World Equestrian Center-Ocala

A new destination in the “Horse Capital of the World”

by JG Walker

In 1943, Rosemere Farm opened as Florida’s first thoroughbred horse breeding and training center in Marion County near Ocala. It wasn’t just the Sunshine State climate that made the region a perfect equine nursery: the limestone-rich soil and aquifer-fed springs produced the kind of nutritious grasses that made young horses grow bigger, stronger, and faster.

Today, the thriving Ocala-Marion County area, officially known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” is home to hundreds of horse farms and an unrivaled track record of success: 45 national champions, 20 Breeders’ Cup champions, and six Kentucky Derby victors that include Triple Crown winners Affirmed (1978) and American Pharoah (2015).

So when the Roberts family, founders of the original World Equestrian Center in Ohio, decided to expand their operations to the South, Marion County was a natural choice. Their ambitious plans were brought to life with the opening in January 2021 of the World Equestrian Center-Ocala.

Currently covering 678 acres, the World Equestrian Center-Ocala [WEC-Ocala] is America’s largest equestrian complex. The on-site training and competition venue includes the 7,500-seat WEC Stadium and the Grand Outdoor Arena that can accommodate 2,500 fans plus five indoor climate-controlled arenas, 16 outdoor arenas, and 25 barns with stalls for up to 3,000 horses.

Family traditions inspire the work of Roby Roberts, who serves as CEO of the World Equestrian CenterOcala. He emphasizes that “our facility has been built for the safety and comfort of the equine athletes that compete here with state-of-the-art stables, footing, turn-out paddocks, competition arenas, and bridle paths.

“A passion for horses runs in our family,” Roberts says. “I believe that if the horses feel safe and well cared for, they will perform better. At WEC-Ocala, we try to be there for every need of the horse. My main goal is that every horse is safe and comfortable in our facility and that they are given the best possible environment in which to perform.”

The featured breeds at the WEC-Ocala-owned shows are the equine athletes competing every four years in the Summer Olympic dressage events, show jumping, and eventing. This equestrian triathlon includes dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. The facility also hosts competitions for hunting/jumper, dressage horses, and various Quarter Horse events.

But WEC-Ocala isn’t just a destination for horse lovers. Those same outdoor arenas and more than 250,000 square feet of indoor space host music concerts, trade shows, community fundraisers, art exhibitions, car shows, canine competitions, and other special events. A stunning on-site chapel hosts weddings and offers receptions in the nearby topiary garden.

Literally in the middle of it all is the destination’s most impressive amenity for human visitors—The Equestrian Hotel. In addition to 248 luxurious rooms and suites directly overlooking the Grand Outdoor Arena, the unique accommodations feature an equestrian-themed lounge, a gourmet bakery, a whimsical candy shop, fine-dining restaurants, upscale retail shops, and state-of-the-art fitness and spa facilities.

“We truly love Ocala and Marion County,” Roberts says. The new facility already has a major positive impact on the local economy, so the feeling is clearly mutual.

“There is simply no other way to describe the WEC-Ocala except to say WOW!” says Kevin T. Sheilley, President and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership. “One must experience it to understand all the enormity of the development and all that it offers. The WECOcala is unparalleled as an equine competition space, which is fitting since it’s located here in the ‘Horse Capital of the World.’”

Among the first locals to discover their area’s newest attraction were residents of On Top of the World (OTOW), the Ocala area’s premier active-adult community that’s just five miles away.

“I visited the WEC-Ocala for the first time through an OTOW day excursion,” says resident Nancy Kline. “We ate, toured the grounds, and enjoyed a horse show. OTOW residents are lucky to have this facility so close by, as it offers different entertainment options every weekend.”

Her OTOW neighbor Karen Hill is equally impressed: “I was born and raised in Kentucky and have grown up around horses my whole life. I’ve seen many horse farms and compe- tition venues in my life, and the WEC-Ocala surpasses them all.”

“The WEC-Ocala is a stunning facility that gives guests a five-star experience of dining, shopping, and entertainment,” Jean Thomas says. “With its close location to our home in OTOW, it has become a frequent weekend excursion for my husband and me, with lots of events always happening.”

Area residents will have even more to be excited about in the future.

Including the recent acquisition of the nearby Ocala Jockey Club, the Roberts family has now purchased a total of 6,000 for the equestrian complex. WEC-Ocala plans for an eventing cross-country race course and polo fields are in the design stage.

“We’re shifting the paradigm in equestrian sports with the development of a truly state-of-the-art, resort-style, family-friendly, multi-purpose venue,” the WEC-Ocala’s CEO Roby Roberts concludes. Underscoring the continuing family commitment to animal health and safety, he notes that “in the Spring of 2022, we will open a large- and small-animal veterinary hospital on-site in partnership with the University of Florida.”

For more information about the WEC-Ocala and upcoming events, go to WorldEquestrianCenter.com.