Blogs - Ocala Horse and Equine Directory

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

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

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

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

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,

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,

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

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!

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