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. (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.

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

Chris & Rob Desino with Liz Halliday-Sharp.

Reflections on CHIO Aachen and Onward to the Pan Am Games!

This past weekend in Aachen exemplifies the reason why the team at Ocala Horse Properties is involved in the sport of eventing.  Not every weekend will end as one hopes – proven this past weekend by a thrown shoe and unfortunate slip late during their brilliant XC round.  But by reflecting upon the determination, sportsmanship…

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Greetings From the Nations Cup CHIO Aachen!

The team at Ocala Horse Properties is on the road to cheer on the US Equestrian Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Aachen CCIO4*-S during CHIO Aachen, being held July 19-20 in Aachen, Germany.  It is truly an honor to watch Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, owned by Ocala Horse…

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Golden Retrievers Get First Peek at WEC!

A “soft opening” has been scheduled at the World Equestrian Center, and it will be for another species of 4 legged animals – the 2020 Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty event will be held from October 19th-22nd, 2020.  We can think of no better way to unveil the new WEC to our community…

Liz & Cooley Quicksilver, Photo Courtesy Liz Halliday-Sharp

Liz Halliday-Sharp Named to Two US Eventing Teams!

Liz Halliday-Sharp is going to have a very busy summer, and the team at Ocala Horse Properties can’t wait to follow her on these competitive adventures!  Liz has worked exceptionally hard to produce her current string of horses, and due to her talent and steadfast dedication to her horses –  We are incredibly proud to…

Trainer Mark Casse with War of Will and Jockey Tyler Gaffalione after Preakness Win. PC: Eric Kalet for Paulick Report

Ocala Horse Racing Shines in the Headlines!

Mark Casse has been in the horse racing business for a long time, and his determined efforts, and exceptional resume, finally paid off in a remarkable win with War of Will in the 2019 Preakness. Casse, who has lived in Ocala for most of his life, is hitting his stride this race season with several…

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The 2019 Ocala Style Women’s Expo is Saturday May 18th!

Right on the heels of an amazing Mother’s Day weekend, Ocala Horse Properties wants to share some more exciting news for Marion County women.   The 2019 Ocala Style Women’s Expo is being held on May 18th from 11-4pm, at the Klein Center at the College of Central Florida.  This is a one day event for…

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Make Mother’s Day Weekend Special!

Sunday May 12th is officially Mother’s Day, but at Ocala Horse Properties, we think Mom should be celebrated all weekend long.  With that in mind, here’s our recommendations for unique regional events to make this weekend a memorable one! Friday May 10th – Take her to downtown Ocala!  Enjoy live music at Ocala’s Downtown Square…

Liz and Niro Marching Around the XC at The Fork. PC: Mark McInnis!

OHP Heads to #LRK3DE with Halliday Sharp & Deniro Z!

It’s that time of year, when the Kentucky blue grass is lush and all eventing enthusiasts start they’re annual pilgrimage to the biggest competition of the year at the Land Rover Kentucky 3 Day Event. This year is especially poignant for the team at Ocala Horse Properties, since they will all be in Kentucky rooting…

Photo Courtesy VOCAL Spring Newsletter

VOCAL Inspires Our Community to Improve Animal Welfare in Ocala!

Over the past several years, Ocala Horse Properties has supported VOCAL (Voices of Change Animal League) because of their wonderful efforts towards animal welfare in our region. We are in awe of our community members who have stepped up by volunteering time and financial resources to make such a difference in the lives of cats…

Liz and Deniro Z Galloping to their 2017 Win at the Florida Horse Park! PC: Jenni Autry

This Weekend is the 2019 Ocala International 3 Day Event!

The season finale for the winter season is this weekend at the Florida Horse Park, and while some of the snowbirds have migrated north, plenty of top riders remain in Ocala. This event is the final run for many horses headed the the Land Rover Kentucky 3 Day Event, so plan on coming out to…