Live Oak International

What Makes Live Oak International a Premier Equestrian Event?

For more than three decades, Live Oak International has stood as one of the most distinctive equestrian competitions in North America. Held at Live Oak Stud — a prominent Thoroughbred breeding farm located approximately 12 miles west of downtown Ocala — the tournament is unique in combining CSI4*-rated international show jumping with FEI-level combined driving, making it the largest event of its kind in the United States. The 2026 edition marks the tournament's 35th year, a milestone that reflects both the event's staying power and its importance to Ocala's identity as the Horse Capital of the World.

The show jumping competition at Live Oak International carries a CSI4* rating from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), placing it among the highest-rated show jumping events held in the United States. This designation attracts top international riders who compete over technically demanding courses for significant prize purses. The grand prix classes are the highlight of the jumping schedule, drawing competitors from multiple countries and providing spectators with elite-level sport in an intimate, accessible setting that larger stadium venues cannot match.

Combined driving, the event's other marquee discipline, is a three-phase competition often described as the equestrian equivalent of an eventing triathlon. Drivers navigate dressage tests, timed marathon obstacle courses, and precision cones phases while controlling teams of horses harnessed to carriages. Live Oak International's combined driving competition is recognized as the premier event for the discipline in the country, attracting the top drivers from the United States and abroad. The marathon phase, in which drivers navigate their teams through natural and constructed obstacles at speed, is particularly popular with spectators.

Beyond the core equestrian competitions, Live Oak International has expanded over the years to include Dock Dogs — an aquatic dog sport featuring dock jumping and speed retrieve events — along with vendor areas, food options, and family-oriented activities. This combination of world-class equestrian sport and accessible entertainment has made the event a popular outing for families throughout Marion County's horse community and beyond.

The setting at Live Oak Stud adds to the event's character. The farm is one of Marion County's established Thoroughbred operations, and its manicured grounds, mature oak trees, and rolling pastures provide a backdrop that reflects the beauty of Ocala's horse farm landscape. Competition areas are set up across the property each year specifically for the tournament, creating an atmosphere that blends the traditions of a working horse farm with the logistics of an international sporting event.

Live Oak International occupies a central place in Ocala's annual equestrian calendar. Alongside the HITS winter circuit and year-round competition at the World Equestrian Center, it contributes to the concentration of high-level horse sport that distinguishes Marion County from any other region in the country. For visitors and residents alike, attending Live Oak International offers a chance to see world-class competition up close in the heart of American horse country.