Florida Horse Shows and Events

 Horseback Riding in Florida

News Updates

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

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.

Horse jumping, dressage, western dressage, and eventing are featured at horse show venues throughout Florida.

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.

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 Post Time Farms 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.

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 Leas 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 and races are currently being held. 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 during the rest of 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 2020 and the Florida Derby in March 2020. Tampa Bay Downs Racecourse which features the Tampa Bay Derby in March 2020. The racing season has been extended in 2020 to make up for lost dates. Check the track websites for updates.

Florida Horse News

Sep 18, 2020
New clues to the origin of domestic horses
Cocmos
Domestic horses likely did not originate in Anatolia as previously suspected, according to a new study of ancient remains dating as far back as 9000 BCE.

Instead, they may have been introduced to the peninsula – which makes up most of modern-day Turkey – and the nearby Caucasus region from the Eurasian Steppe by about 2000 BCE, during the Bronze Age.

The findings, presented in a paper in the journal Science Advances, also suggest imported domestic horses were bred with local wild Anatolian horses and donkeys and provide the earliest genomic evidence for a mule in southwest Asia, dating to between 1100 and 800 BCE. More info...

Sep 14, 2020
Renting a Private Home or Condo
Avoid the Crowds at Hotels and Restaurants
Many people are choosing to rent a house or condo to avoid the crowds associated with hotels during the Covid-19 era. Meals may be prepared in the residence or ordered in.
All of the rentals are offered through a professional rental site that checks references and shows you ratings by previous renters. There is even a cleanliness rating. More info...

Sep 13, 2020
Online Tack Stores
Shop Safely Online and Save Money Too
A complete directory of online tack stores offering large selections of Western and English horse tack, at the best prices. Online tack stores carry large inventories of saddles, bridles, riding attire, barn needs,and equine supplies, all at low prices. Save time and money. Shop online for your equestrian needs. More info...

Sep 11, 2020
The Annual Arcadia Fall Rodeo October 17 - 18, 2020
Arcadia, Florida
The 7th Annual Arcadia Fall Rodeo to be held in October including bareback riding, bull riding, calf scramble, and barrel racing. More info...

Sep 11, 2020
HITS Ocala Holiday Horse Shows 2020
Post Time Farm
Ocala Holiday Classic December 9-13, 2020
Ocala Holiday Festival December 16-20, 2020
HITS Show Schedule for 2021 More info...

more Florida horse news