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Florida Horse Life
Horse Shows | Horseback Riding | Trail Riding | Equestrian Emergency
Welcome
to Florida Horse Life.
Explore the vibrant world of equestrian activities in the Sunshine State!
Whether you're a seasoned rider, a horse owner, or a horse enthusiast,
FloridaHorseLife.com is your ultimate
destination for everything equestrian.
World-Class Equestrian Events
Florida is home to international equestrian competitions, including the
Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival in Wellington,
both of which are considered world class equestrian events. Additionally, the World
Equestrian Center in Ocala has made a lasting impact on the
community with its top-notch horse shows and events.
Other quality horse show venues include Fox Lea Farm and TerraNova
Equestrian Center, both located in SW Florida and both host top rated horse
shows.
Western Riding and Rodeo Culture
For those drawn to western riding, Florida offers year-round
opportunities for reining, cutting, pleasure, and AQHA shows. Western horse
shows, rodeos, and barrel racing, are favorites among riders and
spectators. The state’s vast
rural landscapes and ranches provide the perfect backdrop for these
traditional equestrian activities.
Equine Health and Wellness
Florida's climate is generally favorable for horses, providing mild winters that allow for year-round outdoor activities. However, the hot and humid summers require diligent care to ensure equine
and rider well-being. Proper hydration, shade, and regular health check-ups are essential to prevent heat-related issues.
Here are 10 tips for
hot weather horseback riding.
The state is also home to several top-tier veterinary hospitals and equine medical facilities, particularly
University of Florida large animal facilities in Ocala and Gainesville. These centers offer advanced medical care, including surgery, diagnostics, and rehabilitation services, ensuring that horses receive the best possible treatment.
Equestrian Education and Careers
For those looking to pursue a career in the equestrian industry, Florida offers numerous educational opportunities. Colleges like the University of Florida in Gainesville provide specialized programs in equine science, veterinary medicine, and equine business management. These programs equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in various equine-related careers.
Additionally, many horse farms and training facilities offer internships and apprenticeships, providing hands-on experience in horse care, training, and management. These opportunities allow aspiring equestrians to learn from seasoned professionals and gain valuable industry insights.
Enjoy a beach horse ride along one of Florida's fantastic beaches with expert
guides and seasoned horses to show the way. Florida offers some of the best
beach horseback riding on both the Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Gulf of Mexico
beaches. You can even experience fantastic sunrise and sunset rides.
Like horses? Horseback riding is available in every area of Florida.
Rent
a horse by the hour or enjoy a guided trail ride through some of
the finest trails in the eastern United States.
The best Florida horse riding trails sorted by geographic areas of
Florida from the Florida panhandle to the Florida Keys. The state is home to
numerous state parks and nature preserves with well-maintained equestrian
trails. Enjoy horse riding in places like the Florida Greenway, Myakka River
State Park, and Ocala National Forest offering scenic trails from pine forests to coastal marshes.
Hotels near Wellington International, the World Equestrian Center, HITS Ocala, Florida Horse Park in Ocala, FL., Fox Lea Farm in Venice,
Florida, and TerraNova Equestrian Center near Sarasota, FL.
Florida hosts numerous professional rodeos throughout the year in including the
Silver Spurs Rodeo near Orlando, the Saturday Night Rodeo at Westgate River Ranch,
the iconic Davie Rodeo, and the Ocala Shrine Rodeo. Here is a list of various rodeos throughout Florida, including dates and locations for events such as bull riding, roping, and
team riding.
Barrel racing, a fan favorite, can be witnessed throughout Florida with prize
money attracting both female and male riders to these weekly events. These fast
moving horse races involve both speed and agility on the part of the horse and
rider. There is a barrel racing venue in virtually every Florida community as well as
barrel races being a feature of Florida's many rodeos.
Florida is now host to the United States Polo Association, headquartered at
the National Polo Center, Wellington, FL. Polo is a
great spectator sport at any
one of the active polo clubs throughout the state. Check out this
link for a comprehensive listing of
Florida Polo Clubs and their playing schedules.
Buying and selling horses is part of the horse culture and Florida is no
exception. In addition to the normal horse inventory, Florida has many horse
breeding farms that sell horses through direct sales and periodic auctions. Also, many
horse show participants bring horses for sale to the horse shows.
Horse Shows in Florida
Florida
hosts several of the world's most important horse show venues that offer rated
horse shows all year. These include Wellington International in Wellington, FL, Fox Lea Farm in Venice, FL,
Ocala, FL, often called the Horse Capital of the World, features the World Equestrian Center, HITS Post Time Farm, Florida Horse Park, Southeastern Pavilion, and Majestic Oaks.
Wellington International hosts major FEI international horse shows during the winter and spring seasons.
Featuring, the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and the Global Dressage
Festival (GDF.) During the remainder of the year Wellington Classic Dressage and
Gold Coast Dressage sponsor horse shows almost every week.
Riders from all over the world compete in the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in Wellington which has
become one of the premier horse show events in the world. Additionally, horse jumping
competition levels range from FEI CSI*2 - CSI*5 events and dressage shows
feature levels CDI*2 -CDI*5.
Palm Beach Equine
Sports Complex at Wellington, FL
White Fences Equestrian Center
at Wellington - Loxahatchee, FL
The Ridge at Wellington Groves at Wellington, FL
National Polo Center at Wellington, FL
Palm Beach County, Florida
Wellington is located in Palm Beach County, Florida which is also home
to:
Jim Brandon Equestrian Center,
West Palm Beach
Jupiter
Park Farms Equestrian Center in Jupiter, FL.
Ocala is known as the horse capital of the world because of its world class horse show venues
and numerous horse farms. Ocala is home to hundreds of horse breeding farms that produce many champion thoroughbred race horses and sport horses.
Additionally, Ocala has several important horse show venues that attract
horse riders from all over the world.
World Equestrian Center Ocala (WEC) is a very impressive horse show venue in
Ocala, Florida. Featuring, five climate controlled
riding arenas, plus a fabulous five star hotel overlooking the oversized main show arena.
The World Equestrian Center has attracted many top level FEI horse shows and is
becoming an international destination for equestrians.
HITS Ocala at Post Time Farm conducts the twelve week
winter USEF sanctioned horse jumping circuit draws top riders and riding fans during
its January - March season. HITS
Ocala features some of the largest prize money awarded in the United States in show jumping contests.
Florida Horse Park Ocala
Florida Horse Park is operated by the State of Florida and hosts multiple horse shows
including dressage, eventing, cutting horses, and pleasure shows. The park
allows horse riders to practice at available times.
Check out the show schedule for all events.
Florida Horse Park is also home to the
Ocala Polo Club, a men's and
women's polo club that plays throughout the year.
The club offers an orientation for those interested in learning to play
polo.
Majestic Oaks is just north
of Ocala in Reddick, FL and is popular cross country and eventing site. Majestic Oaks is open daily for schooling, clinics, schooling shows, and three-phase horse trials.
Southwest Florida
Fox Lea Farm, Venice, Florida
Venice, Florida is home to Fox Lea Farm, an increasingly important horse show
venue in Florida. Furthermore, the venue
features horse shows all year around including CSI* rated horse jumping shows.
The Venice Equestrian Tour runs from January into March each year and
features USEF Regional Hunter Level 3 Jumper shows. Other horse shows are held
at Fox Lea almost every weekend throughout the year. Fox Lea Farms also provides
a unique summer camp for kids with all levels of equestrian skills and features
USEF level shows with large cash prizes.
TerraNova Equestrian Center
near Sarasota, FL
TerraNova Equestrian Center is a multi-discipline equestrian competition facility in Manatee County, near Bradenton and Sarasota. TerraNova provides a beautiful backdrop for all levels of a range of equestrian disciplines.
Especially, top international, national, and regional competition in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere with many amenities.
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
The Jacksonville Equestrian Center is a multi-purpose facility located in
Jacksonville, Florida, dedicated to equestrian events and community
activities. Spanning over 80 acres, it boasts world-class amenities,
including a massive indoor arena, outdoor arenas, a cross-country course,
and trails for riding. It's an ideal venue for horse shows, rodeos,
dressage, and other equestrian competitions.
Tampa Fairgrounds Bob
Thomas Equestrian Center
The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, located at the Florida State
Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, is a top-notch facility designed for
equestrian enthusiasts. Spanning 23 acres, it features multiple rings,
including the Grand Prix Ring and Premium Covered Arena, as well as warm-up
and exercise areas. The center boasts 471 permanent stalls across five
barns, plus bleachers and grassy hills for spectators.
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