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

Sharn Wordley, Lauren Balcomb and their daughter Poppy

Taking the Reins

OHP’s great friend and client, Australian Show Jumper Lauren Balcomb on balancing life as an entrepreneur, a mother and an Olympic hopeful.

Boutique Ocala Area Hotels

Boutique Hotels

Need a break from the stables? Check out OHP’s eight favorite boutique hotels all within a staycations’ drive from Ocala and Marion County.

Here We Grow Again! Cover image for John Harms, Ocala Developer Interview.

Here We Grow Again – John Harms’ Plan for New NW Ocala Restaurant & Retail Space

There’s a NEW OASIS coming to Northwest Ocala, and you can thank John Harms for that. The entrepreneur and developer purchased the property at 5406 North US Highway 27, and is hatching plans for a multi-use restaurant and retail facility unlike any other in Ocala and Marion County.

Alyssa-Phillips-and-Oskar-Pan-Am-Games

In the Saddle – An Exclusive Sit-Down Interview With Alyssa Phillips

A new farm, a spectacular international eventing career, and a stable of new clients — OHP’s dear friend Alyssa Phillips is ready to launch.

Ocala Horse Properties Team - Stacy Larsson, Amy Atkins, Matt Varney, Rob Desino, Chris Desino

Ocala Horse Properties Announces Two New Additions to Our Ocala Real Estate Team!

Ocala Horse Properties is excited to announce a strategic enhancement to our team with the addition of our colleagues from Hudson Phillips Properties Ocala, Amy Atkins & Stacy Larsson.

why ocala is safe from hurricanes

Why Ocala Is a Safe Haven From Hurricanes – WSJ Feature

Ocala is at less risk from coastal flooding than other parts of the state, according to a new analysis, making it a popular option for storm-weary home buyers. Not all parts of Florida are equally at risk of natural disasters. The Wall Street Journal asked Climate Alpha-a company that uses AI to build forecasting models…

A Miniature Therapy Horse Named Scout and a Large Friend

Tiny Horses Big Impact

The Miniature Therapy Horses at Gentle Carousel Miniature Horse Therapy have big jobs — both promoting literacy here in Ocala and helping heal those in need throughout the country. BY AMBER HEINTZBERGER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF GENTLE CAROUSEL Imagine a classroom full of young children, engaged in a storybook about a tiny hero: a miniature…

World Equestrian Center Ocala

Putting Ocala on the Map – OHP Interviewed by BloodHorse & Wall Street Journal

As the premier equestrian real estate brokerages in both Wellington and Ocala, Florida it is no surprise that Ocala Horse Properties and Wellington Equestrian Realty have been making headlines recently. We are honored that our brokers were interviewed for both The Wall Street Journal and Bloodhorse magazine about the Florida equestrian real estate market. BY…

Matt Varney - ocala's leading realtor

Matt Varney – Ocala’s Top Real Estate Agent in 2022

“There are a lot of listing agents and selling agent out there,” he said. “The reality is, we do both very well at Ocala Horse Properties: we are good at bringing buyers and sellers together and we the most extensive portfolio of equestrian properties in the country at our disposal. Being incredibly involved in the…

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World Equestrian Center Ocala Food & Wine Festival is Back!

For Immediate Release — OCALA, Florida – September 8, 2022 – The 2022 Ocala Food & Wine Festival presented by Lugano Diamonds is back for a second year at World Equestrian Center Ocala. Three-Day Culinary Celebration Proceeds to Support Local Industry Drawing more than 800 attendees in a single-day event in 2021, this year’s event…