Mandy Pope breeds and races horses under the name Whisper Hill Farm. The breeder of horses such as Tizway has been in the thoroughbred business for 30 years and is a lifelong horsewoman.
Thank you, Mandy Pope, for joining Horse Farms Forever’s strong group of Founders. We are thrilled to have you with us.
Renewing Charter 2018 & 2020
Renewing Corporate Founder 2018-2020
Ocala is the Horse Capital of the World®. World Equestrian Center is what puts it on the map. World Equestrian Center’s world-class event grounds and exquisite World Equestrian Estates offer unparalleled access to Ocala’s horse country.
Renewing Charter, 2019-2020
Your source for Ocala, Marion County and Central Florida real estate services. Whether you’re buying or selling a home, farm, or land, Showcase Properties has the resources you need: luxury homes, country club living, equestrian, waterfront, farms, and more.
Large and small, thanks to all!
Looking for a way to promote your business throughout the equine community? Becoming a Horse Farms Forever Corporate Member gives you access to our members in Ocala/Marion County and beyond. Donating to Horse Farms Forever, a registered 501(c)3 with the IRS, reaches our members, friends, and subscribers though our newsletters, social media, advertising, and events. To learn more or to join please contact our Director of Community Affairs,
Sara Fennessy
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 Farms Forever is grateful to announce tremendous growth at the grassroots level. This is solid evidence of a growing movement to protect the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) of Marion County.
We were born in 2018 to fight the State’s plans to build a toll road through the Farmland Preservation Area. A small group of farms, businesses and individuals came together with the County, and successfully convinced the State to respect our iconic farmland. In two short years, Horse Farms Forever (HFF) has become a lightning rod, attracting and gathering the voices in Marion County who care about protecting the character and culture created by horses and horse farms. HFF is now an effective 501c3 nonprofit organization with a clear mission to:
Since our inception, we have steadily added members, both Individual and Corporate. This growth enables us to support part-time staff who work hard to fulfill the mission. It has also fuels our Threat Reserve Fund – this critical resource enables us to quickly ramp up our activity when our watchdog efforts uncover a new development or roadway threat to the FPA.
If you have been following us lately, you have seen us tackle two such threats in rapid succession. As we have raised awareness in the community, new friends and supporters have emerged and joined us. Our new members are individuals and businesses who share a deep regard for farmland and want play a part in keeping our area healthy, beautiful and worthy of being called the Horse Capital of the World®. It is not necessary to be in the horse business or to even own a horse to appreciate how horses and horse farms create a special sense of place that is worth preserving. We want to represent everyone who cares about the Farmland Preservation Area and protecting it for future generations. Thank you, new and renewing members, for your support. We are stronger together.
Growth in 2020 has been over 100%.
More blueberry pie, please! The dark blue are new members.
This shows the diversity of donation levels in our membership. Evidence of community support for the FPA!
Nobody can answer this question better than some of our newest members and supporters:
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.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
The Zoning Hearing is TONIGHT, June 1st, 5:30pm. Here’s the agenda.
In just two weeks, Horse Farms Forever has received a groundswell of letters and comments from Flemington area residents opposing the Double Gate ATV Park. We will be bringing these before the County in tonight’s non-binding Zoning Hearing.
Here is our letter requesting that the Zoning Commission DENY the project.
Now it’s your turn. Zoning and Planning MUST hear from the community.
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.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
On May 28, 2020, at 12:55 PM
Ms. Dinkins,
As owner of Sweet Dixie South, LLC, I am concerned about the proposed amendment to the comprehensive plan for an increase in the size of the existing rural activity center and the request for a special use permit for the ATV Racetrack, Paintball and other activities on the property located at the corner of N329/W318 in the quiet community of Flemington.
We realize these types of parks have a history of disrupting local lifestyles and the general atmosphere of the rural community due to their generation of noise and traffic. These parks seem to evoke an increase of littering, and police arrests . We have additional concern as to the detrimental impact these activities would have to the ground waters in or on the nearby flood zones.
Sweet Dixie South is a 160 acre “Jumper and Three Day Event” training farm located less than 1000 feet to the west of the proposed facility. We are very concerned about the volume of the noise and odors from exhaust created by this park. The proposed activities may be very disruptive to ourselves and other adjoining training facilities for the continuance of our established equine disciplines.
We also stand by the fact and believe the proposed facility does not support or promote the Farmland Preservation Area. We discourage any approval by the Marion County Commission to allow this intrusive proposal into the quiet community of Flemington, which is steeped In the tradition of equine culture.
Michael Campbell
Sweet Dixie South
We at Horse Farms Forever like ATVs. Many of us own and enjoy them. We support family-oriented outdoor recreation, just like the Double Gate ATV Park applicants. Our concern continues to be about the location of the subject property:
Our message continues to be the same as our mission:
We ask that the Farmland Preservation Area be respected and protected. Once it's erased, it can't be replaced.
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.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
Check out this bright and inspiring video of the Ocala Horse Parade, 2020. Brought to you by Horse Farms Forever, the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, and Strategic Drone Services. Enjoy!
Help us to protect what’s unique about Marion County and ensure that its Farmland Preservation Area will always be there to welcome horses, agriculture and the rural way of life.
Join us. Like our horses, we are stronger together.