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Hollow Creek Farm Returns to Sponsor at Live Oak International

Rafael Jose Contreras of the Dominican Republic, mounted on Valencio R.A.G., is presented as the winner of the $34,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round by Chester C. Weber, Co-President of the Live Oak International, and Angel Karolyi of Hollow Creek Farm.
Photo by Mark Astrom

Rafael Jose Contreras and Valencio R.A.G. fly to the finish over the signature Hollow Creek Farm jump in the $34,000 CSI2* Hollow Creek Farm Winning Round at the 2013 Live Oak International.
Photo by Mark Astrom

March 19, 2014 – Ocala, FL – For the second year, Hollow Creek Farm will sponsor Sunday's $34,000 CSI2* Winning Round competition at the 2014 Live Oak International running March 19 to 23 in Ocala, Florida.

Having attended the inaugural Live Oak International show jumping event in 2012, business partners Andrea King and Angel Karolyi of Hollow Creek Farm in Aiken, South Carolina, were anxious to lend their support and ensure the event's future success. In 2013, they stepped up to sponsor the CSI2* Winning Round competition, and have once again committed to do so this year.

Hosted by the Weber family at its Live Oak Plantation, King and Karolyi felt it was important to support the Live Oak International in its quest to produce an event at international standards.

"I've known the Weber family forever," explained King, a well-known trainer and familiar face on the show jumping scene. "Charlotte with the race horses, Chester with the combined driving, and Juliet in the show jumping. The entire family does so much to support horse sport as a whole, and we really appreciate having an opportunity to give back."

The Weber family's Live Oak Plantation, home of the Live Oak International driving and show jumping tournaments, is perhaps best known as a thoroughbred racing stable with its homebred Miesque's Approval winning the 2006 Breeder's Cup. Ten-time winner of the USEF Four In Hand Driving Championship, Chester C. Weber bases his driving operation on the family's property, and has been organizing an annual driving competition at Live Oak for more than 20 years. In 2012, show jumping made its debut, thanks in large part to the efforts of Chester's sister, Juliet W. Reid, who recently concluded a four-year term as President of the iconic Washington International Horse Show.

"Chester, Juliet, and the Live Oak team are doing a great job of putting on a top-class horse show," said Karolyi, who will be competing at this year's Live Oak International. "We feel it's important to support those who are working in the best interests of the competitors, the spectators, and the sport as a whole. Live Oak is working hard to create and develop interest in our sport by producing a professional event.

"Additionally, by supporting Live Oak, we hope that other competition organizers are encouraged to follow their lead," continued Karolyi. "If other competition managers see what a good job they are doing at Live Oak, it will hopefully motivate and inspire them to create more top-level events. Live Oak is proof that if you produce a quality horse show, people will support it."

Live Oak also presents an ideal competition venue for riders such as Hollow Creek's star pupil, 17-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela, to gain experience competing at the international level. Balancing school work with his riding career, Andrade is based with Hollow Creek Farm in Wellington, Florida, throughout the winter season. In 2013, he won 14 Championship titles and 10 Reserve Championship titles in the Junior Jumper divisions and was named the Leading Jumper Rider for the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, beating out literally thousands of professional competitors for the title. In addition, King and Karolyi were named Leading Jumper Trainer while Hollow Creek Farm was named Leading Jumper Owner.

"We couldn't do what we do without the Andrade family," noted Karolyi, who partnered with King seven years ago in the operation of Hollow Creek Farm. "They are very helpful and supportive, and they believe in what we do, both in terms of horsemanship and for the sport. Their unwavering support means that, in turn, we can support the Live Oak International in reaching its goals of producing a world-class competition."

King couldn't agree more, saying "Live Oak is, without a doubt, the prettiest farm in the state of Florida. We really appreciate that the Weber family has opened its doors and invited the show jumping community to come to Live Oak. They did a great job the past two years, with wonderful footing and a really nice, well-run event. It's a special venue, of which there are very few in this sport, and we're excited to be a part of it again this year."

Karolyi, who has represented his native Venezuela on numerous Nations' Cup teams as well as at the 2011 Pan American Games, competed at the past two Live Oak events and is looking forward to returning.

"Live Oak is a great example of how a horse show can be beautifully done," complimented Karolyi. "Not only was the event itself magnificently produced, but the organizing committee went out of its way to take great care of both the exhibitors and the spectators. We're very much looking forward to being a part of this year's event."

On Sunday, March 23, a new champion will be crowned in the $34,000 CSI2* Winning Round, and Andrea King, Angel Karolyi and the Andrade family can't wait to congratulate the winner.

In addition to supporting the Live Oak International, Hollow Creek Farm is a major sponsor of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, presenting the Medium Junior Jumper division each week as well as being the title sponsor of the second annual Children's, Junior and Young Riders' Nations' Cup competition during WEF Week VIII. On April 5, Hollow Creek Farm will present the inaugural $25,000 Junior Amateur Classic at the American Invitational in its new home in Miami, FL.

For more information on Hollow Creek Farm, please visit www.hollowcreekfarms.com.

 

 


 
Starting Gate Communications is one of the world’s largest full-service public relations companies specializing in equestrian sport, particularly the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and three day eventing. With a wide variety of promotional services offered, Starting Gate Communications can spread the news about everything from horse show results to breeding information to product development. Simply put, if your business includes the horse industry, we will get you the recognition you deserve.
 

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