Ocala Equestrian Lifestyle

Summer is Coming to An End The height of summer is waning, and during the warmer August days, there’s a subtle shift in our region, as locals and businesses gear up for the beginning of next season here in Ocala. Ocala Horse Properties is looking forward to the fall, when the light takes on a... more

Local Hotelier Danny Gaekwad has been steadfast in his approach to the new Downtown Hotel project, located at the old Chamber of Commerce Building, near the historic Downtown Square. Project delays have all been taken in stride, as the hotel construction is subject to space and historic district... more

The team at Ocala Horse Properties continues to be wowed by the spectacular performance of Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z as they continue their winning streak in Europe! Last season the Desino brothers decided that the best way to continue their support of the sport of eventing was through horse... more

Downtown Ocala continues to expand, and adding to your options for new experiences in the Downtown Square is the grand opening of the Sokol Vineyards Tasting Room on July 27th, 2017! In the same vicinity as the new Downtown Hotel, the Sokol Vineyards Tasting Room project has been underway for the... more

With Arena Eventing growing in popularity throughout the US, The Devon Horse Show joined in the enthusiasm by showcasing the sport of eventing to the masses at this year’s inaugural Arena Eventing competition. The new exhibition class, which consisted of a combination of solid cross country and... more

Downtown Ocala is enjoying a surge in revitalization projects, giving Marion County residents and tourists even more reasons to live, work, and play in our area! In and around the Historic Downtown Square, there are more choices on tap for dining, retail and outdoor entertainment, adding to the... more

According to Forbes online, Ocala is ranked fifth in the country for new job growth! Higher job growth is a sign of a healthy, steadily growing local economy, and Ocala is the place to be! Forbes predicts that the annual job growth will be 3.4%, which will mean 17% more jobs in the next five... more

If you’re in Ocala on vacation, for the winter season, or if you’re a bonafide local, one thing is for certain, you’ve been to the Horse & Hounds for a meal and a drink. Located at the intersection of US Highway 27 and 225-A NW 70th Avenue, the Golden Hills Center is home to a... more

Liz and Deniro Z are on a roll, and the team at Ocala Horse Properties couldn’t be prouder of this talented pair. It was a thrilling grand finale to the eventing season in Ocala, with Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z claiming another wire to wire win in the 2* division at the Ocala International 3... more

See how Courtney keeps herself busy, be it her equestrian accomplishments, four-month-old baby Hudson, or her career as an equine veterinarian in the “Amateurs Like Us” section of their blog. Courtney is the wife of Ocala Horse Properties broker Matt Varney. She is an accomplished... more

There are several restaurants located in Downtown Square that we love to frequent. Each has it’s own distinct menu, specialty drinks, and ambiance, serving up a variety of fantastic dining experiences and fun evenings out on the town. Through our series of articles, Living In Ocala, we’re... more

The team at Ocala Horse Properties met Liz Halliday-Sharp and her husband Al Sharp in 2013 when they were actively looking for an equestrian property in Ocala. During their quest to find the perfect home for Horsepower Equestrian, a friendship was formed between Chris, Rob, Matt, Liz and her... more

Ocala topography is unique to Florida in its wide open spaces and rolling hills, which is ideal for raising cattle and equine livestock. Known as the “Horse Capital of the World”, that title is easily identifiable as one travels the roads of Ocala, taking in the magnificent views of horse... more

Weekend Entertainment Abounds in Marion County with International Driving Competition, Fat Tire Fun, Plus An Evening at the Symphony! Diversity in choices in Ocala is the theme of this weekend’s line-up of entertainment. There’s a healthy dose of outdoor fun on the calendar, with the FEI... more

Sweet Victory for Sara Kozumplik Murphy at the 2017 Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix! Thirty-three horse and rider combinations entered the ring at Southern Cross Equestrian to battle it out for $15,000 in prize money for the 4th annual Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix. The entry list... more

Culinary Festivals Top This Week’s Entertainment Options in Ocala! It’s true Ocala is “The Horse Capital of the World”, but the greater Marion County region has much more to offer beyond the horse shows and equestrian activities. Our urban center continues to flourish with a multitude of... more

It’s Almost Time for the Ocala Horse Properties 2017 Eventing Prix! This will be our 4th annual Eventing Prix Invitational, hosted at Southern Cross Equestrian on March 6th & 7th, 2017. Schedule of events: Monday, March 6th, 12 Noon – Warm Up Class (1.15m) Tuesday, March 7th, 2:00... more

2017 Ocala Horse Properties’ Eventing Prix Invitational Ocala Horse Properties enthusiastically returns as Title Sponsor for the 4th annual Eventing Prix Invitational, being hosted once again at Southern Cross Equestrian on March 6th & 7th, 2017. The Eventing Prix was conceived by Olympic... more

FOR MANY the search for an Ocala farm can be a daunting task. Considering there are more than a thousand farms and endless miles of farm areas to choose... more

California Chrome Tops Eclipse Award Finalists with Ocala-Trained Nyquist in Consideration for 3-Year-Old Category It is hard to deny the pure talent of California Chrome, who continues to show his longevity in horse racing by dominating the sport 2 years after his impressive show in the 2014... more

According to The Weather Channel, a large cold front is moving into the United States this week. The polar jet stream has dipped lower than usual, bringing the frigid winds of Canada into the northern plains and northern Rockies on Monday morning. Subzero wind chills have extended as far south as... more

Rider Jennie Brannigan splits her time between Unionville, PA and Ocala, FL. She specializes in Three Day Eventing and owns Brannigan Eventing. The United States Eventing Association (USEA) recently held its Year-End Awards Ceremony at its annual meeting and convention at the Diplomat Resort and... more

We are dedicated to helping the girls of Horses N Heroes, a Marion County 501(c)(3), that is making a huge difference for young ladies who live at or below the poverty level. The opportunity to interact with horses in this program provides a lifeline for these girls who find solace and comfort in... more

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 the equine industry. Ocala is home to a vast number of competitions... more

Ocala Horse Properties has signed on to continue their support of the 2016/2017 show season as the Official Realtor of HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala! The team at Ocala Horse Properties is looking forward to another season of top level competition at HITS, valuing this partnership and the positive... more

This past weekend the Mid-Atlantic region kicked off the fall eventing season in style with Plantation Field International Horse Trials, located in Unionville, Pa.   The event world saw a large number of entries at this CIC International event, with nearly all of the members of the US Olympic... more

The Rio Olympics have concluded and now it’s time for the Paralympians to descend upon Rio! The US Paralympic Team traveled to Ocala in preparation for their turn in Rio, and their training camp wrapped up with a mock competition at Grand Oaks Resort in neighboring Weirsdale. The resort was... more

Are you a believer in the Old Farmer’s Almanac? Historical data shows that this old fashion weather source is more than rural legend, with an 80% accuracy rate over the past two centuries! General Long-Range Weather 2017 from the Farmer’s Almanac “Get ready for a shift from last year! For the... more

The US Eventing Team were off to a good start in the Olympic eventing competition, sitting in 6th place after two days of dressage. The team consisting of Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Lauren Kieffer and Clark Montgomery began cross country day with pure optimism after Boyd Martin and Blackfoot... more

The 2016 Olympics officially kick off today with the parade of nations and opening ceremonies, and NBC sports is your go-to source for all of the Olympic games. Of course, we at Ocala Horse Properties love all of the summer Olympic sports, but our true passion is following the Equestrian games. We... more

We recently caught up with Mindy Nolan-Morrow, founder of Horses N Heroes of Marion County, to get an update on how the girls (and their horses) were progressing since last winter season. Last year Horses N Heroes was faced with financial challenges that threatened to shut down their riding program... more

The 2016 US Olympic team has been selected for Rio, and this weekend the team had a mandatory outing and Nation’s Cup competition at Land Rover Great Meadow International. The weekend was a solid success for Team USA, who took home the win over Canada and Great Britain for the Nation’s Cup. Our... more

What do so many of the Kentucky Derby Grade 1 runners have in common? It’s remarkable to note that 10 of the 20 starters in the 2016 Kentucky Derby began their racing careers by being trained here in Ocala! Most notably, the current Triple Crown front runner, Nyquist, was purchased as a yearling... more

Ocala Horse Properties has signed on to continue their support of the 2016/2017 show season as the Official Realtor of HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala! The team at Ocala Horse Properties is looking forward to another season of top level competition at HITS, valuing this partnership and the positive... more

Our friend and Ocala based competitor Liz Halliday-Sharp brought two horses to the 2016 Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event, and it’s reasonable to say she experienced the typical myriad of emotions during the event. After day one of dressage, Liz earned her spot as one of the top 3 riders in the press... more

The weekend is underway at the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Being one of a handful of 4* international events in the world, the Rolex Kentucky 3 Day Event is an annual celebration of the sport of eventing with competitors and spectators from throughout the... more

Horse lovers from across the globe and long-time residents enjoy the 110-mile Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway trail system which is largely maintained by volunteers. The 1927 law that would eventually threaten to sever Florida’s peninsula was signed when Marjorie was only 11 years... more

Another spectacular season of eventing in Ocala is coming to an end and the team at Ocala Horse Properties wishes good luck to all the riders competing this weekend at the Florida Horse Park! As title sponsors, Ocala Horse Properties continues to show our support of the sport of eventing, which... more

Ocala, FL — The Ocala Horse Properties International Three-Day Festival presented by Equiventures kicks off April 13, featuring five days of premier eventing competition with more than 450 horses and riders competing across the FEI, National, and USEA Future and Young Event Horse divisions at the... more

Farm or Business Name: Hidden Acres Dressage Disciplines: Olof, Combined Driving; Stacy; Dressage Home Base: Ocala, Florida Husband and wife duo, Olof Larsson and Stacy Parvey-Larsson, met early in life during their summer internships training at Hilltop Farm in Colora, Md before parting ways to... more