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
Liz Halliday Sharp and Ocala Horse Properties’ Deniro Z are Blazing A Trail to Kentucky!
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z began their road to Kentucky in 2015, after Liz took notice of this young horses’ emerging talent as a green show jumper back in England. He had been imported from Holland by fellow eventer, Francis Wittington to be sold and Liz jumped on the opportunity. Since 2017 this dynamic duo…
Nayel Nassar Cruises to HITS $1M Win in Ocala Horse Properties’ Stadium!
Nayel Nassar and Lucifer V, owned by Evergate Stables LLC, cruised to the win on Sunday March 24th at the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in the Ocala Horse Properties’ Stadium at HITS Post Time Farm. This is Nassar’s third HITS Million Grand Prix victory, which also includes a win at the 2018 HITS…
Live Oak International Delights Record Number of Spectators in Ocala!
Once again, the experience attending Live Oak International has proven why it is one of the most celebrated multi-discipline FEI events in the country! Each year, Ocala Horse Properties is so impressed by how the entire community comes together to make this event a destination weekend in Ocala. The Weber family, the competition organizers and…
Ocala Horse Properties’ Winter Celebration Benefits Horse Farms Forever
Last Sunday, at the conclusion of a magnificent weekend at Live Oak International, Ocala Horse Properties held their winter celebration at Hampton Lane. The evening was a wonderful evening of celebration for members of our community who have embraced and joined forces with Horse Farms Forever. We would like to thank everyone who attended for…
2019 Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix a Soaring Success!
The 2019 Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix Invitational was a huge success, celebrating the camaraderie which exists in our Marion County eventing community! The VIP tent and the grand stands were packed with enthusiastic spectators who support this wonderful event that Max Corcoran and Scott Keach have hosted for the past six years at Southern…
Matt Varney of OHP and Horse Farms Forever honored with ‘Carry Back Award’!
On Saturday February 23rd, Matt Varney was honored when he received the 2018 “Carry Back Award” from the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers, Inc. This award, which was established over 2 decades ago, honors a person in the Ocala horse community whom they believe has impacted the thoroughbred industry through their service. The Florida Thoroughbred Farm…
Ocala Horse Properties Returns As Official Realtor Of 2019 Live Oak International!
Live Oak International is the largest Combined Driving and Show Jumping competition in the country, drawing competitors from more than 20 countries. As one of the top multi-discipline FEI events in the country, it is an event that celebrates our local horse community. Ocala Horse Properties proudly returns for our second year of supporting this…
Ocala Horse Properties Returns as Title Sponsor for 6th Annual Ocala Eventing Prix Invitational
The Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix, being held March 4th & 5th, has evolved over the years to become one of our communities most loved events. The entry list showcases top equestrian talent from the US, Canada, England, New Zealand and Australia, proving why our region is a hotbed for international horse sport. The Eventing…
Get to Know Ocala’s Paso Fino Community
A Mutual Love For Horses Suzanne and Jim Cantrell were brought together by their mutual love for horses. Suzanne, originally from Brisbane Australia, spent her childhood involved in pony club and competing in the hunter/jumpers. Jim was raised on a Quarter Horse farm in Illinois, spending his childhood immersed in his family’s breeding and training…
World Equestrian Center Ocala Opening Jan 2021
Now is the time to buy a farm in Ocala! In addition to our current Ocala horse farm listings in the vicinity of the new World Equestrian Center, there are currently many residential properties available at neighboring Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, and plans are in development for 300 additional farm estates on multi-acres…
