date on the calendar. Live Oak had kept the spot because it offered a World Cup qualifier, but as the list of qualifiers was cut from 14 to eight, starting in 2021, Live Oak did not get a renewal of qualifier status. So it will be the decision of the U.S. Equestrian Federation as to the show’s future.
It’s important to keep it going for show jumping, so horses can get a break from the all-weather footing at the big shows and enjoy jumping on grass. But it’s even more important for driving.
“This is the only (driving) event in the U.S. where we have more than one event (sport) happening at the same time,” pointed out Jacob, who is a member of the USEF board as an elected athlete. He noted, “It’s a great thing for our sport..We get more public, more attention, which helps obviously build driving’s name throughout the country. It’s a wonderful event, it’s very well put-on.”
Jon Garner, who took over as the show’s director of sport this year,said, “I think for the sport, this is a critical event to the calendar for sure. It changes the focus for the horses and riders, especially on the jumping side, because you’re on grass.
“For driving, it’s critical to have a high level event in your country. It’s going to raise up the skill level of the athletes. We have to find a way for 2021 where it fits and what the plan will be.”
The general opinion seems to be that a 3-star rating for Live Oak’s show jumping would fit in well on the schedule, particularly when the Winter Equestrian Festival across the state in Wellington offers a 2-star and a 5-star. A 3-star likely would draw more people, because it offers classes that are less difficult than a World Cup qualifier, I’ve been told.
Chester urged riders, drivers and anyone else who enjoys Live Oak to contact the USEF and tell the federation it’s important to get a date for next year.
“Without a date, we can’t have sport,” he emphasized.
