A few of us are talking about showing in FL for the first time this winter. I always assumed we’d do a couple of weeks in Ocala, but my friends are more interested in Pensacola…apparently they have info from others who have done HITs Ocala for years and say it’s no longer any fun. Haven’t gotten any specifics on why they feel that way, though. Distance is about the same.
Does anyone have experiences with both and can offer pros/cons?
Have you thought about Gulfport?
Yeah…I brought that one up and we thought it was much farther…but it’s really not, is it. So I’ll throw that one on the consideration pile, as well!
ETA - we are coming from ATL area.
If weather is a consideration, USUALLY Ocala will be warmer than Pensacola or Gulfport.
Ocala has lovely and big rings. The facility is nice to be at. But there isn’t much around the facility so getting to restaurants and hotels is a bit of a drive. If you are one that has to fly in and out the weekends then getting to the airport in either Tampa or Orlando is a total pain. Plus not a fan of HITS.
Pensacola is a great area however I think their facility only has two rings. But its been awhile since I’ve been there.
Agree with Inca on the weather.
Since I’m an Adult Ammie that works, I typically go back and forth so my preference for the Winter is Gulfport. Nice rings. Decent prize $$. Things to do close by, good food in the area and easy to fly into.
Thanks, inca and Blinky…this is exactly the help we needed.
Pensacola has two hunter rings, a schooling ring and an indoor. Everything is very close together which I love. We like it a lot. We’ve done the Elite shows there in December for a few years but we haven’t done the Classic shows in January. I know people that have and they keep returning so they must like them. The Elite shows have recently added international derbies if you like that.
Pensacola is cute and the beach is pretty. Beachside restaurants and stuff in Perdido Key.
I would imagine that the drawback would be that there are fewer weeks in Pensacola than in Ocala and likely a smaller crowd. But those could be good things dependent upon what you are looking for.
The coldest I have ever been in my life was the first year they held the shows in Pensacola. Morning temps in the 20s, ring delays due to frozen footing. No thanks.
Another location for your thoughts to show in Florida for consideration. What about Fox Lea Farm near Venice? Certainly warmer then Pensacola or even Ocala I think. Not as warm of course as Wellington but that show is out of my price range (by a long way).
Hubby is into boating so the closeness to the water at Venice is appealing to him also. Has anyone shown there and can give me an idea if this might be a nice change from Ocala?
We are travelling from Ontario so anything south is better then here in the winter 
I love Gulfport, but warm it is not. I’ve been 2 years now and I can count the number of times I was able to wear a t-shirt on one hand. Of course it’s still way warmer than home! Bob Bell shows are great though. Good prize money and the staff is super accommodating and friendly.
I’ve gotten to the point where I would just rather stay home than show at HITS. And Ocala can also be cold. We did that circuit for a couple years and I remember driving to show and it being 28 F.
My trainer did Pensacola last year and said the footing was suspect the first week. Though they apparently did a great job fixing it for weeks 2 & 3. I came down to visit and thought the town was fun.
Gulfport is great. It’s a big show, big grass field which is cool. But every time I’ve been there it has poured rain and all the horses brought back an unpleasant fungus.
I think no matter where you go we all need photos. Sounds so exciting! I’d love to show south in the winter!
[QUOTE=AgainstAllOdds;8871186]
I think no matter where you go we all need photos. Sounds so exciting! I’d love to show south in the winter![/QUOTE]
Thanks so much! It’s been such a great year, show-wise, I think we don’t want it to end…and want to start strong in 2017! And already being so far south, it’s not so out of reach. Back in MN, it would have been harder to make it work on my budget!
Pensacola has added an additional ring. They have 2 hunter rings, an indoor, a jumper ring and a warm up now I do believe. My friends from home all show at Pensacola and we love it, I’ve heard awesome things about Gulfport as well but I don’t know much about the facility.
Pensacola has plenty of options fairly close for accommodations and food and of course the beach is right there too.
Venice, FL (Fox Lea Farm) has a nice 6 week series now. First week will be A rated. The rest are B (whatever the new rating equivalents are). Weather will be great there. I’ve heard great things. Opportunities to do a (smaller) grand prix at night
Another vote for Fox Lea Farm in Venice. Anywhere from 3-5 rings showing at one time, plenty of schooling area, show management is wonderful, footing and people are nice, and weather is PERFECT.
Venice is also a cute town, and not at all far from the show. The beach is right there, and the show is very nice. I believe the stalls are in permanent barns, not tents. Or at least that’s been the case the times I’ve been there.
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