I’m contemplating a move to Ocala and am wondering what the dressage scene is like? Any recommendations for where to look at boarding with access to a dressage arena and preferably a covered arena would be helpful as well. My FEI horse is transitioning to semi-retirement so I won’t be needing a trainer or lessons for him but do plan on getting another horse in the near future.
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Are you kidding? It’s pretty much Mecca. I have friends out here in So Cal that go to FL for “the season”
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Ocala may give Wellington a run for its money in the future. Shelley Francis moved her operation to Ocala and others may follow. Less expensive than Wellington.
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I don’t know which dressage trainers are there, but it has been the centre of eventing land for a while, so a I’m sure there are many nice barns. And one of Wellington’s biggest dressage sponsors has just moved her support to Ocala, so I suspect riders, trainers and competitions will follow. Now that they have that amazing WEC facility, Ocala may become the new Wellington in the next few years.
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Once WEC gets more CDIs, Ocala will give Welly World a run for its money. It already is.
Your main problem will be deciding where you want to base yourself. There are a million trainers. I would start by finding the day sheets for some of the shows that have already happened, and googling the names in the open division. Don’t neglect Citra, Reddick, or Anthony - many barns and trainers based in those areas.
There are shows every weekend from January to April.
Many high end places have covered arenas, but if you ride in the morning, it’s not necessary.
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There is a lot of dressage activity in that area; shouldn’t be too hard to find the arena, but covers are fewer than you might expect, and typically the few I know of are training barns. In addition to WEC, there is a schooling show “season” run by the area GMO, recognized shows also at the Fla. Horse Park and a couple other places in the general area. If you are on Facebook, there is a page titled Horse Boarding - Central Florida, there are a number of places advertising and they range from retirement farms to self care to full care. Not all are in the Ocala area. One in particular has a ring - the date was 11/5/21; I’m not posting the person’s name here, but you can check it out.
Edited to add: You could post an “in search of” on that FB site.
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Perfect thank you!!
Good to know….I thought Mecca for dressage was Wellington.
Fair enough, how about nearly Mecca😀
Sent you a pm.
I think that was true until WEF and Global were sold this year to the Helgestrand/Beerbaum group and the huge hedge fund. They have plans to build an Aachen-type stadium and a hotel.
The new owners aren’t at all afraid of competition from WEC, and welcome it.
Brian Hafner is in Ocala now at Gold Mark Farm. I really really like his coaching. His resume speaks for itself.
Brian is a beautiful rider. We miss him.
Alejandro Salazar has also left nor Calif and is training out of Mystique Pond Farm, near Ocala.
I thought it couldn’t do CDIs because they dont host USEF shows now…which means no FEI?
They do/did host USEF shows. They hosted three CDIs in 2021, the most recent one was December 9-12, with a national show attached to it (CDI-W and CDI 3*) There are many people hoping that WEC and USEF can work out their differences regarding show dates, because it is a lovely facility to show at. I will only show my elderly leased schoolmaster there because it’s the only footing I trust.
At the moment, there is a national dressage (USDF/USEF) series from January to April. I have no idea about the hunter/jumper show series.
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Just one word of advice – I’m about an hour and a half south of Ocala (north of Orlando, south of The Villages) and have been down here for 10 years. I highly recommend finding a barn with a covered arena if you plan to ride in the summer. Shade makes a HUGE difference in the summer (yes, in the morning too) and since it also rains ALOT in the summer a covered arena means you can often ride when its wet and the footing doesn’t get flooded by afternoon downpours.
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WEC has a slate of USDF/USEF Dressage shows this winter. THey did not get any CDIs from the FEI.
Remember CDIs can run concurrent National shows despite being within the mileage rule distance. THis past year, TWO long time local shows were cancelled because of those WEC National shows with CDIs on the same weekend. One was the major fundraiser for the local GMO (NFDA, in Jacksonville).
