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Marion County is known as the “Horse Capital of the World”, and with good reason. Horses are big business in Marion County. Nearly 50 different breeds are represented in the area. In fact, the USDA’s Agriculture Census reported that Marion County led all counties in the total number of horses and ponies in residence in 1997, the cutoff year for the five year census. Marion County also ranks third nationally in the total value of horses sold.
There are over 600 Thoroughbred breeding and training facilities in the Marion County area, and three-quarters of them are located in the Ocala area. Marion County is one of only four major Thoroughbred centers in the world, and is easily the equal to Lexington, Kentucky; Newmarket, England; and Chantilly, France. The Thoroughbred industry’s economic impact on the state of Florida is considerable. It is considered to be in excess of $6 billion per year. The Thoroughbred industry employs nearly 72,000 people, and contributes nearly 6 billion dollars a year to Florida’s economy.
Ocala is also home to the Ocala Breeder’s Sales Complex (OBS), a Thoroughbred training and sales facility. OBS is considered one of the premier venues in Thoroughbred sales. Sales here often run into the millions of dollars. Visitors can attend the sales, which are held several times each year, and they can also watch Thoroughbreds going through their daily training on the one mile racetrack every morning. OBS is also host to a single day of Thoroughbred racing, held each year in conjunction with the Thoroughbred sale in March.
But Thoroughbreds aren’t the only breed to call Marion County home. More than 200 local farms are devoted to breeding, training and showing other breeds, such as Arabians, Quarter horses, Paso Finos, miniatures horses, even draft breeds are represented. Each spring the “Horse Shows In The Sun” (HITS) holds one of the largest hunter/jumper shows in the United States at its facility on Hwy 27 northwest of Ocala. The show lasts five weeks, and draws competitors from all over the USA, Mexico, Canada and Europe. It brings along with it an economic impact estimated at $50 million, spent largely at Marion County hotels, motels, restaurants and feed stores.
Several of horse farms welcome visitors to tour. Arrangements can be made for families or groups with just a phone call. A list of farms open to the public is always available from the Marion County Chamber Of Commerce. |