OCALA'S WORLD EQUESTRIAN CENTER

IN FLORIDA'S HORSE COUNTRY, ‘QUALITY, CLASS AND DISTINCTION’

Written by: Kym Rouse Holzwart

The World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, which had its grand opening this January, is the largest such facility in the country. This world-class facility is a horse-lover’s dream, and no detail was spared for horse, rider, spectator, vendor or retailer.

The World Equestrian Center, or WEC, offers:

• Indoor and outdoor equine and multidisciplinary venues

• Exposition centers for sporting events, conventions, meetings and trade shows

• A luxurious hotel and RV park

• A chapel and beautiful grounds for weddings, parties and other celebrations

• Excellent shopping and dining

It is dedicated to offering fun and great sport in a family-friendly environment and vows to provide exhibitors an experience built on three core values: Quality, class and distinction.

Centerpiece Of The Wec

The Grand Outdoor Arena is the centerpiece of the WEC. At 128,000 square feet, it was designed to accommodate international competitions. It hosts numerous equine events, movie night and community gatherings, accommodates up to 2,500 spectators, and all have excellent views, with a covered grandstand on three sides and outdoor terraced seating and dining for VIPs. Adding to the world-class competition atmosphere are LED jumbotrons and an amazing sound system.

The Grand Outdoor Arena is the centerpiece of the WEC. But there's so much more to do and see, including chapel services, RV pads, retail and amazing food, in addition to safe accommodations for your horse.

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO STAY

Adjacent to the Grand Outdoor Arena—and equally a centerpiece of the WEC—is The Equestrian Hotel, a spectacular 248-room facility. Luxury is evident walking into the elegant lobby and taking in the wonderful sights and smells of leather couches, furnishings and art. Opulent rooms and suites overlook the Grand Outdoor Arena and offer spectacular views of the property.

In addition to wonderful dining and fabulous shopping, a fitness center, day spa and salon are conveniences available to hotel guests. Even if you are not staying at The Equestrian Hotel, a visit to the incredible hotel lobby is a must!

Across from The Equestrian Hotel on the opposite side of the Grand Outdoor Arena in the plaza is a beautiful statute of Sgt. Reckless, a warhorse who had received two Purple Heart medals for her service with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.

Surrounding the Grand Outdoor Arena on three sides are four huge and spectacular climate-controlled indoor arenas (a fifth is in the northwest portion of the property), which provide for year-round showing, no matter Florida’s weather. These arenas are replicas of the Sanctuary, the main jumping competition arena at the WEC in Wilmington, Ohio. The indoor arenas feature jumbotrons, stadium seating for more than 1,300 spectators, geotextile footing for horses. Retailers and vendors are in and around the indoor arenas.

The magnificent WEC Stadium is in the southwest portion of the grounds. Covered grandstand seating provides excellent viewing for about 8,000 spectators. Surrounding and to the north of the stadium are numerous outdoor arenas with all-weather footing for warm-up, schooling and competing. Covered areas are adjacent to the outdoor arenas for the comfort of the horses, exhibitor and spectators.

Comfy And Safe

No detail was spared to ensure that horses at the WEC are comfortable and safe. The 25 barns, which surround and are near the indoor and outdoor arenas and can accommodate 2,200 horses, are spacious, clean and climate controlled. Stalls are large with padded flooring. Safe turnout for horses is available in 250 paddocks, most south of the property. Barns are connected to each other and the many venues via roads, golfcart paths and covered walkways. There’s onsite security, as well.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

When you get hungry, there are choices, from casual to formal dining. If you’re in the mood for contemporary or traditional Mexican fare, for example, Filo’s Mexican Cantina, with breakfast bowls, street tacos and other tasty stuff, is excellent, or try Viola & Dot’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria for pizza, calzones, flatbreads, pastas and salads. Ralph’s Burger and Sandwich Shop near the WEC stadium has classic burgers, salads, sandwiches and homemade milkshakes. If you are up for a fancy meal, Stirrup’s Restaurant inside The Equestrian Hotel is your stop. The Yellow Pony, also inside The Equestrian Hotel, has starters and pub fare to go along with your cocktail and offers al fresco dining on the raised terrace overlooking the Grand Outdoor Arena. For a sweet treat, do not miss Emma’s Patisserie inside The Equestrian Hotel, or Miss Tilly’s Lollipops.

Wonderful dining and fabulous shopping, a fitness center, day spa and salon are conveniences available to hotel guests. Even if you are not staying at The Equestrian Hotel, a visit to the incredible hotel lobby is a must!

ALTERNATIVES, THE FUTURE AND CALENDAR STUFF

In addition to The Equestrian Hotel, stay onsite in your RV or living-quarters’ horse trailer in the RV park, 300 sites with full hookups. Adjacent is the General Store, a one-stop shop that includes coffee, sandwiches and packaged foods. Golfcart rentals, a laundromat and fueling are also available at the General Store. Additional accommodations include rental properties in Golden Ocala adjacent to the WEC and other nearby locations.

Many amenities are under construction, and there are plans for expansion. A 41,000-square-foot veterinary clinic is under construction, for instance, which will offer an equine and small-animal hospital, dog/cat boarding and a daycare. The future includes additional retail, outdoor arenas, a polo field, a cross-country course and more. Something is happening at the WEC every week; check the calendar on the WEC website for details.

NO PLACE LIKE THE WEC!

There is no equestrian facility like the WEC, so plan your visit soon! I guarantee you will be back! And since the WEC is currently more than 300 acres, renting a golfcart is highly recommended. FCM

The Wec

• 300-acre multidisciplinary facility

• Exposition centers

• 16 outdoor arenas with all-weather footing

• Dedicated schooling, warmup and lunging rings

• Large turnout paddocks

• Climate-controlled indoor arenas

• Miles of hacking trails

• Hotel overlooking Grand Outdoor Arena

• Multiple restaurants and dining options

• Luxury and lifestyle retail

It really should have been the Wild, Wild East. Years and years before the great migration west of the Mississippi River and into what became California, the storybook “Wild, Wild West,” Florida was a cattle state. Its “cow hunters” and their dogs would flush wild steers from swamps and backwoods, run beef ranches, drive herds to coastal southwest Florida towns.

Grab the money, race back to the ranch and start over.

These rough characters of every ethnicity and background would start roping, riding and racing events, a celebration of cowboy life. The word rodeo, in fact, is from the Spanish rodear, meaning to go around. Those early cow hunters and Native American “cowkeepers” over time became cowboys and cowgirls..

This year marks the 500-year history of cattle and horses in Florida, as it was in 1521 that the first livestock came by ship to Port Charlotte, reportedly by Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spaniard seeking the original energy drink.

Scott Barnett, a Pembroke Pines documentarian co-producing “State of Rodeo,” a remarkably detailed film on ranching, cowboys/cowgirls and rodeo in the Sunshine State, says: “I was born in Miami … and I was always curious about the cow pastures seemingly out of place just outside the suburbs near the Broward Mall,” says Barnett. “Little did I know at the time that these