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However, you need to act fast because the online event will run March 19-26. The event will start at 1:30pm Mountain time on March 19 and will close at 4pm Mountain time on March 26. Here is where you can go online to view the animals up for adoption: https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/Animals. Keep in mind, you can pick up your new horse or burro at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion May 10th! The U.S. government has a program to pay up to $1000 to people willing to adopt an untrained wild horse or burro to help with the overpopulation of these beautiful animals in the wild! This incentive is part of the Interior Department's effort to encourage more adopters to give a wild horse or burro a good home. Known as the "Adoption Incentive Program," this program has been established by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The goal is to reduce the agency's "recurring costs to care for unadopted and untrained wild horses and burro while helping to enable the BLM to confront a growing over-population of wild horses and burros on fragile public range lands." The Adoption Incentive Program allows qualified adopters to receive up to $1,000 when adopting an eligible wild horse or burro on or after March 12, 2019. Under this program, adopters are eligible to receive:

• $500 within 60 days of adoption of an untrained wild horse and burro
• $500 within 60 days of titling the animal.

The incentive is available for all untrained animals that are eligible for adoption, including animals at BLM facilities, off-site events and on the Online Corral. A $25 fee applies at the time of adoption. How to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro: Qualified adopters must meet standard requirements for owning and caring for a wild horse and burro, including specific facility parameters and shelters to ensure the safety and health of the animals. In general, when adopting or purchasing an animal at an internet event, prospective adopters or purchasers should follow the steps outlined below.

1. Apply: Create an Online Corral Profile, complete an adoption or sales application, and submit on-line.
2. Bid: Once the BLM approves your application, you are eligible to adopt or purchase your very own wild horse or burro. You may bid on the number of animals you are approved to adopt or purchase. The individual animal page from the gallery will display purchase methods and the current bid information. You can increase the current bid from $5 to $250 with each new bid. You may raise your own bid at any time. Proxy bidding allows the system to bid for you. Proxy bidding will automatically raise your bid (by $5) up to your maximum, every time your high bid is challenged. Bidders can raise their maximum bid throughout the bidding process.
3. Finalize: Submit payment, select your preferred pick-up option and finalize all Private Care, and Maintenance Agreements or Bills of Sales.
4. Pick up: Pick up of your newly adopted or purchased wild horse or burro directly from the off-range corral or a satellite event. Bring a valid photo identification card, such as a driver's license to the event. You do NOT have to accept the animal if the animal does not meet your expectations. There is no penalty for not taking the animal. If you decline the animal in person, you may request a credit towards a future adoption. The BLM will load your animal into an approved trailer, please bring a halter if you wish to have your animal haltered prior to bringing them home.
5. Bring Home your Wild Horses and Burros: Unload your animal directly into your corral and shelter. Give your horse or burro time to adjust and become accustomed to their new surroundings. Call 1-800-370-3936 or email [email protected] with any questions or for assistance.

OCALA Adoption and Sales Event: Dates for the optional satellite pick up locations are Ocala, FL (May 10)

Facility Name: Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Address: 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, FL 34470-3615 Contact: 352-671-8600   [post_title] => LAST DAY: The Feds are Offering $1000 to People for Adopting Untrained Wild Horses and Burros! [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => last-day-the-feds-are-offering-1000-to-people-for-adopting-untrained-wild-horses-and-burros [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-04-19 13:11:38 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-04-19 17:11:38 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=9647 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9344 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2018-11-05 20:58:53 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-11-06 01:58:53 [post_content] => [post_title] => Protect our Rural Land [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => protect-our-rural-land [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-04-19 13:12:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-04-19 17:12:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=9344 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8875 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2018-10-22 15:08:24 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-10-22 19:08:24 [post_content] => In 20 years, what will the landscape of Marion County look like? Will historic horse farms and the picturesque countryside still provide the beautiful views we enjoy today? Will the equine and agricultural industries still be thriving economic engines that contribute billions of dollars annually to our local economy? Will Ocala/Marion County still be known as the Horse Capital of the World? The Florida 2030 Report projects that the population of Marion County would reach 500,000 by 2040; that’s an increase of nearly 150,000 residents over the next 20 years. Is our community ready for this growth and the impacts it will have on our quality of life here in Marion County? There is a Farmland Preservation Area in Marion County, but about 2,000 acres of the Farmland Preservation Area has recently been lost to urban uses. Marion County’s distinctive and rare mineral-rich soils, which are primarily located in the Farmland Preservation Area, provide optimal nutrition for the bones of growing horses. This soil has made Marion County one of the top Thoroughbred breeding areas in the world. Once it’s developed, it’s gone forever. While growth and development are inevitable, how do we as a community effectively plan our future growth in a way that balances development with retaining a quality of life that is uniquely Marion County? What have other communities across the United States done to protect their agricultural lands and rural economy while facing similar growth and development challenges and can Marion County benefit from incorporating some of these same planning principles? Over the past year, the Horse Country Protection Program brought together a diverse committee of about 40 stakeholders and decision-makers through a series of forums called the Visioning the Future of Marion County’s Farmland. At the forums, two nationally recognized land conservation organizations, the Equine Land Conservation Resource and the American Farmland Trust, led a discussion with community leaders on how to balance growth while protecting Marion County’s rural economy, agricultural lands and community brand. The consensus of the group was to move forward with developing a Rural Land Management Plan for the future of agriculture in Marion County. A Rural Land Management Plan is a guiding document for managing rural lands that works together with comprehensive planning. Marion County Commissioners will hold a public workshop to learn more about Rural Land Management Planning and how other communities have addressed similar growth challenges. The workshop will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 2-4 p.m. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend. After the workshop should the commissioners decide to move forward with developing a Rural Land Management Plan, it will include input from community leaders, landowners and residents, as we work together to create a long-range plan for the future of Marion County’s horse farms and agricultural lands. — Busy Shires Byerly is program manager for the Horse Country Protection Program. She lives in Gainesville. Her email is[email protected]. [post_title] => Busy Shires Byerly: Creating a vision for Marion County’s horse country [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => busy-shires-byerly-creating-a-vision-for-marion-countys-horse-country [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-03-14 09:16:34 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-03-14 13:16:34 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=8875 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8827 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2018-10-03 12:33:30 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-10-03 16:33:30 [post_content] => Bellow are updates on some of the changes going on in Marion County: [post_title] => Marion County Comprehensive Plan Meeting October 4th at 10:00 a.m. [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => marion-county-comprehensive-plan-meeting-october-4th-at-1000-a-m [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-03-14 09:18:24 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-03-14 13:18:24 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=8827 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 5451 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2018-08-31 16:46:57 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-08-31 20:46:57 [post_content] =>

Join Us to Save Our Horse Farms!

Our Mission Our mission is to inspire the conservation of horse farms by preserving the natural pasture land for horses and their habitats, and to protect the soil and water on which they depend, while minimizing land use conflicts in Marion County. The Issue Marion County has some of the most productive horse farming in the country and this didn’t happen by chance. The equine industry was developed here more than 80 years ago because of the unique characteristics of the year-round moderate climate, as well as the mineral-rich soil and water specific to the region. Think of how important the coral reefs are to the make-up of the Florida Keys. The land in Marion County is just as irreplaceable and precious for horse farms in the North Central Florida region. That is why a group of locals has formed Horse Farms Forever, an initiative focused on the conservation of horse farms by preserving the natural pasture land for horses and their habitats, protecting the soil and water on which they depend, and minimizing land use conflicts in Marion County. In April 2018, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) released plans for the Coastal Connector turnpike with projected routes that would go right through the heart of Marion County horse country. After massive public outcry over the potential destruction of the hundreds of horse farms that provide the cultural fabric of Marion County, the FDOT “postponed” this project. Now that the immediate threat of the Coastal Connector has been postponed, the ongoing goal for Horse Farms Forever is to protect horse farms from further government overreach through education and awareness in Marion County. Ocala’s equine industry contributes nearly 50 percent of the tourism dollars in Marion County, brings in nearly $3 billion annually and employs 20,000 workers. Our equine industry is at stake should this project resume at a later date or future projects be approved. To protect what we have and promote responsible growth, Horse Farms Forever is dedicated to constantly monitoring the development of agriculture property in Marion County. We must preserve and protect Marion County’s green space that is revered as the Horse Capital of the World.™ Join Us We invite you to join Horse Farms Forever by visiting our website, HorseFarmsForever.com, where you can find several ways to get involved, including:

• Providing your email address to stay informed
• Making a donation to help us reach others
• Sharing our effort on social media to help spread our message

It will take a united effort from all of our residents to come together to raise our voices to protect our horse farms and our way of life. Now is the time to make sure we are here for another 80 years. CONTACT INFORMATION: Amy Agricola Executive Director Horse Farms Forever [email protected] 352.425.3255 [post_title] => HORSE FARMS FOREVER! [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => horse-farms-forever [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-09-01 00:25:05 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-09-01 04:25:05 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=5451 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 5181 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2018-08-13 10:03:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-08-13 14:03:03 [post_content] => [post_title] => 2018 Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show Set for Sept. 20 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => 2018-florida-equine-institute-and-allied-trade-show-set-for-sept-20 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-03-14 09:12:34 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-03-14 13:12:34 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=5181 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4628 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2017-06-01 07:19:11 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-01 07:19:11 [post_content] => FROM the NoCoastal Connector Connection Newsletter: Welcome! Hello and welcome to our first installment of the NoCoastal Connector Connection. Our goal is to update those interested with information every two weeks about this threat to our economy, environment and way of life. We thought we would start by summarizing the history of the Coastal Connector proposal from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and where we are now. If you are up to date on all things Toll Road, feel free to skip ahead. If you are new to the No Coastal Connector sites or want to brush up on the facts, read on. In mid-April, the FDOT and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) sent out letters to property owners and residents who live within 300 feet of their newly introduced toll road, the Coastal Connector. This turnpike would ultimately connect the Suncoast Parkway, coming out of the Tampa area, with Jacksonville. Residents who received letters were told to attend a meeting for more information: April 26th for Citrus County and May 1st for Marion County. These meetings were set up to relieve citizens’ concerns and push the excellence of the proposed turnpike. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Within days of word getting out, several hundred new voices joined the existent Facebook page, on which residents of Citrus and Alachua Counties had been fighting the extension of the Suncoast Parkway for approximately two years. We created the website, nocoastalconnector.org, and initiated a petition against the toll road on change.org. Thousands of horrified citizens of Marion and Citrus county called and emailed their County Commissioners with their objections to the Coastal Connector. At the next scheduled meeting of the Marion Board of County Commissioners on May 14th, only two weeks from the time the proposed routes were made public, we had made enough of an uproar that the County Commissioners stated their opposition to the Coastal Connector before the first public speaker even stood up. The County Commissioners have been vocal and unified in their support of their constituents’ fight against the FTE’s toll road. In the past few weeks they have been joined by numerous other elected officials and organizations. In Citrus county, the Board of County Commissioner had previously requested that the FDOT/FTE extend the Suncoast Parkway through the county—even as recently as November—using Irma and a difficult hurricane season as the reason for their enthusiasm. But due to significant citizen opposition, on June 12th the Citrus BOCC finalized a resolution opposing all Coastal Connector pathways and demanded the FDOT/FTE stop further development of Suncoast 2 at SR44 until more specific goals and a pathway had been agreed upon locally. This group has grown immensely and we have been actively fighting the turnpike in a number of ways. We started a GoFundMe account to pay for banners, yard signs, bumper stickers, and magnetic car door signs. The positive response has been overwhelming. Individuals have also been making T-shirts, license plate signs, and other ingenious items to get our message out there. Ten days ago, Rick Scott, our governor who is now running for US Senator, and Ron DeSantis, a current candidate for governor, were given packets of No Coastal Connector information at rallies in an effort to get them to go public opposing the Coastal Connector. Several of the larger landholders have banded together to fund lobbyists. We have also been fortunate to draw the attention of journalists at the Ocala Star Banner and the Tampa Bay Times who have written numerous articles in our favor. It is truly remarkable how quickly the community has pulled together. On Friday, June 29th, Mike Dew, the Secretary of the FDOT, released a letter stating that they will postpone the Coastal Connector for now. They will temporarily shelve their proposal for the turnpike between Tampa and Jacksonville until they have followed the directives of the I-75 task force, which recommended expanding I-75 and other connecting highways before exploring new options. That does not mean that we are safe indefinitely. We need to stay vigilant and make our farmland preservation protections stronger. We need to continue to show up at BOCC, TPO and MPO meetings. We can take a deep breath and regroup for a moment, however, we cannot wait for the FDOT to come back with a fresh plan. We must continue to communicate with our elected representatives, educate our friends and neighbors about this ongoing threat, and be ready to organize for action when called upon next. Welcome to the FIGHT! Three easy ways to become a Connector Objector: 1. Sign our online petition and share it on social media! You can find it here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-coastal-connector 2. Donate to and/or share our fundraising effort! The link is here: https://www.gofundme.com/m69za-stop-the-coastal-connector 3. Join our mailing list for updates. http://nocoastalconnector.org/ If you are looking to do more, please visit http://nocoastalconnector.org/ for links to your government officials. Let them know how you feel! [post_title] => The NoCoastal Connector Connection: An informative bi-monthly newsletter brought to you by Save Central Florida, Inc. [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => donec-volutpat-lacinia-ligula-in-vestibulum-ante [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-07-10 09:37:01 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-07-10 13:37:01 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://demo.joinwebs.com/classiera/canary/?post_type=blog&p=225 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4627 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2017-06-01 07:16:40 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-01 07:16:40 [post_content] => [post_title] => Social Scene: From Stallion Shows to HITS, we plan to cover the social scenes that make Marion County unique! [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => duis-placerat-felis-vitae-dui-facilisis-bibendum [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-03-14 09:14:20 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-03-14 13:14:20 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://demo.joinwebs.com/classiera/canary/?post_type=blog&p=224 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4597 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2017-06-01 07:15:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-06-01 07:15:19 [post_content] => From Ocala/Marion County's Thoroughbred farms and training centers, to major bloodstock auctions and the excitement of racing at three racetracks and ITW simulcasting, Florida has it all! Florida is home to some 600 Thoroughbred farms and training centers, with more than 75 percent of these located near Ocala in Marion County. Ocala is also home to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, which stages major bloodstock auctions throughout the year. OBS also operates an ITW simulcasting theater and each March hosts the annual Week of Champions races. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association is also located in Ocala. The FTBOA administers the $15-million state breeders' incentive program and is responsible for promoting the Florida Thoroughbred industry. The concentration of the Thoroughbred breeding and training industry in the Ocala/Marion County area is strongly supported by a network of equine services, such as veterinarians, feed and tack retailers, blacksmiths, equine dentists, and major horse transportation companies. All these factors make Ocala one of only four major Thoroughbred breeding and training centers in the world.  

A Look at the Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on Marion County:

Results of the Economic Impact Study are Released By Sadie Fitzpatrick Provided Courtesy of FTBOA and Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership A recent study commissioned by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership with support from HITS and Hampton Inn & Suites found that the equine industry has a $2.62 billion economic impact on the Ocala/Marion County area. Ocala has long held the title of the “Horse Capital of the World” because of the hospitable climate in which to breed and raise horses as well as the close-knit equestrian community that has created world-renowned shows, sales, and breeding farms. This “Horse Capital of the World” title began in the 1950s when the Ocala-bred racehorse “Needles” won the Kentucky Derby in 1956, and the fervor for the horse industry continued to grow. In 1979, “Affirmed,” a horse produced by Ocala’s Harbor View Farm, swept the Triple Crown, a feat which no other horse has since accomplished. This study was conducted by Kathleen Davis of Sports Marketing Research Institute in Carlsbad, California, a research firm dedicated to helping major companies determine where and how consumers are spending their discretionary income. Their clients include Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and the NFL. A two-phase onsite/online approach was used to determine the economic impact of the equine industry. First, more than 500 OBS event participants, contractors, and vendors were surveyed while attending an OBS equine sales event to provide a brief snapshot of the nature of equine-related economic activity. Secondly, an online survey of all types of business establishments in the Ocala/Marion County area was conducted. The study analyzed the following aspects of the Ocala/Marion County equine industry and its impact on the Ocala/Marion County Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA):

• Direct impact dollars spent due to the regional hosting of equine industry sales events/shows, new/existing business development attributable to equine industry operations
• Annual event participants, vendors, exhibitors, and contractors associated with the equine industry
• Re-spending as a result of the direct equine industry expenditures from introduction of new economic impact activity into the Ocala/Marion County MSA study area
• Evaluation of how much Ocala/Marion County equine industry revenues were introduced into the study area economy
• Types of local businesses affected by Ocala/Marion County equine industry spending
• Examination of the number of jobs in local businesses affected by equine industry spending

  When analyzing data from the OBS sales event, the study found that 70.7% of attendees had a favorable image of the area from their attendance at the sales event, and 93.7% of attendees planned to revisit the Ocala area in the coming year. The visitors’ average stay was 5.91 nights and 85.3% of the OBS sales event attendees were staying at a hotel, condominium or rental unit. More figures for OBS include:

• For the calendar year 2014, over 3,100 horses were sold at OBS for a record total of more than $142 million, a 20% increase over 2013 gross sales.
• Buyers represented 42 states and 18 countries. Japanese buyers bought 20 horses for over $4 million in 2014 and have spent $10 million in the last three years at an average price of about $200,000.
• Korean-based buyers purchased 147 horses at OBS for over $4.4 million in 2014 and have spent $26 million on 1,417 horses at OBS since 2000.
• Representatives from Qatar spent over $2.3 million on eight horses including one for $1.6 million. This purchase tied for the highest price for a two-year-old in training in North America with all three top sales occurring at OBS.

  Another major equine industry event that was a part of the study was the HITS Winter Circuit, which is one of the largest and longest-running events in equine sports. It is a 10-week equestrian event staged annually from January through March at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala. The circuit attracts competitors from the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe. This event attracts more than 20,000 spectators, and the study found that during the 10-week HITS circuit, 84,165 rooms were utilized for the event, including hotels, rented condos, apartments, timeshares, and RV/campgrounds. The direct expenditures by out-of-town visitors and expenses was more than $63 million with a total industry output impact to the Ocala/Marion County area of more than $94 million. More statistics regarding the impact of HITS on the Ocala/Marion County area include:

• Out-of-town visitors traveled to Marion County primarily by car/automobile (48.6%) and secondarily by commercial airplane (46.6%)
• 85.1% of out-of-town visitors planned to return to Ocala/Marion County within the coming year
• 19.9% of out-of-town visitors surveyed have purchased real estate in Marion County
• Survey respondents rated the “overall experience” at the 2014 HITS Ocala Show higher than the WEF-Wellington/Classic Pensacola and Classic Gulfport, other Florida-based shows
• 72.4% of out-of-town visitors were female, with an average age of 47.2 years, earning on average $223,470 in annual household income

  Overall, the results of this study indicated that the total economic impact of the equine industry annually in Marion County is $2.62 billion in revenues, $1.60 billion in value-added contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employment of 19,209 full-time and part-time jobs. Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, remarked on the impact of the equine industry on Ocala/Marion County saying, “This industry is an enormous job-creation engine for Marion County and the newest study shows the talent pool for equines is strong here. Some of the top trainers and equine athletes of all disciplines, along with accomplished professionals such as veterinarians, make their home base right here.” The authors of the study suggested that because of the major impact the equine industry has on the Ocala/Marion County economy, a number of specific strategic recommendations should be implemented to maintain this great economic impact. The most important aspect to capitalize on when hosting large-scale equine and sporting events is the return business. With more than 80% of HITS/OBS participants indicating they plan to return to the region in the next calendar year, this indicates positive measures of repeat business and travel to the area, which should be documented by the Ocala Visitors and Convention Bureau and other county organizations. Continued documentation of return visitors to the area would serve as a barometer for exactly how vested the out-of-town visitors are in the area as a destination for future vacations, business meetings, and relocation to the vicinity. These large-scale sporting and equine events attract a number of visitors to our region, specifically to attend these types of events. These events bring media coverage via print, cable, broadcast, and Internet mediums, which creates an added value of showcasing Ocala/Marion County and what the surrounding area has to offer to domestic and international visitors to the region. This is another example of the importance of tourism brand integration for community and regional economic development agency leaders to tout Ocala as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Along with the importance of print and broadcast media in showcasing Ocala/Marion County is the need to maintain a strong social media presence to engage out-of-town visitors and build long-term relationships. Hospitality, travel, leisure and other related businesses should utilize social media platforms to motivate these out-of-town visitors to visit frequently, stay longer and spend more money in the area. This report found that the average household income of HITS Ocala out-of-town participants was $223,000.00, which is in the top three percent nationally. This high socioeconomic status of visitors attending the 2014 HITS Ocala event and the OBS equine sales event distinguish these events consumers from other regional large-scale events such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, University of Florida, and Florida State University football games. These monetary figures add support to the idea that visitors to these equine events provide a larger discretionary income to spend when compared to typical out-of-town visitors. It is recommended by this report that regional county and state government and tourism agencies should be aware of the economic advantages that future equine-related events have to offer to tax rolls, employment generation, and regional business stimulation to area hotels, restaurants, and entertainment/arts enterprises. The final recommendation of the study suggested that outreach campaigns targeting education of government agencies and private foundations should be implemented in order to educate these agencies about how their continued support for the equine business in Ocala could increase profit margins for both area businesses and the equine industry. It is strongly suggested that the county continue to invest and build the equine industry toward sustainability, and that future funding and tax incentives for equine business should be instituted to continue to add to the economic development of Ocala/Marion County and create more job opportunities. [post_title] => Why Florida-Bred? Check out the Economic Impact the Horse Industry has on Marion County! [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lorem-ipsum-dolor-sit-amet-consectetur-adipiscing-elit [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-07-06 16:43:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-07-06 20:43:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://demo.joinwebs.com/classiera/canary/?post_type=blog&p=223 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 9 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9647 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2019-04-15 10:11:30 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-04-15 14:11:30 [post_content] => If you've ever thought of adopting a wild horse, NOW is the time! However, you need to act fast because the online event will run March 19-26. The event will start at 1:30pm Mountain time on March 19 and will close at 4pm Mountain time on March 26. Here is where you can go online to view the animals up for adoption: https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/Animals. Keep in mind, you can pick up your new horse or burro at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion May 10th! The U.S. government has a program to pay up to $1000 to people willing to adopt an untrained wild horse or burro to help with the overpopulation of these beautiful animals in the wild! This incentive is part of the Interior Department's effort to encourage more adopters to give a wild horse or burro a good home. Known as the "Adoption Incentive Program," this program has been established by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The goal is to reduce the agency's "recurring costs to care for unadopted and untrained wild horses and burro while helping to enable the BLM to confront a growing over-population of wild horses and burros on fragile public range lands." The Adoption Incentive Program allows qualified adopters to receive up to $1,000 when adopting an eligible wild horse or burro on or after March 12, 2019. Under this program, adopters are eligible to receive:

• $500 within 60 days of adoption of an untrained wild horse and burro
• $500 within 60 days of titling the animal.

The incentive is available for all untrained animals that are eligible for adoption, including animals at BLM facilities, off-site events and on the Online Corral. A $25 fee applies at the time of adoption. How to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro: Qualified adopters must meet standard requirements for owning and caring for a wild horse and burro, including specific facility parameters and shelters to ensure the safety and health of the animals. In general, when adopting or purchasing an animal at an internet event, prospective adopters or purchasers should follow the steps outlined below.

1. Apply: Create an Online Corral Profile, complete an adoption or sales application, and submit on-line.
2. Bid: Once the BLM approves your application, you are eligible to adopt or purchase your very own wild horse or burro. You may bid on the number of animals you are approved to adopt or purchase. The individual animal page from the gallery will display purchase methods and the current bid information. You can increase the current bid from $5 to $250 with each new bid. You may raise your own bid at any time. Proxy bidding allows the system to bid for you. Proxy bidding will automatically raise your bid (by $5) up to your maximum, every time your high bid is challenged. Bidders can raise their maximum bid throughout the bidding process.
3. Finalize: Submit payment, select your preferred pick-up option and finalize all Private Care, and Maintenance Agreements or Bills of Sales.
4. Pick up: Pick up of your newly adopted or purchased wild horse or burro directly from the off-range corral or a satellite event. Bring a valid photo identification card, such as a driver's license to the event. You do NOT have to accept the animal if the animal does not meet your expectations. There is no penalty for not taking the animal. If you decline the animal in person, you may request a credit towards a future adoption. The BLM will load your animal into an approved trailer, please bring a halter if you wish to have your animal haltered prior to bringing them home.
5. Bring Home your Wild Horses and Burros: Unload your animal directly into your corral and shelter. Give your horse or burro time to adjust and become accustomed to their new surroundings. Call 1-800-370-3936 or email [email protected] with any questions or for assistance.

OCALA Adoption and Sales Event: Dates for the optional satellite pick up locations are Ocala, FL (May 10)

Facility Name: Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Address: 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, FL 34470-3615 Contact: 352-671-8600   [post_title] => LAST DAY: The Feds are Offering $1000 to People for Adopting Untrained Wild Horses and Burros! [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => last-day-the-feds-are-offering-1000-to-people-for-adopting-untrained-wild-horses-and-burros [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-04-19 13:11:38 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-04-19 17:11:38 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ocalahorse.com/?post_type=blog&p=9647 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => blog [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 9 [max_num_pages] => 1 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => 1 [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 8281a877a26276877bfd9735277eca8c [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) ) shabir

 
• Blogs

LAST DAY: The Feds are Offering $1000 to People for Adopting Untrained Wild Horses and Burros!

Tandra Downs April 15, 2019

If you’ve ever thought of adopting a wild horse, NOW is the time! However, you need to act fast because the online event will run March 19-26. The event will start at 1:30pm Mountain time on March 19 and will close at 4pm Mountain time on March 26. Here is where you can go online to view the animals up for adoption: https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/Animals. Keep in mind, you can pick up your new horse or burro at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion May 10th! The U.S. government has a program to pay up to $1000 to people willing to adopt an untrained wild horse or burro to help with the overpopulation of these beautiful animals in the wild! This incentive is part of the Interior Department’s effort to encourage more adopters to give a wild horse or burro a good home. Known as the “Adoption Incentive Program,” this program has been established

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Protect our Rural Land

admin November 5, 2018

We had a great turnout for the Rural Land Management  Workshop. If you want to hear what was presented from the different organizations trying to help us preserve our rural lands click this link. It was a wonderful presentation organized by Horse Country Protection Program and Busy Shires Byerly. I was disappointed the Commissioners didn’t take the next step to develop a plan or ask questions . Apparently, this is a multi-year visioning and planning process So our next opportunity to protect our rural land is by  adding language to our County’s Comprehensive plan. The plan is the guide for growth management and provides the framework for how Marion County will develop. This plan is reviewed every 7 years so if we want to encourage development inside of the urban growth boundary and protect the rural lands we need to attend these meetings and make our intent known.  We want toll

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Busy Shires Byerly: Creating a vision for Marion County’s horse country

admin October 22, 2018

In 20 years, what will the landscape of Marion County look like? Will historic horse farms and the picturesque countryside still provide the beautiful views we enjoy today? Will the equine and agricultural industries still be thriving economic engines that contribute billions of dollars annually to our local economy? Will Ocala/Marion County still be known as the Horse Capital of the World? The Florida 2030 Report projects that the population of Marion County would reach 500,000 by 2040; that’s an increase of nearly 150,000 residents over the next 20 years. Is our community ready for this growth and the impacts it will have on our quality of life here in Marion County? There is a Farmland Preservation Area in Marion County, but about 2,000 acres of the Farmland Preservation Area has recently been lost to urban uses. Marion County’s distinctive and rare mineral-rich soils, which are primarily located in the

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Marion County Comprehensive Plan Meeting October 4th at 10:00 a.m.

Tandra Downs October 3, 2018

Message From Tracey Barrett, Stop The Coastal Connector: Meeting Thursday Oct 4th at 10 am to discuss changes to the Marion County Comprehensive plan. Every 7 years the comprehensive plan is reviewed in Marion County. We are trying to insert language that will strongly protect our farmland preservation areas. The first meeting is Thursday Oct 4th at 10am. If you are interested in protecting our beautiful horse farms, please attend This plan is a vision for Marion county’s future to 2035. Please show you care by attending. If we want changes we have to show up. The meeting is in the usual BOCC meeting area.-the Commission Auditorium (601 SE 25th avenue, Ocala, Florida 34471). Bellow are updates on some of the changes going on in Marion County: A large portion of our farmland preservation area has been designated an opportunity zone. This zone includes WEC and Golden Ocala and some

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HORSE FARMS FOREVER!

Tandra Downs August 31, 2018

Join Us to Save Our Horse Farms! Our Mission Our mission is to inspire the conservation of horse farms by preserving the natural pasture land for horses and their habitats, and to protect the soil and water on which they depend, while minimizing land use conflicts in Marion County. The Issue Marion County has some of the most productive horse farming in the country and this didn’t happen by chance. The equine industry was developed here more than 80 years ago because of the unique characteristics of the year-round moderate climate, as well as the mineral-rich soil and water specific to the region. Think of how important the coral reefs are to the make-up of the Florida Keys. The land in Marion County is just as irreplaceable and precious for horse farms in the North Central Florida region. That is why a group of locals has formed Horse Farms Forever,

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2018 Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show Set for Sept. 20

admin August 13, 2018

2018 Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show Set for Sept. 20 The 2018 Florida Equine Institute and Allied Trade Show this year will be held on Sept. 20 it was announced by the UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County recently. The annual event focuses on the equine production as it relates to sport, including racing and competitive event, and recreational horses. The theme for the 2018 educational program is “Filling In The Blanks”. This University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service program is designed to provide Florida horsemen and horsewomen with current equine management information and a “working” trade show. The Trade Show will open at 8:00 am and the seminars will begin at 8:30 am. Highlights of the educational program include the following topics and speakers: “Horse Pasture: More Than Just A Turnout Paddock” Marcelo Wallau, PhD.; Forages Extension Specialist, UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, University of Florida “Managing Manure Through Composting” Caitlin Bainum,

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The NoCoastal Connector Connection: An informative bi-monthly newsletter brought to you by Save Central Florida, Inc.

admin June 1, 2017

FROM the NoCoastal Connector Connection Newsletter: Welcome! Hello and welcome to our first installment of the NoCoastal Connector Connection. Our goal is to update those interested with information every two weeks about this threat to our economy, environment and way of life. We thought we would start by summarizing the history of the Coastal Connector proposal from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and where we are now. If you are up to date on all things Toll Road, feel free to skip ahead. If you are new to the No Coastal Connector sites or want to brush up on the facts, read on. In mid-April, the FDOT and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) sent out letters to property owners and residents who live within 300 feet of their newly introduced toll road, the Coastal Connector. This turnpike would ultimately connect the Suncoast Parkway, coming out of the Tampa area, with

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Social Scene: From Stallion Shows to HITS, we plan to cover the social scenes that make Marion County unique!

admin June 1, 2017

In Marion County there are many activities for the entire family to enjoy as well as social activities happening all the time! Be sure to check back here to find social activities listed and photos from events! From Stallion Shows to HITS, we plan to cover the social scenes that make Marion County unique!

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Why Florida-Bred? Check out the Economic Impact the Horse Industry has on Marion County!

admin June 1, 2017

From Ocala/Marion County’s Thoroughbred farms and training centers, to major bloodstock auctions and the excitement of racing at three racetracks and ITW simulcasting, Florida has it all! Florida is home to some 600 Thoroughbred farms and training centers, with more than 75 percent of these located near Ocala in Marion County. Ocala is also home to the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, which stages major bloodstock auctions throughout the year. OBS also operates an ITW simulcasting theater and each March hosts the annual Week of Champions races. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association is also located in Ocala. The FTBOA administers the $15-million state breeders’ incentive program and is responsible for promoting the Florida Thoroughbred industry. The concentration of the Thoroughbred breeding and training industry in the Ocala/Marion County area is strongly supported by a network of equine services, such as veterinarians, feed and tack retailers, blacksmiths, equine dentists, and

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