John and Leslie Malone Honored with the Robert N. Clay Conservation Award
Lexington, KY – September 13, 2021– Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is pleased to announce that John and Leslie Malone were recognized as the recipients of the 2021 Robert N. Clay Conservation Award during the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) 35th National Awards Dinner on September 11th in Lexington, Kentucky.
Tiny Horse Take Over
On November 23, Ocala Breeder’s Sales (OBS) will be occupied by horses of a different color – and SIZE. We are pleased to announce that the Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses will be featured at our 2021 Conservation Summit. Surely, you’ve heard about these adorable horses and their quest to bring healing and joy in the midst of disaster. They have been featured on Animal Planet, National Geographic, and all the major networks. Come and meet some of Marion County’s most famous residents! Learn more about their heartwarming and worthy mission.
Conservation Summit 2020
Horses and the love for the scenic beauty of Marion County brought a diverse group of large and small landowners, developers, realtors and elected officials – over 100 people – to Horse Farms Forever’s first Conservation Summit on November 19 at Golden Ocala.
The purpose of the Summit was to inspire preservation of the horse farms and agricultural lands that are fundamental to Marion County’s global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®.
Our speakers discussed practical ways to preserve farmland that benefit landowners and also made several suggestions on how to balance economic development and growth while retaining the sense of place that the iconic horse farms and agricultural lands bring to the area.
Commissioners Meeting With WEC Centers on Improvements
November 5, 2020: The Marion County Board of Commissioners met yesterday to discuss the proposed amendment to the Golden Ocala – World Equestrian Center’s (GO-WEC) Development Agreement. The main issues discussed at the meeting were about water and wastewater treatment, roadway and intersection improvements, and fire safety.
The Amendment proposes changes to the original Development Agreement. It outlined several infrastructure improvements and other infrastructure needs. The meeting was the continuation of the first public hearing for the Development Agreement Amendment. The second public hearing will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 2:00 PM. The public hearing for the proposed changes to the Golden Ocala Comprehensive Plan Amendment (20-D01) and PUD Rezoning Amendment (20200201Z) applications will also be held on December 16.
Conservation Summit Live and Virtual Attendance Details
This is a challenging time to introduce a live event! Nevertheless, the equestrian and land conservation community has enthusiastically expressed an interest in coming together on the important topic of conserving our land in Marion County. Live attendance for the Conservation Summit at Golden Ocala on November 19 is nearly full. We can still take a few more, so if you’re interested, don’t hesitate. Virtual attendance is also open and will remain open until November 16. You are also welcome to switch from live to virtual, but please do so by November 12. More on that below.