George Isaacs
General Manager of Bridlewood Farm since 1989. Forever a fan of the cultivation of top quality equine athletes and Marion County as the ideal place for a thriving horse industry.
Lauren Kay
Lauren Kay
Charlotte Weber
4 Decades in Marion County
Charlotte Weber is the Owner of Live Oak Stud located just west of Ocala, Florida. Operating the 4,500-acre Thoroughbred farm and commercial cattle operation, Weber has solely guided the fortunes of this magnificent breeding and racing operation since 1995. In these past four decades, Live Oak Plantation’s distinctive black, red and white silks have become a nationally recognized racing symbol.
Through racing efforts at major tracks across North America, Live Oak has built a sterling record of accomplishments, including recent successes with 4-time Grade 1 winner World Approval, winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and 2017 Eclipse Award champion turf male, a Graded stakes double at Keeneland on April 8, 2017 when Holding Gold won the $200,000 Shakertown S. (G2) and Awesome Slew won the $250,000 Commonwealth S. (G3).
Other successes include World Approval’s older half-brother Miesque’s Approval, winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and 2006 Eclipse Award champion turf male, and other top horses including Revved Up, My Typhoon, Hesanoldsalt, and half-brothers Solar Splendor and Sultry Song (both out of homebred Sultry Sun).
The half-brothers Solar Splendor and Sultry Song notably won Grade 1 races on the same day in 1992 at New York’s Belmont Park.
“I remember the day was Sept. 19 because that’s the same day my daughter got married,” Weber recalled. It was one of the few times Weber could not be in attendance to see her horses run a big race.
The Live Oak “brother act” was repeated in 2006 with 9-year-old Revved Up and his half brother Miesque’s Approval winning stakes on the same day, both out of homebred Win Approval. On Sept. 9, 2006, 8-year-old Miesque’s Approval brought home the Red Bank S. (G3) en route to the Breeders’ Cup victory, while 9-year-old Revved Up won the Bob Harding S., both races at Monmouth Park. Revved Up’s sire is Live Oak’s Sultry Song. Joining his brothers and furthering Win Approval’s amazing legacy, World Approval joined his half-brothers Revved Up and Miesque’s Approval in the million dollar earnings club.
Success at the racetrack is simply a reflection of Weber’s approach to Live Oak’s successful breeding program.
“You try to breed the best to the best,” Weber explains. “If you are fortunate as I am, and you are able to race the horses you breed and give them the time necessary, they will return the investment. I do not want the instant profit or quick returns generated by running horses before they are ready.
“For example, in 2006 Revved Up was eight-years-old and going strong. Miesque’s Approval was a seven-year-old when he won the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
“I run it as a business,” Weber explained, referring to the thoroughbred and cattle operations active upon the beautiful expanse of oak covered land that comprises Live Oak. “It is one of my highest priorities to always be a good steward of the land.”
The Florida environment
From the time significant thoroughbred breeders found their way to Ocala in the 1950s and 60s, the Florida climate has become a siren song for horsemen and young thoroughbred horses on their way to racing greatness. Today, a comfortable majority of the top racing prospects in the nation pass through Ocala to train in its excellent environment.
The quality Live Oak environment and the excellent climate of Florida contribute greatly to the production of world class thoroughbreds. Beneath the spreading canopy of live oak trees, horses benefit from the lush green, nutrient-rich grass covering the gently rolling hills of Live Oak Stud. Romping in the golden Florida sunshine from the day they are born, Live Oak horses grow the strong bones and muscle of thoroughbred racehorses.
“Florida has the absolute advantage of its climate,” Weber said emphatically. “There is no doubt in my mind.”
It is said that the same limestone foundation that underlies Kentucky extends to Florida and underlies the rolling hills of Marion County. In this environment, young foals begin the work of becoming athletes almost immediately upon birth, as they are out and running across spacious, grassy paddocks from the day of their birth. Whereas, horses stabled in harsher climates may be confined to barns for weeks or months at a time to escape freezing elements.
Florida is also noted for its clear, cool spring water which streams out of the aquifers.
A Commercial Training operation
“Live Oak Stud is a public, commercial training operation,” Weber stated. “We are open to the public; we do take clients.”
Client horses receive the same care and attention that has brought Grade 1 success to Live Oak horses.
Chester C. Weber
Marion County Native
Chester Weber, the United States most celebrated combined driver, has earned numerous accolades and prestigious recognition for his accomplishments throughout the world. The Ocala, Florida native was raised on his family’s Live Oak Plantation, and started driving competitively at a young age, with mentoring from Jimmy Fairclough. When he was 18 years old, Chester was the youngest driver to be named to the United States Equestrian Team for the World Pairs Driving Championships in Beesd, the Netherlands. He earned 12 consecutive wins after advancing to the Four-in-Hand division in 1999. Then in 2008, Chester made history by becoming the first American to win an Individual Silver Medal in the Four-in-Hand FEI World Driving Championships. He won Englands Royal Windsor CAI3* two consecutive years, and receiving a personal congratulations from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Chester has three World Equestrian Games silver medals, 14 U.S. Equestrian Federation Four-in-Hand National Champion titles, and the number one slot on the FEI world rankings.
Chester is not only committed to promoting combined driving, but also is an avid supporter of all equestrian sports as he serves on the USET Board of Trustees. Chester also serves on the USEF High Performance Driving Committee, the National Driving Committee, the Safety Committee, the Hearing Committee, the Licensed Officials Committee and the Driving Technical Committee. He is also active in the organization of Live Oak International, which showcases FEI level combined driving and showjumping at his and the Weber familys 5,000-acre thoroughbred breeding farm Live Oak Plantation. Chester has twice been named as a USEF Equestrian of Honor, but he always shares the limelight with his horses, most famously his horse, Jamaica, who was named the 2008 USEF Horse of the Year and in 2013 was inducted into the EQUUS Foundation Hall of Fame.
For more information on Chester, explore our website www.ChesterWeber.com, official Facebook page www.facebook.com/LiveOakCombinedDriving, and Instagram @ChesterWeber.
Rob and Chris Desino
Nearly a Decade in Northwest Marion County
Founded nearly a decade ago by twin brothers Rob and Chris Desino, Heron Lane Farm is situated on 11 acres on Highway 225A in Ocala, Florida. The farm has been home to more than 30 three-day event horses and jumpers, including Deniro Z, a bay horse who is a reserve for the U.S. team for the World Equestrian Games this year and is projected to be in the 2020 Olympics.
In addition to being farm owners and equestrian competitors, Rob and Chris own and operate Ocala Horse Properties, earning their place as the leading real estate company selling horse farms throughout Ocala and Marion County. In addition, they own Wellington Equestrian Realty and between the two companies, they represent the largest portfolio of premier horse properties in the world.
Through Rob and Chris’ leadership, Ocala Horse Properties has sold and listed nearly 50 percent of all Marion County farms valued at $500,000 or greater for 2012. Additionally, Ocala Horse Properties has sold more farms than nine of the nearest competitors combined.
Rob and Chris are committed to improving Ocala’s Equestrian sports by giving back. Over the last 10 years, Ocala Horse Properties has given more than $1 million to supporting and growing local horse shows.
Prior to building their business and life in Marion County, Rob and Chris trained and competed for the World Championship Teams, were two-time National Collegiate Champions, and owned a chain of very successful restaurants in New York.
“We hope you enjoy Ocala and the area that we have come to love, Marion County. Whether it’s a beautiful morning at a horse show or a relaxing Sunday afternoon hack through Ocala horse country, there truly is no place like Marion County, FL in the world.”