Ocala has plenty of events to keep the horse lover busy, but the next few days are going to be pretty special. Once a year, carriage horse enthusiasts and horse lovers of all ages can enjoy the Live Oak International Driving Competition, hosted at Live Oak Plantation. This world class competition has been going on for over 20 years, but last year they added even more excitement by adding a show jumping competition as well, making it the only equestrian event in North America to feature both show jumping and world-class driving competitions.
The event runs from Thursday, March 21, and ends on Sunday, March 24, with plenty of action in between. The driving competition is divided into three phases, with dressage on Thursday and Friday morning, a driving marathon on Saturday, and the cones competition on Sunday. Dressage is judged on how the horse performs and on how well it s turned out, as well as the appearance and neatness of the carriage, plus the dress of the driver and the grooms . For the marathon, the carriages travel a course filled with water hazards, fences, twists and other types of obstacles. They are scored on how fast they make it through the course. For the cones part of the event, teams are required to drive through an obstacle course made of pylons and are penalized for knocking over any cones.
The jumping portion of the show features The Waldron Wealth Management Power and Speed competition , and the E2 Show Jumpers Welcome Stake on Friday, the Live Oak International Grand Prix on Saturday and the Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round on Sunday.
There will be plenty of fun for the whole family, including a classic car show, pony rides, and even a bounce house. So if you want to have a great time this week, check out the Live Oak International at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida. Maybe I’ll even see you there!
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