The Florida Horse Park will be having a month of firsts come April. It will be the first time an internationally-recognized combined driving event will be held on the grounds, the first time a show jumping competition will be held, the first time an internationally-recognized two-star eventing competition will take place there, and the first time polo tournaments will be held. Competitors from at least five countries will be at these events, two of which are sanctioned by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Both the CAI-B Sunshine State Combined Driving Event and the $100,000 Ocala Jumping Classic will begin the month's activities, April 7-9. The driving event is a qualifying event for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, this summer and will test the skills of such renowned drivers as Chester Weber, Meghan Benge, Keady Cadwell and Miranda Cadwell. At CAI-A Live Oak Driving Event in Ocala, March 16-19, Weber earned the National Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Championship for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Johnson in reserve and Fairclough in third.

The Sunshine State CDE sponsored by GreenSouth Equipment "will be the first event of its kind in Ocala," said Weber, explaining that it will be just as much about testing the skills of the exhibitors as it is about providing entertainment for the spectators. In addition to the driving, there will be Children's Home Society's Dozer Days, an antique tractor show and a show jumping competition.

The Festival of the Horse presented by the Star Banner will take place April 20-23. It will consist of the CCI**/CCI* Florida International Three-Day Event, Jack Russell races, an antique car show, arena polo on April 22, a Vendor Village and breed demonstrations. The polo tournament will feature a "Celebrity Chukker," where local well-known names will try their hand at polo.

Captain Mark Phillips will be designing the course for the two-star three-day event. The chef d'equipe for the U.S. Eventing Team, an Olympian and a well-known course designer, Capt. Phillips praised the staff at the horse park and feels the park "will become a very important part of the competition and training program in the winter time."

For details on any of the events, call (352) 307-6699, or visit www.flhorsepark.com.


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