World Equestrian Center Ocala in May of 2026. How bad is the heat?

[Annie10]

@pluvinel

@Annie10

Well that counts me out. I grew up in S Fl on the edge of the Everglades and have lived in FL my entire life.

God bless you for putting up with the sprawl. I grew up walking distance to the ocean. Anything west of Federal Hwy…was…west. I used to ride in what became suburbia off Bird Rd and SW 142 Ave. west of the Tpk. The Sawgrass didn’t exist.

It’s horrible. I fled to Gainesville for college and then to NE FL where I have stayed except did work or vacay travel.
Of course back then S FL was a little cooler then it is now , and N FL much more tolerable temp wise.
It didn’t start heating up up here until about July
And then it broke in early Sept. now it gets hot in April, is much hotter than it was and stays so until late October. I definitely feel climate change.
That coupled with the never ending overcrowding building, paving and cutting down every tree is only making it worse every year.
It’s all creeping into N FL now.

[Joanne]

I apologize to you all that I was not clear in my post. I am not showing, I am spectating, but I do have concern about the heat and the horses & riders.

Sorry about that. I see now that it was clear in my mind but neglected to add the very important info that I am not showing.

I do deserve your ire.

[ThreeWishes]

Then go!!! You will have so much fun! It’s amazing. Thank you for clarifying. Sorry for the derail.

[Annie10]

Absolutely go. Take a big hat and a cooling bandana and have a great time!

[luvmyhackney]

I was in Ocala last May for a wedding. It was fabulous. Wear linen, a good hat, hydrate and enjoy your trip.

[lorilu]

@bingbingbing

But Idk if they will do that for the Dressage show in May.

that probably depends on how busy the other shows going on are…

@BostonHJ

I was about to reply with this. WEC seems to be pretty smart about keeping everyone safe and comfortable

This I have to laugh at. SOrry but true. IIRC May’s regular dressage show was outside in the north jumper rings

[quote=“pluvinel, post:22, topic:808925”]
January, has an average temperature of 61°F.
[/quote] Well, I know we have lows in the high 20’s here in Ocala, and many days in the high 40’s with a strong north wind.
I also grew up in S FLorida and had horses in western Broward (pre-Wellington and per-Weston; Wellington was swamp and Weston was everglades. We were on the edge of it. It was definately slightly cooler then, and of course even in Sunshine Ranches we had a breeze. Here in Ocala, by the time the breeze gets here, its HOT. July was brutal. Feels like temps in the high 90’s to 105.

.

[4horses]

May is a tricky month. It can be decent out and nice or you can have extreme heat and heat advisories.

[Zevida]

@Joanne

I apologize to you all that I was not clear in my post. I am not showing, I am spectating, but I do have concern about the heat and the horses & riders.

Sorry about that. I see now that it was clear in my mind but neglected to add the very important info that I am not showing.

I do deserve your ire.

I thought it was clear from the context clues in your post you were planning to be a spectator, but I can see how it could have not been picked up on if someone read too quickly.

It will be warm, but as a spectator I think it will be fine and a lot more management and less worry than an athlete. Plan for hat, sunscreen, lots of water, and know where to get into shade or A/C if you need it.

[SillyHorse]

@pluvinel

Thank you for the civil discussion.

That’s rich, like calling people weenies is civil discussion.