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
OHP Rider Liz Halliday-Sharp Set to Contest $50,000 MARS Eventing Showcase in Wellington
Join Ocala Horse Properties as we travel to the $50,000 MARS Eventing Showcase, this weekend February 8 – 9, in Wellington at the AGDF showgrounds! The Wellington Eventing Showcase was founded in 2015 by Mark Bellissimo who had the intention of bringing the sport of eventing to a wider audience by inviting top riders to…
World Equestrian Center Ocala Rolls Out Expanded Website and 2021 Show Schedule!
Eleven months and counting until the official grand opening of the World Equestrian Center in Ocala! The World Equestrian Center Ocala has officially released their expanded website and 2021 show schedule to include 12 weeks of USEF hunter/jumper competition running January 5 to March 28, 2021. Prize money for the weekly events is anticipated to…
Help Support Ocala’s Exceptional Non-Profits in 2020!
The team at Ocala Horse Properties believes in giving back to members of our Ocala community that stand out as noteworthy non-profits. Throughout the years, we have become involved with several Marion County non- profits, which have made an impact on so many people in our region. The following 501C3 organizations are examples of our…
Downtown Hilton Garden Hotel Project Grand Opening – February 2020!
Local Hoteliers Danny and Karan Gaekwad are leading the charge on their companies’ Downtown Hilton Hotel project, located at the old Chamber of Commerce Building, near the historic Downtown Square. The hotel plans to not only host out of town guests, but to take Ocala’s downtown restaurant and bar scene to a whole new level! This…
Ask The Vet: Should You Be Concerned About Windpuffs?
When you observe the fetlock region of your horse, you may find a puffiness or fluid-filled area on the back side (palmar/plantar region) of his fetlock. This fluid-filled area may be what is referred to as a windpuff. Windpuffs, or wind galls, are a result of fluid distention of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS)…
A Weekend of Burghley Firsts for Liz Halliday Sharp & Deniro Z!
Liz Halliday-Sharp’s and Deniro Z’s steady rise to success at the international level is the result of natural talent combined with an unyielding dedication to becoming world class competitors. This past weekend at their first appearance at the Burghley Horse Trials in England, this duo tackled the historic event head on, achieving a 15th place finish…
It’s Show Time at Burghley!
We are buzzing with excitement for Liz Halliday-Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z, as they head into their weekend at the infamous Burghley Horse Trials! The trot up and day 1 of dressage is completed, with Liz and Deniro Z trotting down the grass center line Friday morning at 4:38am EST (9:38GBT). We hope…
Checkout The New Buzz in Downtown Ocala!
Historic Downtown Ocala offers an appealing small city vibe, perfectly offset by the bucolic views of Marion County’s horse country surrounding the city. What better way to top off a gorgeous fall day than a trip into the Historic District to grab a meal and to quench your thirst. With the subtle shift in temperature…
Liz Halliday-Sharp & Cooley Quicksilver Named To U.S. Eventing Team Ahead Of Military Boekelo
US Equestrian announced the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for FEI Eventing Nations CUP the Netherlands at the Military Boekelo CCIO4*-L, and we are so proud here at Ocala Horse Properties that Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver have been named to the team! Cooley Quicksilver is owned in part by Rob and Chris Desino of…
Horse Farms Forever – Preserving Ocala’s Equestrian Farmland and Heritage
The scope and depth of the impact that the equine industry has in Ocala Florida is far reaching in our community. Did you know that the horse industry in Marion County has created more than 21,000 jobs and there are more than 80,000 horses in our region? The financial impact on our region has been…
