About Ocala Florida

an ocala horse farm
Ocala / Marion County is home to more than 1,200 horse farms, which makes for a vibrant equestrian community!

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.

— The Ocala Horse Properties Team

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.

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.

World Equestrian Center Ocala
World Equestrian Center Ocala

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

Nancy Ditty and Forever KOOl, 2020 NSBA Champions, PC Ditty Up Farm

Client Spotlight: Nancy Ditty’s Family Legacy of Producing Champion Quarter Horses Thrives in Ocala

At Ocala Horse Properties, one of our most satisfying experiences as Marion County realtors is getting to know our clients and community members. The Ocala equestrian world is a diverse one, representing multiple breeds and disciplines, which is what makes “The Horse Capitol of the World” so unique! Our clients who have purchased farms in…

Liz Halliday-Sharp aboard Ocala Horse Properties' Deniro Z. Photo courtesy US Eventing.

Ocala Horse Properties Hosts 2021 USEF Eventing Training Sessions at Hampton Lane

Ocala Horse Properties recently had the honor of hosting the USEF Elite and Pre-Elite Training Sessions, held February 1st-4th, at our own Hampton Lane equestrian facility in Ocala. Hampton Lane, a 29 acre farm located across the street from the new World Equestrian Center, offered the perfect location for this gathering of world class athletes.…

Matt Varney With Family

Hands Above the Rest

What makes someone a true leader in their industry? Some would argue that it’s a person who helps others by providing guidance and insight of their knowledge. This is precisely why Ocala Horse Properties’ Matt Varney is continuously recognized as the areas top agent. The latest recognition was highlighted by Ocala Style in an article…

World Equestrian Center Ocala

World Equestrian Center Ocala –
A look inside an equestrian masterpiece

I’ve visited the World Equestrian Center Ocala just a few months ago and multiple times throughout the construction, and my wife Courtney and I were again immensely impressed

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Halliday-Sharp Awarded USEA Rider of Year Breaking 39 Year Streak for Men at the Top of the Sport

Liz Halliday-Sharp has had a phenomenal year since taking the leap and relocating with permanence to the United States in 2020. Producing a massively talented string of horses, Halliday-Sharp earned the most accumulated points of any rider in the USA, breaking the 39 year streak for men topping the USEA leaderboard. Liz’s rise to the…

Historic Downtown Square, Ocala

Ocala Tops List of Small Businesses Per Capita in the USA!

Marion County has yet another reason to celebrate, topping the charts of a recent article by AdvisorSmith, shining a light on Ocala’s robust small business community! The report, released by AdvisorSmith, revealed that Ocala is ranked #1 for having the largest volume of active small businesses located in a mid-sized city. The population data was…

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Halliday-Sharp Concludes Incredible 2020 Eventing Season at Tryon National Championships

The 2020 eventing season is a wrap, culminating with an incredible adventure to the Buckeye Nutrition USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship at the MARS Tryon International Three-Day Event. For Ocala Horse Properties, the weekend was a true testament to the teamwork and camaraderie that makes the sport of Eventing so unique and rewarding. The 2020…

World Equestrian Center Ocala

OHP Supports WEC & Encourages USEF Resolution

Ocala Horse Properties has been fortunate enough to sponsor some of the best horse shows in the country, many of which are USEF sanctioned events held right here in Ocala, Florida.  We love Ocala and believe that no other area in the world is more suited for equestrian enthusiasts. From an Ocala business owner perspective and…

Ocala Horse Properties' Hampton Lane featured listing near the World Equestrian Center. Photo credit: Ocala Horse Properties

Ocala Garners Top 10 Rankings – US News & World Report!

For 30 years, US News and World Report has been an expert resource offering statistical rankings on the nation’s top regions for real estate, schools, healthcare, automobiles, investments, and vacation destinations. Ocala Horse Properties is proud to announce that US News and World Report has just released its annual rankings, and Ocala has made the…

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Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z and Halliday-Sharp Bring Home Wire to Wire Win at Plantation Field International!

Fresh off her incredible record breaking win with Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z at Great Meadow International, Liz Halliday-Sharp came to Unionville with the plan to repeat that performance. With her entire team of owners present from Ocala Horse Properties and the Monster Partnership, a weekend in the scenic countryside of Pennsylvania was the perfect…