The bookends to this 10-day equestrian extravaganza are the Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping Tournament held at the beautiful 5,000-acre Weber family Thoroughbred breeding farm (this year March 13-16), and the FEI Longines League of Nations week of 5* international show jumping held at the impressively massive, bright-and-shiny World Equestrian Center (this year March 19-23). At both events, fans can see elite human and equine athletes from around the world under stately live oaks, waving palm trees and the glorious Florida sun.

Mark your calendars for these events in March 2026 and get ready to immerse yourself in the equestrian scene in the Horse Capital of the World®. (Yes, Ocala, and surrounding Marion County, Fla., have registered this title with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.) The county boasts more horses and ponies than any other in the USA with over 15,000 Thoroughbreds among them and over 600 Thoroughbred breeding farms. But, beyond that, Arabians, Quarter Horses, Gypsy Vanners, Clydesdales, European Warmbloods, and many other equine breeds call the county home, too.

2025 Live Oak International Report

It’s difficult to beat the ambience of the Weber family estate with huge, Spanish-moss-bedecked live oaks and grassy-green fields as far as the eye can see. Attendees of the Live Oak International Tournament have the rare opportunity to visit the private estate during the annual event. This year was the 34th renewal of the competition which features four days of international-level (2* and 3*) and national-level combined driving, plus three days of international-level (CSI4*) show jumping―the only event in North America showcasing the two sports together.

Hosted by the Weber family with champion driver Chester Weber and his niece and FEI show jumper Chloe Reid (daughter of Chester’s sister Juliette) as co-presidents of the tournament, there is much to do and see for sports fans and families alike. Find a great introductory video about the history of the Live Oak Tournament here.

In addition to the driving and jumping competition, Live Oak featured an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdale eight-horse hitch on Saturday afternoon, and daily performances by enthusiastic dock-diving dogs who launched into a specially-constructed pool chasing their favorite toys. The NetJets airplane simulator was also available for walkthroughs and the children’s play area with huge white sand pile and a bouncy house was a hit. A host of shopping tents, a food court featuring barbecue, wood-fired oven pizzas, Cuban food and more, and a beer garden, rounded out the fun. Event organizers reported record crowds of more than 15,000 over the four days.

1 of 3

The Live Oak combined driving drew participants from five countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, and United States) and 18 U.S. states (California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Live Oak has become a circle-the-date event for many drivers, because it offers more atmosphere with the large crowds, a world-class venue much like those encountered in Europe, and both national and international divisions including additional classes for youth and para drivers. Many of the drivers in the international divisions were also striving to qualify for the World Championships later this year.

Two days of driven dressage tests on Thursday and Friday opened the Live Oak combined driving event, followed by the marathon phase on Saturday and then the cones class concluded the competition on Sunday.

Winners of the Live Oak international driving classes were: FEI2* Pony Single, Tina England, Odessa, Ontario, Canada; FEI2*Horse Single, Marcus Holzinger, Metamora, Mich.; FEI3* Pony Single, Janelle Marshall, Australia (now based in South Carolina); FEI3* Pony Team, Bram Chardon of the Netherlands driving American Mary Phelps’ four pinto ponies; FEI3* Horse Single, Raymond Helmuth, Cambridge, Iowa; FEI3* Horse Pair, Jacob Arnold, Paris, Ky., and FEI3* Horse Teams, Chester Weber driving his own four-in-hand, Ocala, Fla.

1 of 5

The Live Oak international FEI5* show jumping classes ran Friday through Sunday with the CSI5* $190,000 Live Oak International Grand Prix, presented by Lugano Diamonds, capping the long weekend. Competitors from at least nine countries entered the jumping classes. The winner of the Lugano Grand Prix was Ireland’s Christian Coyle riding Extravaganza Semilly owned by Alexis Bodo. His brother Daniel Coyle rode Canadian owner Ariel Grange’s Farrel to second and the USA’s Will Simpson guided Imar, owned by Elizabeth Phillips, to third. The Live Oak jumping series Leading Rider Award went to Ireland’s Jordan Coyle, the Leading Lady Rider Award to Jenny Rankin (IRL), and the Leading Owner Award to Aaron Vale (USA).

1 of 3

During Sunday’s Grand Prix with only five riders out of 21 starters left to go, the skies opened up and over two inches of rain fell in a little over an hour. Since lightning was also present, for the safety of all, the show committee called a pause in the competition and sent competitors back to the barn to wait out the weather. The organizers and FEI ground jury, along with several competitors, walked out into the arena as the rain slowed and talked at length about options as water covered the arena surface. The decision was made to wait another hour, which paid off since the arena surface drained incredibly well and it was safe to continue, a real testament to the construction and maintenance of the ring surface there.

“This was an exceptional day of competition, proving once again that when tested, Live Oak International is equipped to thrive,” said Weber. “Despite the weather challenges, we came together as a community of competitors and organizers to ensure the safety and success of the event. I couldn’t be prouder of our arena and our team.”

Simpson spoke of his admiration for the Live Oak show, “The organizing committee did an amazing job managing the weather and the footing. It was an incredible day of sport, and the grass fields here are second to none. I’ve always loved this show; we really have to keep these grass fields.”

For a complete list of all of the 2025 Live Oak International combined driving and show jumping participants, course maps, and results, visit here.

To watch replays of the 2025 Live Oak International Tournament go to FEI.TV on ClipMyHorse. (A paid subscription is required, but you may be eligible for a trial period. Some events are available through USEF Network via ClipMyHorse, so if you are a USEF member, check to see if you are eligible to view through that membership.)

The 2026 Live Oak International Combined Driving and Show Jumping Tournament will return for the 35th year on March 12-15, 2026. For more information, click here.

USA Wins: 2025 Longines League of Nations Ocala Synopsis

Just a couple of days after the Live Oak competition ended, international jumper riders and horses took center stage just a few miles down the road at World Equestrian Center (WEC). The current 387-acre WEC facility, completed in 2020, is designed as an equestrian community onto itself with two major hotels, a general store and other vendors, restaurants, a chapel, a huge gas station, feed and bedding suppliers, medical facilities for horses and humans, more than 15 outdoor arenas, six indoor arenas, 20 barns with over 3,000 stalls and more. The Roberts family, owners of the WEC facilities in both Florida and Ohio, actually own 6,000 acres in Florida with plans for more expansion.

This year was the second for WEC Ocala to host a leg of the FEI Longines League of Nations (LLN) show jumping series. The FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale or International Equestrian Federation) created this new Nations’ Cup competition in 2024. Riders on teams from 10 nations compete at four qualifiers in 2025: Abu Dhabi (UAE) in February; Ocala (USA) in March; Rotterdam (NED) in June, and St. Tropez-Gassin (FRA) in September.

Of the ten competing in the four qualifiers, only eight teams will ultimately qualify for the Longines League of Nations Finals in Barcelona (ESP) this October. The winner of the LLN Final of last year’s season (Germany) was automatically qualified for this year’s season series regardless of their ranking on the relevant qualification list. The remaining nine places were allocated to the nine best-ranked teams in the LLN Ranking list (excluding last year’s winner). Qualified nations for 2025 are: Belgium; France; Germany; Great Britain; Ireland; Italy; the Netherlands; Sweden; Switzerland, and the USA.

As with the other older Nations’ Cup formats, the LLN competition is run over two rounds, with identical courses. Both rounds are run according to FEI jumper rules Table A, against the clock. The ten competing nations’ teams (four riders each) all jump in the first round, followed by a rest period. Then, three riders each from the top eight teams from the first round return to compete in the second round. The team with the lowest combined score (faults) wins. The LLN competition rules can be found here.

For more information on the FEI Longines League of Nations competition, including information about each leg of the series, competitor photos, news, statistics, current standings, dates for the remainder of 2025 and the 2026 series, and more, go to their website here.

While the March 22 Ocala FEI Longines League of Nations two-round competition was a standalone event, there was a week of international 2* and 5* show jumping classes at WEC designed to augment the show for both competitors and spectators. After the first horse inspection on Tuesday, March 18, international jumper classes kicked off on Wednesday, March 19 and finished on Sunday, March 23. To find starting orders, results and course maps for the entire week of 2* and 5* jumping at the WEC, including the LLN Ocala competition, visit here.

On Thursday, March 20, a CSIO5* $350,000 Lugano Grand Prix featured many of the same riders who would compete in the LLN on Saturday. The top three finishers in that Grand Prix were Germany’s Christian Kukuk on Just Be Gentle in first, Ireland’s Cian O’ Connor riding Iron Man second and Nina Mallevaey from France on Nikka vd Bisschop third.

Kukuk talked about Just Be Gentle (an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Ludger Beerbaum Stables in Germany) who he has been riding for two years after the Grand Prix, “She’s a sharp lion and, in the ring, she wants to go fast. The more you ask of her, the more ability she gets. I am very, very happy to have her in my stable. She will step up in the Nations Cup on Saturday, and I’m excited for the rest of the year.”

The course designer for this year’s Ocala LLN leg was Alan Wade from Ireland. His courses showed his knowledge of the sport and the teams involved, and were designed with the welfare of equine and human athletes in mind. The arena was also visually appealing with gorgeous aesthetic design including jumps featuring Florida attractions as well as event sponsors.

Saturday’s Longines League of Nations main event played out in front of packed stands with spectators cheering for all competing, but cheering even louder for their home teams, of course. Riders for the U.S. team, coached by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, were Lillie Keenan on Argan de Beliard (a 15-year-old Selle Français gelding by Mylord Carthago owned by her family’s Chansonette Farm) going first, Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25 (a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cascadello owned by the Carissimo Group) second to go for the USA, Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 (a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Diarado’s Boy owned by St. Bride’s Farm) in the third spot, and anchor U.S. rider McLain Ward on Ilex (a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Baltic VDL that he owns in partnership with Bonne Chance Farm and was his 2024 Paris Olympic Games mount).

1 of 4

They all jumped very well in round one, with only Vale and Carissimo having one rail down and the other three clear and within the time. So, the U.S. team was sitting of a low score of only four faults after round one and in the lead by just one point over Germany. The pressure was on and the U.S. riders really stepped up in round two, with Keenan, Kraut and Ward returning to jump a second time (Vale and Carissimo were the team’s drop score from round one so didn’t return for round two).

Keenan was first again to jump for the USA in round two; she and Argan de Beliard put in another flawless round. Eight rides later, Kraut and Dorado 212 entered the ring and started off beautifully, but as Kraut worried about making the tight time allowed, she decided on a sharp turn back to the big wall (fence number 10) and Dorado unfortunately knocked some blocks off the top for four faults.

The USA and Germany remained neck and neck in the competition when Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair, going next to last in the order, turned in their second clear round of the day. So, it was all up to veteran rider Ward and Ilex to clinch the win for the USA as they entered as last to go in round two. That’s just what they did, turning in a perfect round for the USA to remain one point ahead of Germany to win the Ocala Longines League of Nations.

In a press conference after the League of Nations competition, U.S. riders and Chef d’Equipe Ridland commented on the competition and the win. Ridland praised the LLN and his team, “I’ve said it many times before, I love the format that the League of Nations has, specifically for the excitement. Of course, it’s always nice to be on the right end of the excitement. It was great that Laura added to that [when she and Dorado dropped fence 10] just to make sure McLain had some real pressure on him going out there. How things can change in that second round. We have a veteran team here and these are horses that have done it before. There’s a reason why we picked the team we have here. It’s our home Nations’ Cup, and we had some incredible competition that we had to beat. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Keenan, 28, who trains with Ward and is currently ranked number 25 in the Longines World Rankings, reflected on being the newest rider on the Team, “Anytime I get to ride alongside these riders who I have looked up to for as long as I’ve ridden a horse is pretty special. To win on home soil and to have everyone see one of the best venues in the world, and the best venue in America, is so special because we all share an incredible sport. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate it here and with a home win.”

Ward, 49, said he also loves the new LLN competition design, “I think the drama at the end is a testament to the format; it makes for excellent sport and competition. I don’t know how many times now I’ve been in that position of having to jump clear. I’d be lying to tell you it isn’t filled with some nerves and anxiety. I was going down the ramp, and when Sophie [Hinners from Germany] jumped clear, I got a smile on my face and my thought was, ‘Okay, game on. This is what we do.’ You focus. That’s what you live for.”

The win gave USA 100 points to add to the 40 they accrued in Abu Dhabi during the first leg of the 2025 LLN. This moved them up to fourth in the LLN order after the first two competitions. Ireland and Germany are currently leading the series tied on 170 points each and France is in third with 150. To see the current LLN standings after these, visit here.

All legs of the League of Nations competition may be viewed (both live and on-demand replays) on FEI.TV via Clip My Horse (paid subscription required, although a free 30-day trial is available).

View replays of the 2025 LLN Ocala competition here.

More Horsing Around Ocala

Additional equestrian competition venues in Ocala include the Florida Horse Park, and the HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) circuit. The Florida Horse Park features a large eventing course, outdoor and indoor show arenas and lots of stabling. The Park hosts virtually any kind of equestrian competition you can think of from Western to English and everything in between. These include, but are not limited to, a large draft horse show in February (the Grandview Invitational), trail and ranch horse classes, eventing, dressage, hunter-jumper, breed shows, cutting, contest classes, mounted games, polo, United States Pony Clubs rallies, and more. The HITS circuit specializes in hunter-jumper competition.

For more equestrian fun stuff in the Horse Capital of the World, consider scheduling a trail ride at one of several farms in the area or touring local farms, then cap the day with meal at one of several equestrian-branded eateries (these include places like Horse & Hounds Restaurant, Stirrups Restaurant and Yellow Pony Pub & Garden to name few). Outdoor activities, museums and cultural events abound to round out the agenda for a trip to Ocala. Find ideas for planning these activities at the Ocala-Marion County Visitor’s’ Center website or call them at (352) 438-2800, as well as the Visit Florida website section on Ocala.

One other tip for animal lovers visiting Ocala―for great wildlife viewing, check out the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and its Three Sisters Springs, located near the town of Crystal River, Fla. The refuge is located less than an hour’s drive from WEC. It is one of the best places in the world to see the endangered West Indian manatee, especially during the months of mid-November through about the end of March.

To get more nature and outdoor fun packed into your travel itinerary, Rainbow Springs State Park and Silver Springs State Park are both located near Ocala, too. Find these and more through Florida State Parks resources.

This article is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Ten Magical Days in Ocala: From Live Oak International to Longines League of Nations & More Horsey Adventures appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

For equestrians, the “most magical place on earth” isn’t found in Orlando, Fla., but a couple of hours north. Known as Horse Capital of the World, Ocala/Marion County is home to a staggering variety of breeds, world champions and hundreds of breeding and training farms. It’s also the site of the stunning new World Equestrian Center Ocala (WEC).

Hailed as the largest indoor/outdoor equestrian facility in the world, this unparalleled facility provides a no-expense-spared approach in a magnificent setting complemented by meticulous management.

The venue’s slogan, “Quality. Class. Distinction,” cannot be accused of exaggeration.

Relocating to Ocala

Although he’s competed in at least three dozen countries, Sharn Wordley says he’s never been to another facility like WEC. A top-ranked international grand prix show jumper who is originally from New Zealand, Wordley moved to the U.S. in 2004.

“Not only do they have the best facility in the world, they also have the best attitude in giving you a fantastic product,” says Wordley. “It’s all, ‘How can we help you?’ The footing is fantastic, the stabling, the rings, jumps, organization and the willingness to make the experience second to none are different from every other horse show I’ve come across before, especially in America. It’s an extraordinary feeling there.”

Wordley sold his place in the ritzy equestrian playground of Wellington, a three-and-half-hour drive southeast, and bought a farm in Ocala, just a few miles from WEC.

“We moved our whole operation here, and the reason we came was because of WEC,” he says. “So many people are doing that; Ocala became a great place to base out of.”

A champion hunter rider, Amanda Steege is also respected as a trainer of both professional and amateur hunter riders.

“We spend the winters in Ocala and have been coming here since 1998,” says Steege, who is in Florida from November 1 through May 1. Her Ashmeadow Farm is based in California and New Jersey the rest of the year.

Steege has shown at WEC since it opened, and she is outspoken about the venue’s amenities.

“We love the large, permanent stalls that are matted,” she notes. “Having wash stalls indoors makes it so much nicer for the horses and staff taking care of them.”

Steege points out that at some venues footing is not consistent in all rings. This is not the case at WEC.

“There is no bad ring at WEC,” she says. “All the rings are quality, and the footing is perfect. The longing and schooling areas have the same footing as the actual show arenas. You’re only showing a few minutes a day and the rest of the time you’re working and preparing, so it’s a really nice benefit to have perfect surfaces for this.”

Steege also appreciates being able to ride inside during inclement weather. As a trainer who regularly has clients coming in, she finds that having a hotel and restaurants on site is a huge perk for them and their families.

For the Humans

Horses aren’t the only ones who stay in style at WEC. The luxurious 248-room Equestrian Hotel opened in June 2021 and includes a fitness center, spa, salon, and a high-end steak house.

Expected to open in mid-2024 is a second on-site hotel with almost 400 pet-friendly rooms, the majority of which will be suite accommodations.

WEC offers multiple on-site shopping and dining options, including eight restaurants. Eateries aren’t just for hotel guests and horse show exhibitors—they’re also open to the public.

Vision Becomes Reality

The magnificent venue that is WEC was the vision of the Roberts family, a horse-loving clan originally from Ohio.

“My mom was passionate about horses—we grew up riding Quarter Horses and rode in 4-H all the way up to Quarter Horse Congress,” says Roby Roberts, CEO of WEC and R+L Carriers, which began in 1965 with one truck and grew into a global freight transportation and logistics company.

To address the lack of show places in southern Ohio, the family built Roberts Arena in Wilmington. For decades, they operated it as “The Showplace of the Midwest,” a popular destination for AQHA and other breed shows. Roberts Arena was rebranded as the World Equestrian Center in early 2016.

Their Ohio facility was the spark to create a much larger, even more grand venue in Ocala. The Roberts family already knew the area well: They bought a 1,000-acre farm there in the late 1990s to launch their Quarter Horse breeding operation.

English, Western, and More

WEC officially opened on December 12, 2020, and hosted its first horse show beginning January 5, 2021. In its first full year of operations, 36 WEC-owned shows were held at the venue.

Since then, WEC has hosted the nine-show WEC Dressage Series and two brand-new WEC Quarter Horse shows: A Sudden Impulse NSBA & Futurity and The Championship show, a month-long event featuring reining, barrel racing, ranch classes, western pleasure, halter classes and more.

In February 2021, WEC hosted the Premier Equitation Cup, an equitation event for elite Junior riders, where the winner received an SUV. The venue held a Youth Challenge class for western riders at the Championship Show, where the winner won a new truck.

Many shows also leased the facility, such as the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals, the Ocala International Horse Show, the Paso Fino Horse Association’s Grand National Championship Show, and the Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity.

Thanks to its expansive amenities, WEC isn’t limited to horse shows. Among specialty events held in 2021 were the Golden Retriever Grand Nationals, bull riding, benefit concerts, the Ocala Food & Wine Festival, Oktoberfest, and a five-week-long Winter Wonderland.

The venue’s massive size allows it to host different events simultaneously. Its 2022 schedule included a draft horse show, New Year Paso Fino Festival, the Peruvian Paso World Show, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championships, the American Invitational and the Feathered Horse Classic.

At any one time, there are typically 3,000 people on-site attending events.

On-Site Vet Clinic

Slated to open in late spring 2022 is a 40,000-square-foot veterinary hospital that will accommodate both large and small animals. As part of a strategic alliance between WEC and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, the facility will be known as the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC and will be open to the public, as well as to WEC exhibitors.

Equine services available at the facility will focus on sports medicine, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation. Small animals can receive both urgent and primary care, with the goal of expanding outpatient specialty services for both horses and small animals.

Satellite Facility

In 2021, the Roberts family bought The Ocala Jockey Club, a nearly 1,000-acre parcel in the northern part of the county, about a 30-minute drive from WEC. With its rolling hills and panoramic setting, the property has hosted eventing competitions for years.

“The Ocala Jockey Club brought a combination of training, competition and elegant hospitality to the venue that is in line with our World Equestrian Center vision,” says Roberts. “Through this acquisition, we aim to continue those traditions of great sport and grand entertaining, while investing in the future of equestrian sports in Ocala.”

Renovations are currently underway to enable the facility to host weddings and special events under the World Equestrian Center brand of hospitality management. Once finished, the facility will be known as The World Equestrian Jockey Club.

By The Numbers

◆ WEC is a 378-acre showplace surrounded by additional acreage for future expansion. All told, the Roberts family owns about 6,000 acres in the immediate area, including the adjacent Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club.

◆ WEC boasts 5 spacious climate-controlled indoor arenas and 22 outdoor show rings, all containing custom-blended synthetic footing to provide cushion while reducing dust and enhancing drainage.

◆ A centerpiece of the facility is the 145,000-square-foot Grand Outdoor Arena, which has covered grandstands on three sides and two 30-by-60-foot Jumbotrons.

◆ The venue’s cross-country course was designed by Captain Mark Phillips, Olympic gold medal-winning rider for Great Britain.

◆ WEC can accommodate more than 3,000 horses on the property.

◆ There are 25 air-conditioned barns with a total of 3,000 concrete block stalls outfitted with a patented shock-absorbing stall mat system. There are also 250 turnout paddocks.

◆ WEC also offers miles of hacking trails with all-weather, custom-blended footing, allowing riders to exercise their horses outside the arenas.

To learn more, visit the WEC website.

This article about World Equestrian Center Ocala appeared in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Introducing the World Equestrian Center in Ocala appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.