Spotlight Feature of the Month: The Florida Horse Park

Story by Terry Temple. Photos by David M. Elle

On a happy Saturday in April, a group of civic-minded horse people and philanthropists gathered for a gala lunch in an elegantly appointed tent at the Florida Horse Park. It was a gorgeous crowd, the men dapper in sportcoats and the ladies preening in hats. The view in the morning was a polo match that showed even the most experienced equestrians what real riding is all about.

After a chef's lunch, the attention switched to the other side of the tent, where internationally ranked cross country competitors flew over tremendous hurdles, galloping toward a $30,000 purse. That competition was part of the Festival of the Horse, one of many regional, national and international events and clinics that take place in the Park all year long. (Click here to visit our Gallery, which features an artistic take on the day's competition.)

The charity luncheon and auction, which raised over $35,000, was held to fund the operation and development of the Horse Park, a sprawling 500-acre parcel in the middle of Ocala, Florida horse country. The Park is already the training center of the US Olympic Equestrian Team and home of some of the most prestigious and well-attended competitions of every horse sport discipline.

Since the Park's beginning, the founders and supporters have had the ambition to make it the premier equine facility in the world. The recently revealed architect's rendering (right -- click to enlarge) shows an elegant as well as practical layout of arenas, courses, barns, and educational centers. There will be comfortable accommodations for horses, competitors, spectators and campers. To get to this now only imagined state, the Florida Horse Park needs all the support it can get from the equine community, the local area and the government itself.

 

History
In 1996, the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority was created by state statute, and shortly thereafter the entity was granted a 50-year lease on the pristine state-owned land where the Park sits today. After extensive fund-raising and several small grants from the state, the real action began in 2005, when the Park hired its first employees and Olympic Equestrian David O'Connor was hired to design the first cross country courses. The Park was officially dedicated in October 2005 and hosted the first nationally recognized three-day event that November. Early in 2006, the partnership with the United States Equestrian Team began, affording the Park a level of prestige and recognition that exists throughout the world today.

In these past four years, the Park's event schedule has grown exponentially, as competitions and clinics of every discipline flocked to the venue for many reasons. No expense was spared on the Park's infrastructure, which affords excellent footing for safety in top level competition in the many covered and open arenas. The myriad of cross country courses challenge some of the great riders, drivers and horses with world class hurdles and hazards. The park's location on the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway provides access to hundreds of miles of improved and protected horse trails through old Florida landscape. Perhaps most of all, the tireless work of the Park's Board, benefactors, employees, volunteers and organizers have propelled the Park to its current state.

C.J. Marcello, Jr. has been the Executive Director of the Florida Horse Park since the beginning of the year. "Our plan is to develop this Park into a place that will rival the greatest equestrian venues in the world," he says. “We're working hard to develop new revenue streams, contain operating expenses and court new donations and grants – everything and anything we can to make this dream become a reality.”

What You Can Do
First, visit the Park. It's location, so close to the Orlando attractions and Silver Springs, is a must-do on any visiting horse lover's list, whether you are a competitor or not. The many events throughout the year are spectacular opportunities for tailgating and picnicking under the massive old Live Oaks that dot the landscape and the ability to see the world's top riders and horses should not be missed. (Click here to see the Events Schedule.)

If you're local, volunteer. You don't have to have ever been on a horse to help manage the events and become part of the Park family. And of course, donate. Because the Park has a real economic benefit to Florida and the local area, the state has given some grants for construction and improvements, but most of the money the Park has used to develop and operate over the past four years have come from generous donations. The Park relies on its donors, supporters and friends to operate and develop the facility. It's going to take the equine village to realize the dream of creating the kind of facilities that this Park can become. For complete information about the Park, the schedule, the events, area information and volunteer opportunities, visit www.flhorsepark.com.

For more about how you can ride the Majorie Carr Cross Greenway from the Florida Horse Park, click here.