Ocala Horse Properties is Conservation Summit Gold Sponsor

Ocala Horse Properties is Conservation Summit Gold Sponsor

Equestrian Real Estate Firm is Sold on Farmland Preservation

You’ve seen their handsome faces on billboards everywhere: brothers Rob and Chris Desino and Matt Varney – partners in Ocala Horse Properties. Since the founding of HFF in 2018, they have gone to lengths to show their passion for our mission of preserving the character and culture that horses and horse farms bring to Ocala/Marion County.

Now, they have stepped up to the plate as Gold Sponsors of our first Conservation Summit. The support of Ocala Horse Properties and the rest of our sponsors ensures that the Summit, to take place on November 19 at Golden Ocala, will be a first-class event.

Although it is easy to see why a firm specializing in equestrian real estate would want to see horse farms and farmland continue to thrive in Marion County, the partners are connected to Horse Farms Forever and our mission in much deeper ways. Rob is an HFF Founder, Chris and Matt are Charter Members, and both Rob and Matt are Directors.

“Horse Farms Forever is instrumental in monitoring and advocating for the protection of horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area in Ocala. Turning the Farmland Preservation Area into another mass of concrete strip plazas is not necessary and certainly not desirable.” Rob Desino

The partners are all horsemen, farm owners and active members of our local equestrian community. Chris and Rob are owners of Deniro Z, a standout 5 Star event horse, expertly campaigned by Liz Halliday-Sharp, also an HFF member. Liz and Deniro Z recently won the 4 Star at Plantation Field International Horse Trials. Matt enjoys riding recreationally, but he lives his equestrian competitiveness vicariously through his wife, Dr. Courtney Varney, DVM. Matt enjoys accompanying Courtney, an accomplished FEI Dressage rider, USDF gold medalist, and equine veterinarian, on as many competitions as his busy schedule will allow.

Ocala Horse Properties has been the top Ocala farm realtor for more than a decade, representing the largest portfolio of Ocala Farms available. Their success is built on a love for people and the community. They are big supporters of equestrian events both here in Ocala and in Wellington, where they operate a sister company, Wellington Equestrian Realty.

Once again, thank you, Ocala Horse Properties, for demonstrating your commitment to the open spaces and beautiful places of Marion County.

Be sure to register for the Summit! You can attend online or in person.

I was motivated to join to protect an area that I find to be one of the most irreplaceable destinations in the entire country; an area where horse pasture is uniquely more valuable per acre as farmland than if a developer was able to purchase it. Coming from a family of developers I know how incredibly rare that is.

Matt Varney

Ocala Horse Properties

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Live Oak Stud Honored in TOBA National Awards

Live Oak Stud Honored in TOBA National Awards

TOBA PRESS RELEASE

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) announced Wednesday that they will honor breeders selected from 22 states and Canada during the TOBA National Awards on Sat., Sept. 26.

The National Breeder of the Year and National Small Breeder of the Year will be selected from the state breeders listed below and announced during the awards.

“The 23 breeders from the U.S. and Canada enjoyed a tremendous year in 2019 from their homebred runners and we are honored to recognize their outstanding achievements and contributions to our sport at the TOBA National Awards,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA.

Also honored during the TOBA
National Awards program will be the
National Owner of the Year, National Broodmare of the Year, Cot Campbell Racing Partnership of the Year, Industry Service Award, Claiming Crown Horse of the Year and the Sport Horse of the Year.

TOBA’s National Awards will be presented virtually from Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa on TOBA’s Facebook page and at TOBA.org/2020Awards.

TOBA National Awards sponsors include Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, LuminUltra, Limestone Bank, Stonestreet Farms, John Deere and NTRA, Big Ass Fans, National HBPA, 1/ST, The Jockey Club Information Systems and Stoll Keenon Ogden.

Live Oak Stud’s Charlotte Weber
a Horse Farms Forever Founder

Live Oak Stud Ocala Marion County Florida

State Breeders of the Year:
Arkansas: Bill McDowell
California: Reddam Racing LLC
Canadian: Ivan Dalos

Florida: Charlotte Weber/ Live Oak Stud 

Indiana: Michael E. and Penny S. Lauer
Iowa: Allen Poindexter
Kansas: Jerry Johnson
Kentucky: W.S. Farish
Louisiana: Evelyn Benoit
Maryland: Sagamore Farm
Massachusetts: Joseph DiRico
Minnesota: Robert Lothenbach
New Jersey: John Bowers Jr.
New Mexico: J. Kirk and Judy Robison
New York: Chester and Mary Broman
North Carolina: Dr. E. Clinton Lowry and Carol Lowry Ohio: Dr. George Sikora DVM
Oregon: Dr. and Mrs. Jack B. Root Jr.
Pennsylvania: Larry Karp/Barlar LLC
South Carolina: Franklin Smith Sr.
Texas: Roy W. Cobb
Virginia: Ann Mudge Backer
Washington: Jody Peet

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Brook Ledge Horse Transportation is Title Sponsor of Conservation Summit

Brook Ledge Horse Transportation is Title Sponsor of Conservation Summit

Support for Farmland Conservation from a Premier Horse Transportation Company

As we look forward to our First Conservation Summit in just two short months, we are thrilled to announce Brook Ledge Horse Transportation as our Title Sponsor. An HFF member since 2018, Brook Ledge is distinguishing themselves as a family business that cares about Marion County’s horses and horse farms.

In 1955, Bill and Bob Gotwals started in the trucking business with one truck. Since that time, the family owned and operated business has grown to include Brook Ledge Inc. and XpressWay. Brook Ledge Inc. is now one of the largest Horse Transportation companies in North America. In addition to operating out of its home office in Oley, PA, Brook Ledge Inc. maintains terminals on small farms in Lexington, KY and Ocala, FL. There are 3 generations of Gotwals currently working at Brook Ledge.

Always Watching

We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

Join the herd. Every voice matters.

Ocala’s Home Grown Horse Park

Ocala’s Home Grown Horse Park

Horse Farms Forever is Proud to Be in Partnership with the Florida Horse Park

One of the first members to get behind our mission was the Florida Horse Park. When you attend events there, look for our banner and signage on the judge’s booths. We are happy to have them as a member of Horse Farms Forever. Now that the Park is revving back up for the final quarter of 2020, it’s a good time to reflect on how this very special resource enriches equine life here in Marion County.

Like us, the Horse Park is  is a charitable organization that has been approved by the IRS as a 501(c)3. A great example of public-private partnership, the Park is situated on 500 acres owned by the state of Florida and operates as a Direct Support Organization (DSO) under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

It is only fitting that the Horse Capital of the World® has a premium public resource for horse people. Its mission is to be an international equine competition facility that encompasses all breeds and disciplines, while advancing agriculture and equine education, and to provide the state and community with a recreational facility capable of hosting equestrian and non-equestrian events.

A Park for the People

The Park is an everyday resource for the equestrian population, offering:

  • Trail riding at no charge on the grounds and cross-country course, with connections to the Ocala State Forest trails.
  • Arena time, which can be booked for a nominal fee
  • Free attendance to most horse shows
  • Camping is available, with 40 RV hookups and shower facilities

Share in the Fun

As a non-profit event facility, FHP runs on grants, donations and volunteerism! Consider volunteering this Fall and reap some tangible benefits while you give back.

Contact the Horse Park by email or call 352-307-6699.

Well Appointed & Event Ready

The Florida Horse Park is available to organizations, clubs, businesses, special interest groups and individuals to rent for shows, company gatherings, weddings, concerts, car shows, and more. It’s 500 acres large, and offers these amenities:

  • Beautiful 350 acres of manicured grass fields
  • 320 permanent stalls
  • State of the art Covered Arena 
  • 4 Fiber Arenas
  • Two Grass Arenas
  • 5 – 20 meter X 60 meter FEI regulation dressage arenas
  • Two complete FEI approved show jump sets including warm up fences
  • Show Offices
  • All the necessary components for a stock horse trail class
  • Barrels for barrel racing
  • Over 100 cross-country jumps ranging from Entry Level (2 feet) through the Intermediate (3’9″) levels

    Always Watching

    We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.

    Join the herd. Every voice matters.

    Horse Capital of the World®

    Why Here?

    Have you ever wondered why Ocala is called the Horse Capital of the World®?

    Why here, of all places?

    Watch for the answers…in the words of some of our prominent owners and trainers.

    That title is deserved, and the unique qualities of this special place need to be preserved for future generations. Once erased, it can’t be replaced.

    Please, share this video far and wide. Respect and protect our open spaces and beautiful places.

    Save it. Don't Pave it.

    Join with us as we raise up the Farmland Preservation Area of Marion County as worthy of protection. It makes conservation sense and business sense. The forces of unrestrained development are strong. Your support helps us to speak out on your behalf and act as a force for sensible, planned growth that protects our farms and farmland.