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Florida Horse Shows and Equestrian Events

 Horseback Riding in Florida

News Updates

The latest news about horse shows and activities in Florida including updated equestrian event calendars.

Florida's primary horse calendar is during the winter months of January through March of each year. During this period, shows stretch over 12 to 13 weeks with different shows being held Thursday - Sunday of each week.

Florida Horseback Riding

Florida horseback riding includes everything from beginner horse riding lessons, guided trail rides, to advanced horse jumping, dressage, and barrel racing.

Many horse lovers compete in horse shows while others prefer to ride their horses on the many equestrian trails offered in Florida.

Where to find Horseback Riding on the Beach in Florida

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 find guided horseback beach tours at Jacksonville's Amelia Island, Ft. Pierce on Hutchinson Island, in the Tampa Bay Area, and in the Florida Panhandle. Riding horses on the beach will give you some wonderful memories of your visit to Florida.

Florida Trail Riding

In addition to the equestrian oriented spectator sports in Florida, most Florida horseback riders like to hit the numerous horse trails that dot the state. Horse trails are featured in many state and national parks such as Ocala National Forest. Riders can choose from guided trail rides or riding on their own horses. See our complete directory of Florida equestrian trails for the best trail riding experiences.

Florida - The Horse Show Center of the World

Florida has several of the world's most important horse show venues that support rated horse shows all year including Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL, Fox Lea Farm in Venice, FL, and in Ocala the World Equestrian Center, HITS Post Time Farm, and Florida Horse Park.

Types of Equestrian Events

Horse jumping, dressage, western dressage, pleasure shows, and eventing are featured at horse show venues throughout Florida. Rodeos and barrel racing are typically held at arenas designed for their sport.

Wellington, Florida

Wellington hosts major 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 PBIEC sponsor horse shows almost every week.

Competition

Riders from all over compete in this famous equestrian competition which has become one of the premier horse show events in the world. Horse jumping competition levels range from FEI CSI*2 - CSI*5 events and dressage shows feature levels CDI*2 -CDI*5.

Ocala, Florida

Ocala is known as the horse capital of the world because of its numerous thoroughbred horse farms and world class horse show venues. Ocala is home to hundreds of horse breeding farms which have produced many champion thoroughbred race horses throughout the years.

Additionally, Ocala has several important horse show venues that attract horse riders from all over the world.

The new World Equestrian Center (WEC) opening in January, 2021 with a twelve week schedule of rated horse jumping shows. This impressive new horse show venue, adjacent to the equestrian community of Golden Ocala, will feature four climate controlled riding arenas, plus a fabulous five star hotel overlooking the oversized main show arena.

Each year the HITS Ocala twelve week horse jumping circuit draws top riders and riding fans to its Post Time Farm venue.

Ocala's Florida Horse Park is a favorite venue for state level horse shows including horse jumping, dressage, western dressage, eventing, western pleasure, and cutting horse shows.

Horse shows and eventing trials take place all year at the Florida Horse Park

Fox Lea Farm, Venice, Florida

Venice, Florida is home to Fox Lea Farm, an increasingly important horse show venue in Florida that 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 almost every weekend throughout the year. Fox Lea Farms also provides a unique summer camp for kids with all levels of equestrian skills.

Florida Barrel Racing

Florida has a busy barrel racing calendar with weekly races staged throughout Florida almost every weekend. Barrel racing entails circling three barrels on horseback while striving for the fastest time. Barrel racing is an exciting sport that attracts many fans and riders of both sexes.

Florida Rodeos

Florida's top rodeo season is the winter months, but several major rodeos are held at various times throughout the year.

The Ocala Shrine Rodeo, the Southeastern Pro Rodeo in Ocala, the Davie Pro Rodeo, and the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, are among the most popular with Florida residents and visitors. Most of the Florida rodeos are sanctioned by the PRCA and WPRA. Rodeo schedule.

Florida Polo

Florida Polo features daring riders and fearless polo ponies over the polo fields of Florida every winter. Polo reigns supreme on Sunday afternoons when high goal polo at the International Polo Club Palm Beach entertains crowds of enthusiasts sipping champagne and feasting on strawberries. If you like your sports with nonstop action and heart pounding excitement, a polo match is a must see when in Florida. Also, check out the Vero Beach Polo Club for weekly polo competitions in Indian River County and the Villages Polo Club near Ocala.

Florida Horse Racing

The winter season in Florida also brings the "Sport of Kings" to Gulfstream Park featuring the Pegasus Cup in January 2021 and the Florida Derby in March 2021. Tampa Bay Downs Racecourse which features the Tampa Bay Derby in March 2021. The racing season has been extended in 2020 to make up for lost dates. Check the track websites for updates regarding attendance affected by COVD-19.

Florida Horse News

Oct 21, 2020
Horses for Sale In Florida
Horse for Sale Listings
Directory of horses for sale in Florida from horse classifieds, Facebook pages, and horse breeders. Since Florida has one of the largest horse populations in the world there are many horses for sale at any given time. More info...

Oct 20, 2020
ARHA World Championship Show
World Equestrian Center - American Roan Horse Association
The 2nd Annual ARHA World Championship Show will be held in conjunction with the Rescheduled Tom Powers Triple Challenge Futurity, renamed The Tom Powers 2020 Christmas Challenge, and will be held at the brand new World Equestrian Center, Ocala, FL December 12-20, 2020. More info...

Oct 20, 2020
Animal Kingdom
Disney World
There is no better place to spend the holidays than at Animal Kingdom Lodge in Disney World, Orlando. More info...

Oct 19, 2020
Florida Equine Statutes
The Law and Your Horse
Horse and equine legal considerations for horse shows, horse owners, and equestrian training activities. Horse law emanates from state regulations and from many years of equine case histories decided in the courts.
Find information devoted to equine legal issues in the horse business including liability, mounted accidents, ground accidents, equine activity, horse sales, horse leasing, contract disputes, boarding issues and even land use disputes. More info...

Oct 16, 2020
Florida Horses Available for Adoption
Horse Rescue Organizations
There are several horse rescue organizations in Florida that will let qualified persons adopt horses for a small rehoming fee. These are healthy horses that have been deemed suitable for adoption. More info...

more Florida horse news