I may be passing through the area at that time. How is it as a spectator event? The website doesn’t offer much detail. Looks like all three phases will be running on all 3 days. Is that correct? Just obviously different levels on different days, yes?
Anyone know anything about it?
Give you a bump here, board is typically slower on weekends and it takes awhile for enough to see a post to generate replies.
Never heard of this place and the rather sketchy website with pretty pictures doesn’t help. Not familiar with the town named on the site so no idea where the heck it is other then Florida. Hopefully somebody will, chime in.
I haven’t made it to any of their rated horse trials yet, but Grand Oaks is a beautiful facility. Used to be the Florida Carriage Museum, I did several shows there under prior management. They’ve added arenas and the xc course since then. Friends who have done horse trials there have been positive about it.
Running each level as a one-day started in this area with Three Lakes, which has no onsite stabling. It’s becoming more and more popular, since most people haul in and out for the FL winter events anyway. Less standing around on the trailer for the horses. Us locals are used to it, since unrated events in the area are all one-days.
The web site reflects that Grand Oaks pays the bills in large part by catering to the entertainment wants of people from The Villages retirement community nearby. .Weirsdale is south of Ocala, accessed on a series of two-lane roads. I’m hoping to make it over one day next weekend, it’s about 30 min from me.
Thanks for the bump and the comments. I was about to throw in the towel and skip going to check it out.
FlamingoRider, is the carriage museum still open or has something happened to that? Didn’t know there was a change of management, but really haven’t followed at all. Just stumbled on this latest event while planning a trip that is an add on to a meeting my DH has in Orlando. If you make it over next weekend, look for two pale people who look like icicles escaping the great white north.
I was at Grand Oaks a few years ago and the Carriage Museum is indeed spectacular (and I’m not even into driving). Even totally non-horsey DH loved it. Minimal facilities at the time we were there, but what was there was very nice. They did offer driving lessons. I don’t think they had started holding any completions on site yet at that time.
It’s actually sort of out in the middle of nowhere, but not that far from Ocala and The Villages. We winged it and found it just by being adventurous and having a decent map. I did have “ulterior” motives. One of my friends had bought property just off the resort and was ready to build a (snowbird) house there. I knew she had taken her Fjords south with her for the winter and sure enough, they were a give away, grazing happily in their pasture. Had a fun day.
Just wondered about the event now, as the website is really devoid of details other than the dates. Think we’ll plan a day in the spirit of adventure. After 2 looong days driving south, we’ll surely be ready to do a little walking about.
Anyone with more details would be greatly appreciated. TIA.
Sadly the carriage museum is no more. I’ve heard there’s a classic car collection in the space now. I’ve heard but not confirmed that the place is now owned/run by the ex-husband of the woman who used to have it. I always wondered how she kept the place afloat financially… Under the new name they’ve added a covered arena and several outdoor ones, plus the cross country course. There’s local h/j shows there year-round–it’s popular in summer because of the plentiful shade.
Enjoy your escape from winter.
Following up on FlamingoRider - Ex husband is most definitely involved and has significantly expanded the horse show activities - also do four dressage shows there throughout the year, as well as some breed shows. My eventing friend likes to go up there, her comment was that the XC course was a bit intimidating, though she didn’t explain why. Still some driving horses around - they rent out a number of stalls to the driving crowd during the winter,
I go to the dressage shows, and much enjoy the place. My horse loves to go for a hack after his test, and there is obviously lots of room there for a nice hack.
They had a combined driving event there a couple weeks ago; this weekend a dressage show, etc. Definitely stop by.
How its been kept afloat - personal money I’m guessing. I knew the woman years ago when I was into driving; the ex husband started and still owns the company Paychex, and apparently they have kept a good relationship. So the pockets are deep.
Thanks for the continuing info. I did see the various events coming up and would enjoy any of them. I ride dressage, so would have enjoyed this weekend too. My DH has a meeting in Orlando, so our travel dates fell around it. Having ridden eventers as a kid (many moons ago), I still enjoy that part of the sport too. So it was a matter of what was going on when we were passing through the area. We’ll stop for at least a day next weekend.
So sad to hear the carriage museum is no more. Has the collection been moved elsewhere or just dissolved?
Thanks for the replies. We did end up spending the day on Saturday. Had a great time; beautiful facility, perfect weather, saw some nice rides from a few BNs that I hadn’t expected to see there. A fun day and even got to stop and visit my snowbird friend who lives just down the road and caught her “at home.” Would recommend this to others in the future if you are looking for a laid-back day of spectating.
