Ocala, Marion County is home to the World Equestrian Center Ocala, over 1,200 horse farms, and over 50 breeds of horses.
It is no wonder Ocala is known as the "Horse Capital of the World"!
Nowhere else in the world will you find this combination of superior natural footing, beautiful weather year-round, countless numbers of equine competitions, and a seemingly unlimited number of retail services that focus solely on horses.
Ocala is home to a vast number of competitions and world-class equestrian venues that will keep you busy every weekend of the year. Ocala is proud to be home to the World Equestrian Center Ocala, Winter Circuit Hunter/Jumper Show, HITS; the Florida Horse Park, which hosts a number of eventing, dressage, and driving competitions; and the 70,000-acre, 110-mile corridor Greenway Trail System, where you can hack your horses out for long beautiful trail rides.
It is staggering to consider the impact these stately animals have had on the Ocala community.
For the horse lover, there’s no better place in the United States to maintain a horse farm for any discipline.
We always enjoy the chance to talk first-hand about our deep roots and love for Ocala/Marion County. We are honored to have been on the cover of, and share our story with one of the area’s most-read magazines, Ocala Style. Ultimately, our success belongs to our community and the entire Ocala Horse Properies family, with whom we share our passion for our home, Ocala.
Home of the World Equestrian Center, Ocala
The World Equestrian Center Ocala is a premier equestrian facility located in Ocala, Florida, United States. It is a world-class destination for horse enthusiasts and hosts a wide range of equestrian events and competitions. (Browse Ocala Farms for Sale near the World Equestrian Center)
The facility covers a vast area of approximately 3,000 acres and features state-of-the-art amenities and infrastructure to cater to various equestrian disciplines. It boasts multiple competition arenas, including a grand outdoor stadium with seating for thousands of spectators, as well as several indoor arenas. These venues are designed to accommodate events such as show jumping, dressage, hunter/jumper competitions, and more.
World Equestrian Center Ocala offers top-notch stabling facilities, with thousands of stalls available to accommodate horses during events. The stables are equipped with modern amenities to ensure the comfort and well-being of the horses.
The facility includes luxurious onsite lodging options for riders, trainers, and spectators. There are upscale hotels, rental cottages, and RV hookups available, providing convenient and comfortable accommodations for visitors.
World Equestrian Center Ocala offers a variety of dining options, shopping boutiques, and recreational amenities for visitors to enjoy. There are restaurants, cafes, and bars that serve a range of cuisines, as well as shops that cater to equestrian needs, including tack and equipment.
So what’s there to do after you’ve ridden your horses in Ocala? Plenty! At the end of the day, Ocala has so much to offer!
Ocala is home to numerous Country Clubs with some of the best golf courses around such as the legendary Golden Ocala. Many of these offer beautiful gyms, tennis facilities, spa treatments, and fantastic dining options. Every year, we are thrilled to welcome great new independent restaurants that are making quite a splash! The coast is just a short drive as well as the beaches. There are so many great areas within the county to snorkel, kayak through beautiful clear waters. In addition, Ocala’s downtown and historic district is experiencing a renaissance, with restaurants, cafes and specialty boutiques catering to the growing, more sophisticated. Additionally, we have great shopping with most every national store represented making Ocala a very convenient place to live.
And when you want to get out of town, there is plenty to do that is still close by. With Orlando only 76 miles away, an hour’s drive to the south gets you to Walt Disney World and all the other major theme parks in the area. An hour’s drive to the west takes you to the Gulf of Mexico, and just 64 miles to the east is the Atlantic Ocean! What’s more, Gainesville, home to the University of Florida and its infamous Gators, is only 35 miles to the north; so, if you want to enjoy the ambiance of life in a college town, nothing could be easier.
When we’re not playing matchmakers to buyers and their new homes, we’re hitting up our favorite Ocala hot spots with each other, our friends, and our families. Read about our favorite Ocala venues here.
Ocala Horse Properties are Original Founding Members of the Horse Farms Forever Organization. Learn more here
OHP News & Events
World Equestrian Center Ocala Food & Wine Festival is Back!
For Immediate Release — OCALA, Florida – September 8, 2022 – The 2022 Ocala Food & Wine Festival presented by Lugano Diamonds is back for a second year at World Equestrian Center Ocala. Three-Day Culinary Celebration Proceeds to Support Local Industry Drawing more than 800 attendees in a single-day event in 2021, this year’s event…
Brittany Crandall & Cooley Almighty Touch Down at Rebecca Farm
Let the countdown begin. In just 2 days, all eyes will be on one of Ocala Horse Properties’ 2022 Rebecca Farm Flight Grant winners – Brittany Crandall and her 9-year-old KWPN gelding Cooley Almighty – at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, on July 20-24. Brittany, who will also be celebrating her 35th…
Jules Batters & Cooley O Take A New Route to Rebecca Farm
Jules Ennis Batters and her 14-year-old Anglo European Sporthorse, Cooley O, aren’t newcomers to the Event at Rebecca Farm. In fact, Jules and her top competitive partner have twice made the long haul from the East Coast to Montana, competing in the CCI4* divisions in 2019 and 2021. Each of those years, Jules and her…
OHP Rebecca Farm Flight Grant Recipients Announced
The recipients of the 2022 Ocala Horse Properties Rebecca Farm Flight Grant were chosen in a drawing at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian. Rob and Chris Desino from Ocala Horse Properties and Sarah and Rebecca Broussard from The Event at Rebecca Farm made the selections by randomly choosing miniature airplanes…
Rashad Jones is Ocala’s King of BBQ!
Rashad Jones, owner of Big Lee’s Serious About Barbecue, has risen to local and national recognition for his determination, exceptional culinary talents and participation in the Food Network’s 6 part series, Eat, Sleep, BBQ. Although recognized as a ‘foodie celebrity’ for that role, Rashad does not consider the Food Network his defining moment. His focus…
FAST Ocala Dives Off the Starting Block March 26, 2022!
Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training (FAST) is officially unveiling their state of the art swimming complex on March 26th, 2022 with their Grand Opening event which is open to the public! Come celebrate the opening of another world class sports facility poised to enhance the lives of our Marion County community members. FAST, located southwest…
Marion County Metro Boasts National Recognition for Robust Economic Growth!
The Greater Ocala Region is well known for its wide open spaces, beautiful Florida climate and nationally recognized equestrian activities. Historically, “snowbirds” have flocked to Florida to enjoy our temperate winters, but recent economic studies are showing another trend. Marion County is experiencing an impressive increase in permanent residents due to strong economic factors driven…
World Equestrian Center to Run USEF Licensed Competitions
Lexington, Ky. – USEF is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached for the World Equestrian Center (WEC) to operate USEF licensed events. WEC will be conducting dressage and hunter jumper competitions at their facilities in Wilmington, Ohio and Ocala, Florida, beginning in March 2022, pending execution of finalized license agreements.
Ocala Horse Properties Rebecca Farm Flight Grant
In 2021 the team from Ocala Horse Properties, led by Rob and Chris Desino, visited “The Event at Rebecca Farm” for the first time. In awe of the quality of the event, they felt that the entire eventing community, especially those on the East Coast of the United States, needed to make this event a…
Advocating for the Preservation of Ocala Farm Land
Ocala Horse Properties & Horse Farms Forever advocates for preserving the character and culture of Ocala/Marion County for future generations. By founding endeavors like Horse Farms Forever, we have helped the horse industry create more than 21,000 jobs in Marion County with an overall economic impact of $2.3 billion dollars. But beyond the financial…
