Florida's horse
country includes many renowned breeding farms in the area around Ocala.
It is viewed as
rivaling the Lexington, KY area in the fostering of champions.
The World Equestrian
Center is a vast, recently opened complex which has brought
worldwide
attention to Ocala. It is the largest
and most complete equestrian complex in the country.
The equestrian center's elegant five star, 248 room hotel, its' varied culinary options and unique
boutiques welcome those in the equine industry as well as curious visitors. The nearly 3000-acre
complex has over 2100 climate controlled stalls, wash racks in each barn and 21 indoor and outdoor
arenas for practice and championship exhibitions. It is truly an impressive complex!
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While the center’s
facilities are quite impressive, time spent wandering through arenas
and stables offers a behind-the-scenes view of the equine world. Beautifully groomed
Paso
Fino* horses are seen comfortably resting before their
“show time” while grooms
shampoo others and a farrier works to refit a mare’s shoes, assuring a
perfect gait.
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In the week-long
Paso Fino Grand National Show hosted by the center, girls ages 7 to 9 competed in the Pleasure Class
Performance / sub-juniors event. They
were masters at controlling their beautiful mounts through a series of intricate movements directed
by a caller while maintaining the poise and manner of true pros. Bravo!
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* The Paso Fino breed was introduced into the Western Hemisphere by Christopher Columbus and
Ponce de Leon. They're considered native to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It is an adaptable,
intelligent breed equally at home on the range or in an arena. They have a natural, unique gait
with a rapid, unbroken rythm that results in a smooth ride without "bounce".
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