Chester Weber
Raised on his family’s Thoroughbred operation, Live Oak Plantation, Chester Weber came about his love of horses naturally. Consistently among Florida’s leading breeders by the earnings of its Thoroughbred race horses, Live Oak has been in the Weber family since 1968. The farm is situated in Ocala, the heart of Florida’s horse country which boasts an abundance of champions in many different breeds and disciplines.
Surrounded by the exploits of Live Oak’s successful runners, as a child Weber dreamed of becoming a jockey, although he physically outgrew that possibility. Soon it became clear that it wasn’t the race horses which stirred his heart and ignited his competitive nature. In the 1980s and early 90s, Live Oak bred and raised quality show Clydesdales. It was in working with the draft horses that Weber first discovered his passion was not in the saddle but in the carriage.
With perseverance and practice, he honed his driving skills, quickly advancing from showing draft horse teams to the speed and challenge of combined driving. The Clydesdales initially launched Weber’s driving career, but it has been his stable of top European warmbloods which has enabled him to compete successfully at the highest levels.
In addition to a full competition schedule, Weber works diligently to organize the annual combined driving event, CAI Live Oak, which is held at the farm every March. One of only two international events in the United States which is sanctioned by the Federation Equestre Internationale, CAI Live Oak regularly serves as a USET and Canadian Equestrian Team selection trial for the various driving divisions. As one of the country’s largest carriage driving events, the show draws high praise from contestants who travel from around the world to compete there. The event continues to attract a growing number of enthusiastic spectators.
Live Oak International
Hosted on the Live Oak Stud property since 1990, Live Oak International started as a small club-level driving tournament. Today, Live Oak International is the largest international-level combined driving and show jumping tournament in the country. Each year Live Oak International welcomes the leading drivers, riders, trainers, coaches and owners from Europe and North America.
In 1990, the Weber family was approached about hosting the marathon portion of a club-level driving competition which was being held at the Ocala Arabian Complex. The Weber family welcomed this invitation and the beautiful grounds of Live Oak Stud were first utilized as the grounds to host a competition.
After observing the tournament at his family’s property, Chester C. Weber, world champion four-in-hand driver, first competed at LOI in 1995 in the Horse Pair Division.
In 1997 when Weber graduated from university, he shifted his interests into the tournament and devoted his time to developing the combined driving sport in the United States. Now, Chester not only is one of the most exciting drivers to watch at Live Oak International, but he is also Co-President of the tournament alongside his sister, Juliet W. Reid, and his niece Chloe D. Reid.
While on a visit to the family-hosted tournament, Chloe brought up the excellent question of why the amazing venue with a world-class facility couldn’t host her equestrian discipline of choice, show jumping, as well as her uncles, combined driving. This comment ignited a lightbulb in Chester’s head and the rest is history.
In 2012, Live Oak International expanded and added international show jumping to the program. Live Oak International is the only combined driving and show jumping tournament in the United States.
