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The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Joins HFF as a Founding Member

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Joins HFF as a Founding Member

by | Sep 4, 2023 | News

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association is a not-for-profit association with the mission of promoting the Florida Thoroughbred worldwide. Since 1945, FTBOA has represented the Thoroughbred industry legislatively, serves as the breed registrar, and administers lucrative awards programs and incentives for Florida-Bred racehorses.

The FTBOA represents more than 1,000 Thoroughbred breeders and owners internationally who breed, raise, sell, train and race horses born in the state of Florida. FTBOA does this by having a seat at the table for pertinent issues facing the local, state, and national Thoroughbred industries. FTBOA also works closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the State of Florida thanks to the State’s pro-business stance and industry tax incentives such as no sales tax on fencing, feed, and grain.

 

FTBOA trademarked Horse Capital of the World® and Ocala/Marion County Horse Capital of the World®, which are used to promote the region and its equine services.

FTBOA owns Florida Equine Communications (FEC), publisher of the award-winning monthly Thoroughbred-centric magazine The Florida Horse and the Wire to Wire Racing Digest. FEC also produces Horse Capital Digest®, the official publication of Horse Capital of the World®; and partners with Horse Capital Television, the official video platform of Horse Capital of the World®, to promote all equine breeds and disciplines in Central Florida. FEC produces award-winning industry videos, social media, and original website content.

 

In 2022, FTBOA launched, The Florida Horse podcast and Kaplan Media’s production studios moved to the FTBOA headquarters providing seamless video production capabilities for the Association.

In 2022, the Association’s CEO Lonny Powell was honored with two national awards, the American Horse Council’s Van Ness Award for lifelong service to the equine industry, and he was named Florida Executive of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives.  In 2015, FTBOA was awarded Florida Association of the Year by the Florida Society of Association Executives and the Non-Profit of the Year by the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership, a prestigious honor considering there were more than 1,000 non-profits in the county.

FTBOA through its charitable arm, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, has raised more than $4 million in the last two decades for Thoroughbred retirement, scholarships, and education in Marion County, and within the State of Florida. The FTBOA headquarters also houses the Florida Thoroughbred museum where visitors and fans alike can learn more about the history of Florida Thoroughbred champions, their connections and achievements in the industry.

The FTBOA is located at 801 SW 60th Avenue in Ocala, Fla., next door to the worldwide perennial leader in two-year-olds in training sales, Ocala Breeder’s Sales, centered in the heart of the Thoroughbred industry in the state.

 

Carlton Ward, Jr to be Keynote Speaker at Horse Farms Forever’s Conservation Summit

Carlton Ward, Jr to be Keynote Speaker at Horse Farms Forever’s Conservation Summit

by | Aug 25, 2023 | Events, News

Ocala, FL – August 25, 2023 – Horse Farms Forever, Inc.® is pleased to announce that Carlton Ward, Jr, a National Geographic Explorer and photographer, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Fourth Annual Conservation Summit to be held on Thursday, November 16 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company.

Join us for a Conversation about Conservation as Carlton shares the story about photographing the first female Florida panther documented north of the Caloosahatchee River since 1973. Carlton’s quest to photograph the elusive and endangered Florida Panther was documented in the “Path of the Panther,” an award-winning documentary film produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Carlton’s photograph of Babs, as the panther is affectionately named, shows that the range of the Florida panther has expanded north from the Everglades. This expansion is the key to the panther’s recovery, but their long-term survival depends on protecting land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

“If we can show the world who that panther is, that’s going to be the spark to save this whole corridor,” said Carlton in the Path of the Panther film preview.

The Path of the Panther film has already made an impact by inspiring the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act in 2021, which helped secure over $800 million in state funding for land conservation. Since the Act was passed in 2021, nearly 120,000 acres of land have been approved for conservation.

“I want everyone who sees the film to have tremendous pride in the state of Florida and know about the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the importance of it for the state’s future,” said Carlton “That’s why our team spent so many years focusing on the Florida panther. It’s a symbol of the need for protecting the corridor.”

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is an existing, nearly contiguous network of land that stretches from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys over about 18 million acres. Nearly 10 million acres has been conserved as public lands and as private lands that are protected with a conservation easement, but about half of the corridor is at risk of being developed.

About 40% of Marion County is included as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Ocala National Forest at over 430,000 acres in Marion County, is one of the largest pieces of the Florida Wildlife Corridor puzzle. The goal is to connect additional conservation lands such as the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and Silver Springs State Park by protecting private land with conservation easements. A portion of the Farmland Preservation Area in northwest Marion County is also part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Two of the key partner organizations working to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor will also be speaking at the 2023 Conservation Summit. Mallory Lykes Dimmitt is the CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, which champions a collaborative campaign to connect, protect, and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Traci Deen is the President and CEO of Conservation Florida, a statewide land conservancy focused on protecting natural and agricultural landscapes with a primary focus on saving land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

By conserving private ranches and farms as part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this also allows agriculture operations to continue to contribute to the economy and to the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.

View Trailer

The Florida Wildlife Corridor

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a statewide network of over 18 million acres that supports wildlife, people, and communities. It runs from the panhandle all the way to the tip of the peninsula. The Florida Wildlife Corridor already exists. The goal is to ensure continued connection between public land and green spaces across the state through private and public land conservation.

Learn More

Path of the Panther

The Path of the Panther tells the story of how a group of photographers, veterinarians, ranchers, conservationists, and indigenous people joined forces to track and protect the endangered Florida panther. In this moving documentary, stunning images of the big cats spur the movement to restore a majestic keystone species as well as a dwindling wilderness.

Learn More

The Florida Panther

The Florida panther is more than just an icon for Florida’s last wild places. It is a conservation keystone. The panther is an umbrella species with the largest terrestrial home range in the state, protecting dozens of other species in its domain. Reaching near extinction in the 1950’s, the Florida panther was among the first to be added to the U.S. Endangered Species list in 1973.

Protecting land for the panther is important for people and communities too because connected habitat helps provide clean air and drinking water, as well as other benefits like pollination of food crops and flood mitigation from heavy rains or hurricanes. The panther population has rebounded from about 30 adults to nearly 200 today. But the species faces a multitude of new challenges.

Learn More

Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

Learn More

Conservation Florida

Learn More
Commonwealth Standard Holdings Joins HFF as a Founder Member

Commonwealth Standard Holdings Joins HFF as a Founder Member

by | Aug 7, 2023 | News

Horse Farms Forever® welcomes Nate Chambers and Commonwealth Standard Holdings as our newest Founder Member. The real estate and private equity firm joins over 70 businesses, horse farms, and individuals that collectively support HFF’s mission to preserve horse farms to ensure that not only are the rolling hills and scenic viewsheds protected, but also to raise awareness about the horse industry’s impact on the economy and its character, which has defined Marion County for over 50 years.

“I joined Horse Farms Forever because of my growing concern about thoughtful growth and development. My firm believes in developing projects that complement the community as well as supporting the protection of property like that in the Farmland Preservation Area,” said Nate Chambers, CEO of Commonwealth Standard Holdings. “It is possible to have both the ambitions of development and the values of conservation.”

The draw of Marion County’s rural charm, the opening of the World Equestrian Center, along with the thriving equine industry, has led many new horse farms and businesses to the area, including Commonwealth Standard Holdings. The equine industry in Marion County represents about one-fifth of the economy and generates over $2.6 Billion dollars every year (2014 study).

“The equine industry is not only personally special to us, it is also the primary economic driver in northwest Marion County,” said Nate. “Thoughtful development is critical or we risk losing what makes this area special.”

Nate and his wife, Dasha are lifelong equestrians and it was their love of horses that brought them together. They also recently welcomed their daughter into their growing family.

“We met at a horse show in Pennsylvania on land protected by a conservation easement,” said Nate. “I grew up riding and Dasha still rides. Hopefully we will see our daughter in the saddle before too long as well!”

HFF welcomes the Chambers family and Commonwealth Standard Holdings to the growing community that supports preserving the character and culture that horses, horse farms, and the horse industry brings to Marion County!

Visit Their Website: https://csholdings.com/

Protecting Farms with the Transfer of Development Rights Program

Protecting Farms with the Transfer of Development Rights Program

by | Jul 31, 2023 | News

The purpose of the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program is to help protect farmland and natural resources in Marion County by providing financial incentives to landowners and program participants. Sending Areas are the areas where communities want less (or no) development and the areas appropriate for growth are called Receiving Areas.

One of the ways to help protect farms in the Farmland Preservation Area is with Marion County’s Transfer of Development Rights Program.

At the July 18 meeting, Marion County Commissioners helped to further protect the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) by approving the use of 72 Transfer of Development Right (TDR) credits from a farm in the FPA that had been conserved with the TDR program over 15 years ago to a parcel of land inside the Urban Growth Boundary.

The 72 development credits were purchased by Sunbelt Land Fund I-Ocala South, LLC and will be used to increase the density on a 36-acre parcel of land by 72 units. The land already has the zoning to build a 288 multi-family apartment, but with the additional 72 TDR credits, the number of units will increase to 360. The property to be developed is located on the east side of SW 60th Avenue at the intersection of SW 52nd Street and it has a Future Land Use of High Density.

“These 72 TDR credits were created in 2008 by Walter and Wendy Boring when they placed a conservation easement on 119 acres of their property in the Farmland Preservation Area. Horse Farms Forever thanks the Boring family for protecting their land for future generations!” said Busy Shires, Director of Conservation Strategies, Horse Farms Forever at the July 18 Commission meeting.

Marion County’s TDR program was created in 2004 and it had some early success by preserving over 3,200 acres of land, but it has not been utilized to its full extent for over 15 years.

However, over the past year, Horse Farms Forever has been working with stakeholders to review the TDR program to see if there are ways to make it more relevant and sustainable for landowners and also for developers. In April, HFF held a Roundtable led by Rick Pruetz, a nationally known expert on TDRs about Marion County’s TDR program with 25 community stakeholders to provide feedback about the TDR program.

With the tremendous growth pressures and the need for additional housing, this is the right time to fully utilize the TDR program to not only help preserve the Farmland Preservation Area but to also direct growth to appropriate areas within the Urban Growth Boundary.

In Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) jargon, the areas where communities want less (or no) development are called sending areas. Sending areas can include environmentally sensitive places, farmland, historic landmarks, open space, or any other resources that a community wants to preserve. The areas appropriate for growth are called receiving areas. Receiving areas are suitable for development, typically because they are close to jobs, shopping, schools, infrastructure, public services, and other urban amenities.

Source: TDR Turns 40, Rick Pruetz, FAICP and Erica Pruetz

View the Summary of Marion County's TDR Program by Rick Pruetz, FAICP
Learn More About the Farmland Preservation Area & the TDR Program
View the Application for Sunbelt Land Fund I - Ocala South, LLC
Busy Shires

What About Zoning?

The Zoning regulations are found in the Land Development Code, which is a separate document with specific guidelines to implement the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

Zoning regulates development through land use classifications and specifies the areas in which residential, industrial, recreational or commercial activities may take place. The Land Development Code was adopted through a series of ordinances by the County Commission, which means that the regulations cannot be changed or waived, except by a further vote of the County Commission.

It is the vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever to inspire conservation of horse farms through education, awareness and idea exchange so as to preserve natural pasture land focusing on horses and their habitats, to protect soil and water on which they depend, and minimize land use conflicts
in Marion County, Florida.

We are watchful of government and others to preserve and protect horse farms and farmland for future generations - especially in the Farmland Preservation Area. We are neither anti-growth nor anti-development; we encourage urban growth to remain inside the Urban Growth Boundary.

Horse Farms Forever® is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a charitable organization and approved as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. Horse Farms Forever® does not have a political mission. Our status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization does not allow us to participate or intervene in political activities. The organization will neither advocate on behalf of political candidates nor advocate for the passage of legislation.

 

Join or Donate Now
Founder Spotlight

Founder Spotlight

by | Jul 25, 2023 | News

A dedicated group of supporters continues to keep us alive and healthy as our mission gains momentum in the community. Thank you to all who have recognized the importance of open spaces and beautiful places in Ocala/Marion County and the importance of preserving what makes us unique – horses and horse farms.

 

Our Founders initial pledges of $10,000 or more in 2018 got us off the ground and helped us to defeat the toll road in the Farmland Preservation Area. Founders who renew each year are demonstrating their iron clad commitment to continuing the work of preservation. New threats are appearing all the time, and the Founders are behind us all the way. We are beyond grateful.

We would like to thank the Founders that have renewed their 2023 membership with a gift (as of July 2023):



horse-farms-forever-farmland-preservation-area-ocala-marion-county


“horsefeathers!” is situated on 120 acres of land formerly owned by the Plumley family. The Plumleys used this land in their cattle operation. It was purchased in 2014, so these are the first horses on the land. A barn was built and paddocks were fenced. Surrounding the horse property is 430 acres used for raising Wagyu cattle.

Previously, “horsefeathers!” was located on a different farm in Northwest Marion County. At that location, Mary Jane Hunt operated a boutique style nursery for Thoroughbred mares and foals for more than 35 years.

Mary Jane and her husband Bernie Little are committed to the well-being of all the animals in their care. The focus of “horsefeathers!” is to provide a comfortable retirement for the Thoroughbred mares and teaser ponies that were a part of the former nursery operation. The horse population has a few riding horses and a young off-track Thoroughbred that is being retrained for a second career.

 

New to the Herd


We welcome you!

Stone Petroleum

Andy Burns

Kingwood Foxden LLC

Renewing


Thanks for your continued support!

Greater Ocala Dog Club

Peter & Diane Halpin

Gary Bybee

Dressage Naturally

Timothy & Cheryl Holekamp

A dedicated group of supporters continues to keep us alive and healthy as our mission gains momentum in the community. Thank you to all who have recognized the importance of open spaces and beautiful places in Ocala/Marion County and the importance of preserving what makes us unique – horses and horse farms.

 

Our Founders initial pledges of $10,000 or more in 2018 got us off the ground and helped us to defeat the toll road in the Farmland Preservation Area. Founders who renew each year are demonstrating their iron clad commitment to continuing the work of preservation. New threats are appearing all the time, and the Founders are behind us all the way. We are beyond grateful.

 

horse-farms-forever-farmland-preservation-area-ocala-marion-county


“horsefeathers!” is situated on 120 acres of land formerly owned by the Plumley family. The Plumleys used this land in their cattle operation. It was purchased in 2014, so these are the first horses on the land. A barn was built and paddocks were fenced. Surrounding the horse property is 430 acres used for raising Wagyu cattle.

Previously, “horsefeathers!” was located on a different farm in Northwest Marion County. At that location, Mary Jane Hunt operated a boutique style nursery for Thoroughbred mares and foals for more than 35 years.

Mary Jane and her husband Bernie Little are committed to the well-being of all the animals in their care. The focus of “horsefeathers!” is to provide a comfortable retirement for the Thoroughbred mares and teaser ponies that were a part of the former nursery operation. The horse population has a few riding horses and a young off-track Thoroughbred that is being retrained for a second career.

 

horse-farms-forever-farmland-preservation-area-ocala-marion-county

Individual Renewing Founder

Matt Varney is an accomplished real estate professional who started his career in residential site construction and estimating before working for a privately held Florida-based real estate developer; where at just 26, he quickly became the leading salesman in the company.  In 2010 (along with Chris & Rob Desino), Matt started Ocala Horse Properties’ sister company, Wellington Equestrian Realty. Even though Wellington is widely known as one of the most competitive places in the country to sell horse farms, Matt excelled quickly selling more farms than any other realtor in Palm Beach County.

Matt 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, to as many competitions as his schedule will allow. Matt and Dr. Varney remain active in helping preserve Marion County’s horse farms with Horse Farms Forever.

horse-farms-forever-farmland-preservation-area-ocala-marion-county

Individual Renewing Founder

As president of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Reilly Arts Center, Bill Nassal is an Ocala legend. Internationally, the Nassal Company is the most prestigious fabricator for theme parks and other attractions.

Their showplace Stonecliff Farm in Ocala is highly regarded breeder of Thoroughbred horses.  Cindy’s annual Kentucky Derby party at their showplace Stonecliff Farm are renowned.

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Corporate Renewing Founder

Success is no accident was chosen as Niall Brennan’s motto because it embodies his philosophy of life. Sometimes people are lucky in the horse business but success generally comes from:  hard work, attention to detail, integrity, leaving nothing to chance, and striving to fine tune the quality services of our program are what defines our operation.

Stephanie has been involved in the racing industry for over 20 years. Originally from Western Canada, Stephanie’s background in both show horses, racehorses as well as has a degree in Sales and Marketing help keep the organization running smoothly. Stephanie is very active in aftercare of racehorses, founding Final Furlong to ensure a safe landing for graduates of NBS after their racing career. She is on the board of the Ocala Farm Ministry and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Niall was a successful jockey and won his first race at the age of 16 in his native Ireland. He soon discovered his special talents as a trainer and traveled around the world working at tracks and farms in New Zealand, Australia, California and Kentucky, broadening his knowledge of the thoroughbred industry. In 1987, he relocated to Florida to train for George Steinbrenner at his Kinsman farm. In 1991 Niall Brennan presented his first consignment at Select Two-Year-Old sales and since then has consistently ranked as a leading consignor in North America numerous times. Niall is also an active member on the board of The Breeder’s Cup, Ocala Breeder’s Sales Company, Fasig Tipton Sales Company and is the president of the Ocala Farm Ministry.

 

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Corporate Renewing Founder

Jacqueline Mars is the owner and operator of Stonehall Farm, The Plains, Virginia, a working farm that specializes in organic farming, horse training and horse breeding. She retired from a long and distinguished career at Mars Inc., begun by her grandfather as a candy manufacturer and where she was president of the Food Product Group and served on the board. Today, she is a passionate promoter of the arts, conservation, and women’s education. She serves on a variety of boards including the Smithsonian Institution and is president of the Mars Family Foundation.

Horses are deeply rooted in Mars history dating back to the 1930s. Frank C. and Ethel V. Mars’ Milky Way Farm in Tennessee was well known for producing Thoroughbred racing champions, including the 1940 Kentucky Derby Winner, Gallahadion. The SNICKERS® Bar was named after one of their beloved horses. Spanning across generations, the Mars family continues to be involved in a variety of equestrian disciplines and interests including breeding and competing top-class international level eventing horses, Quarter Horses, and Arabians, and caring for retired service horses. Giving back through Equestrian partnerships illustrates the Mars commitment for a better world.

A landowner in Marion County, Ms. Mars has protected over 400 acres of land through donations of conservation easements in the Virginia countryside. Her passion for land conservation is a great example for Marion County landowners.

 

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Corporate Renewing Founder

Owned and operated by the Stroh family, Cloverly Farm is a state-of-the-art hunter jumper show stable located in the heart of the Farmland Preservation Area.

 

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Corporate Renewing Founder

Arthur Appleton, Linda’s father, created Bridlewood Farm in the 1960’s. Since then, more than 100 stakes winners have been bred and raised under the name Bridlewood, and superstar Champion Smarty Jones is among the many top horses trained at the farm. Many top stallions have stood there as well, including Silver Buck (sire of Hall of Fame champion Silver Charm), Skip Trial (sire of Hall of Fame champion Skip Away), and Stormy Atlantic (Champion Juvenile Sire of 2006). Eight stallions will stand at Bridlewood in 2015, all Graded stakes winners: Aikenite, Backtalk, Benny the Bull, Big Drama, Corfu, Fort Loudon, Mach Ride, and Wagon Limit.

Linda and her husband Bill now live in Hailey, Idaho. Linda was a member of the Board of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts for 6 years. Linda and her family are involved in the STEPS scholarship program at The College of Central Florida and she is also a member The Appleton Museum of Art Advisory Council (since 2005). In December of 2008, Linda received the Distinguished Service Award from The College of Central Florida.

While Bridlewood Farm was sold in 2013, Linda is a frequent visitor to Ocala in her continuing role with the Appleton Museum.

 

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Kinsman Farm/Steinbrenner Family
 

Corporate Renewing Founder

View Our Growing List of Members!

New to the Herd


We welcome you!

Stone Petroleum

Andy Burns

Kingwood Foxden LLC

Renewing


Thanks for your continued support!

Greater Ocala Dog Club

Peter & Diane Halpin

Gary Bybee

Dressage Naturally

Bill & Cindy Nassal

Timothy & Cheryl Holekamp

Robert Desino

Board Member

A principal at Ocala Horse Properties; a real estate brokerage company specializing in the sale of horse farms, properties, raw land in Ocala, FL. A Principal at Wellington Equestrian Realty, a real estate brokerage company specializing in the sale of horse farms, properties, raw land in Wellington, FL. Dual Ocala horse farm owner as well as several vacant land properties.

Linda Bamman

Board Member

Linda was drawn to Ocala by the equine industry. She is an avid equestrian and with her husband owns Laughing Horse Farm. After an extensive career in banking and finance, Linda chose to transition to Florida and pursue her life passion. Laughing Horse Farm is situated on 30 acres and is used to raise and compete event horses, and the local business has evolved over time to now privately train a handful of show jumpers, which are trained and sold with a partner.

 

Linda Bamman

Board Member

For nearly 40 years Nick and his wife, Jaqui, called Ocala home. They own de Meric Thoroughbred Sales which includes a 240-acre farm in northwest Marion County. de Meric Thoroughbred Sales has produced numerous graded stakes winners and OBS sales toppers most recently, at the April sale with a colt by Into Mischief out of Dixie Song for $1.3 million and a filly by Gohstzapper out of Palanka City for $445,000 at the June sale.

 

Elma Garcia

Board Member

Elma and her husband Jim Cannavino chose Ocala as a winter headquarters for Elma’s award-winning passion for dressage. Upon arriving in Ocala, Elma immediately connected with the mission of Horse Farms Forever and became a Founder.

 

Tom Grabe

Board Member

Owner of Endeavor Publications, Inc. – publishers of The Canine Chronicle and The Equine Chronicle. Former managing partner of The Sanctuary Equine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Center. Ocala farm owner.

 

Tom Grabe

Board Member

General Manager of Bridlewood Farm since 1989. Forever a fan of the cultivation of top-quality equine athletes and Marion County as the ideal place for a thriving horse industry.

 

Paul Kaplan

Board Member

Retired partner of Wellington Management Company where he served as senior vice president and portfolio manager.  Owner of a horse farm in northwest Ocala.

 

Bernie Little

Board Member

Retired owner of wholesale beverage distribution business.  Extensive business investments and relationships. Ocala horse farm owner.  Ocala cattle farm owner.

 

Bernie Little

Board Member

As an international champion, co-president of Live Oak International, and advocate for equestrian sports he is the ideal addition as a Director of Horse Farms Forever. Chester, like many of our members, responded to the threat on the Farmland Preservation Area immediately becoming a Founder Member of Horse Farms Forever in June of 2018.  Chester observed the rapid growth, accomplishments, and necessity of Horse Farms Forever. When approached to join the board, Chester welcomed the opportunity to further his commitment to Ocala/Marion County, the Farmland Preservation Area, and the equestrian community.

 

It is the vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever to inspire conservation of horse farms through education, awareness and idea exchange so as to preserve natural pasture land focusing on horses and their habitats, to protect soil and water on which they depend, and minimize land use conflicts
in Marion County, Florida.

We are watchful of government and others to preserve and protect horse farms and farmland for future generations - especially in the Farmland Preservation Area. We are neither anti-growth nor anti-development; we encourage urban growth to remain inside the Urban Growth Boundary.

Horse Farms Forever® is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a charitable organization and approved as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. Horse Farms Forever® does not have a political mission. Our status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization does not allow us to participate or intervene in political activities. The organization will neither advocate on behalf of political candidates nor advocate for the passage of legislation.

 

Questions About Membership?

Sara Fennessy, Executive Director
859-553-5510

Join or Donate Now

Welcome Serenity Spring Farm, New HFF Founder Member!

Welcome Serenity Spring Farm, New HFF Founder Member!

by | Jun 22, 2023 | News

Bob Utley and Elisabeth Brinton of Serenity Spring Farm with Miss Minnie Pearl

The opening of the World Equestrian Center (WEC) has attracted the horse world from far and wide to Marion County. Elisabeth Brinton and Bob Utley have lived abroad and traveled the world for most of their professional careers. They recently purchased a horse farm in the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) and joined Horse Farms Forever as Founder Members.

Elisabeth riding Gloria on the farm.

Elisabeth is a competitive show jumper. She is also a global sustainability expert and successful builder of global businesses for strategic corporate investors and private capital. A few years before her retirement as a senior executive with Microsoft, she and Bob began searching for a U.S. based horse farm. They reached out to Matt Varney, a realtor and broker with Ocala Horse Properties, to find the perfect farm.

The Place to Be

They could have chosen one of many equestrian areas around the world, but they chose to buy a farm in Marion County because of WEC. But most importantly, they wanted their farm to be located in the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA).

“We carefully selected our horse farm and made a deliberate choice to be close to WEC and in the FPA,” says Elisabeth. “As a competitive show jumping rider and passionate horse owner, moving here is not only the fulfillment of a life-long dream to own a beautiful farm, but equally an amazing relief to be back home in the USA and in our wonderful state.”

“Our partnership and program is based on the shared values of excellence in horse care, quality preparation, complete wellness of horse and rider, ethical goal-oriented training, performance and fun,” states the SSF website.

Enchanted

While being located in close proximity to WEC was important for their horse farm, Elisabeth and Bob were also both enchanted by the natural beauty of Marion County.

“We love all of the outdoor activities here and we also love the springs and going kayaking,” says Elisabeth. “We even named our new horse farm Serenity Spring Farm after the spring fed pond on the farm.”

Elisabeth’s husband Bob is an avid marathon runner. He trains several days a week on the Greenway. “I don’t run, but I hike and then Bob and I meet for a coffee date on Mondays,” she shares.

Lifelong Conservationists

Prior to moving abroad, Elisabeth’s professional career in sustainability started in California where she helped introduce legislation to help protect parks from incompatible land uses that may cause light pollution or run-off. She also helped establish carbon credits for land, founded two land trusts, and helped protect access for equestrians to horse trails.

Elisabeth’s life-long support of land conservation and natural resource protection inspired her to join Horse Farms Forever® (HFF) as a Founder Member because she resonated with HFF’s mission, as well as the organization’s balanced position regarding development and conservation.

“It’s all about good planning and identifying those areas to protect. While at the same time, we need hotels, roads and we moved here because of WEC,” she states. “But I am well aware that without the hard work of Horse Farms Forever, my farm and this whole region would not be protected from the proposed toll road.”

While their farm is located in the FPA, she is just as supportive of conserving the horse farms that are not located in the FPA.

“I live in the FPA, but I also support those southern areas around the Florida Horse Park and the Greenway,” she says. “The farms around the Greenway and the Florida Horse Park are just jewels that also need to be protected.”

Horse Farms Forever® is honored to have Elisabeth, Bob, and Serenity Spring Farm as part of the world-wide team to help inspire the conservation of horse farms in Marion County!

HFF would also like to thank Elisabeth for volunteering her time to serve as a professional facilitator for the TDR Roundtable on April 14 at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Center.

 

 

Rick Pruetz shares his Marion County findings and Elisabeth Brinton – Corporate Vice President of Sustainability, Microsoft (retired) and HFF Founder Member facilitates the discussion. 

Visit:
Busy Shires

What About Zoning?

The Zoning regulations are found in the Land Development Code, which is a separate document with specific guidelines to implement the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

Zoning regulates development through land use classifications and specifies the areas in which residential, industrial, recreational or commercial activities may take place. The Land Development Code was adopted through a series of ordinances by the County Commission, which means that the regulations cannot be changed or waived, except by a further vote of the County Commission.

It is the vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever to inspire conservation of horse farms through education, awareness and idea exchange so as to preserve natural pasture land focusing on horses and their habitats, to protect soil and water on which they depend, and minimize land use conflicts
in Marion County, Florida.

We are watchful of government and others to preserve and protect horse farms and farmland for future generations - especially in the Farmland Preservation Area. We are neither anti-growth nor anti-development; we encourage urban growth to remain inside the Urban Growth Boundary.

Horse Farms Forever® is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a charitable organization and approved as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. Horse Farms Forever® does not have a political mission. Our status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization does not allow us to participate or intervene in political activities. The organization will neither advocate on behalf of political candidates nor advocate for the passage of legislation.

 

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