40 Things to Do in Ocala/Marion County
Horse Shows & Events
Witness World-Class Competition
Renowned as the Horse Capital of the World®, Ocala/Marion County offers horse lovers from around the globe a chance to experience the best equine competitors and horse shows in an array of special events in a variety of disciplines, breeds and more.
Ocala/Marion County is home to multiple top international horse competitions, including the many events at the World Equestrian Center, AdventHealth Grandview Invitational, HITS Ocala Winter Circuit and Live Oak International. The competitions are held on picturesque properties in casual settings that provide plenty of room to move around.
Ocala/Marion County's equestrian season runs from mid-December to late March but continues to expand. These competitions are part of the fabric of Ocala/Marion County’s culture and lure legions of equine aficionados. But, we also recommend them to our visitors who may know little about equestrian competitions. The events are easy and inexpensive (or free) to attend, and we are sure you’ll find them riveting and majestic — an ideal way to spend an unhurried sunny afternoon during a beautiful time of year.
World Equestrian Center Shows
The new luxurious equestrian facility, the World Equestrian Center is changing the equestrian season in the destination. With numerous large-climate controlled indoor arenas, WEC is now hosting horse events throughout the year. WEC’s Ocala Winter Spectacular is a hunter/jumping show circuit each year from January-March (12 weeks) Additionally, WEC offers a similar summer show series over 10 weeks from June-August. What is at stake in these competitions? Millions of dollars in money and prizes, and admission to watch the events is free and open to the public! Make visiting WEC an entire experience by also exploring the massive property, stopping at the candy shop and grabbing a meal at one of their delicious and unique restaurants! You can even rent a golf cart to make exploring the property even more fun.
Learn more about the WEC Ocala schedule here.
Grandview Invitational
One of the newest equestrian competitions to join the Horse Capital of the World® comes with extra-large competitors. Just imagine many one ton horses in a ring at the same time, along with world-class hitch wagons, being maneuvered by some of the best drivers in the industry! This is a unique beauty and organized chaos that is on display the first weekend in February at the Grandview Invitational at the Florida Horse Park.
As Florida’s largest draft horse show, the invitational pulls in teams from across North America for their three-day competitive event. Clydesdale, Belgian and Percheron breeds are on full display at this annual competition. Spectators can get up close and personal with these majestic animals before the show, with opportunities to visit the stables of each competing team. Event classes include ladies cart (single horse), junior cart (single horse, with 16 year old and under driver), the unicorn (three horse), 4 A Breast (four side-by-side), ladies team (two-horse), four horse hitches, all breed six horse and eight horse championship hitches. For more information about the show, visit GrandviewInvitational.com
The draft horses move to the World Equestrian Center the following weekend for Grandview World Nights. An elegant evening designed to wow the crowd with the intensity and power of these massive animals paired with heart-pounding instrumental music, Grandview World Nights is a unique way to experience these gentle giants. For more information about the show, visit GrandviewWorldNights.com.
Hits Ocala Winter Circuit
The action-packed HITS Ocala Holiday Series and HITS Ocala Winter Circuit take place at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, Florida, just 16 miles northwest of Historic Downtown Ocala. Situated on 500 acres amidst the iconic granddaddy oak trees, HITS Post Time Farm is one of the most spacious and horse-friendly showgrounds in the country and serves as a winter mecca for equestrians and their families. Boasting numerous brand-new arenas, HITS Ocala offers USEF-rated competitions from December through March. Exhibitors and spectators can enjoy hunter derbies, grands prix, and more each week from Wednesday through Sunday, generally beginning at 8:00 a.m. and finishing around 4:00 p.m. Beyond equestrian competitions, HITS Post Time Farm offers a curated array of hospitality amenities to complete the winter horse showing experience. For more information, visit www.HITSShows.com.
Live Oak International
One of Ocala/Marion’s heritage events, Live Oak International is a world-renowned show jumping and combined driving competition. Each year, this event draws the leading drivers, riders, trainers, coaches and owners from Europe and North America. The event started as a small local combined driving event and grew steadily. In 2012, show jumping was added, expanding the appeal.
We all see show jumping on TV, but combined driving is a horse of a different color. It gets pretty rambunctious, with equine teams careening around corners and splashing through water as the drivers' bark commands.
Live Oak International takes place at Live Oak Stud, a 5,000-acre thoroughbred breeding farm just 12 miles west of Historic Downtown Ocala. It regularly draws 10,000 spectators during the four days. Attendees can sit under covered bleachers or bask in the sun on lawn chairs and blankets. The showgrounds are rimmed by stately live oaks.
Live Oak International holds a Tailgating Competition that comes with prizes and bragging rights. Unlike a football game, these tailgate spreads are within easy viewing distance of the equestrian contests. So, if you’re just visiting, put on a smile and hope for an invite. Make sure to allow time to peruse the Vendor Village.
For more information about event details, visit LiveOakInternational.com.
