Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Horse Farms Forever

Horse Farms Forever’s mission is to preserve the character and culture that horses, horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area bring to Marion County. The organization is focused on raising awareness about protecting horse farms and advocating for the protection of the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA) from the threat of unplanned growth and road development.

Since 2018, HFF has helped to strengthen the FPA’s boundaries and prevented development and roadway threats from encroaching into the FPA. HFF is also working with community leaders and landowners to establish new policies in Marion County’s comprehensive plan to help protect the nearly 1,200 horse farms in the county.

Horse Farms Forever is dedicated to preserving the open spaces and beautiful places that make Ocala/Marion County the Horse Capital of the World®.

Sara Fennessy
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Sara Fennessy Back As Director of Community Affairs at Horse Farms Forever

The Board of Directors of Horse Farms Forever is excited to announce that Sara Powell Fennessy has returned as Director of Community Affairs.

Posted on Apr 12, 2023

Perla Boord
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Horse Farms Forever Welcomes Perla Boord Capriles as Founder Member

Horse Farms Forever is pleased to welcome Perla Boord Capriles as a Founder Member. Perla, a competitive show jumper and hunter rider, has travelled the world showing her horses.

Posted on Mar 25, 2023

Horse Farms Forever
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Report from the Horse Farms Forever Watchdogs

At the March 7th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, the County Attorney, Guy Minter, reported to the Commissioners that a settlement had been reached in the Petition for Writ of Certiorari.

Posted on Mar 9, 2023

Cover - Existing Clubhouse at Ocala Jockey Club
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

United Voices Support the Farmland Preservation Area in Marion County, Florida

On June 21, the Marion County Commission approved Golden Ocala Equestrian Land’s (GOEL) plans for the World Equestrian Center Jockey Club (WEC-JC). Not everyone agrees with their decision, but important and passionate opinions emerged from the community-wide conversation about this matter.

Posted on Jul 13, 2022

Horse Farms Forever
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Horse Farms Forever Celebrates Four Years of Big Wins for the Farmland Preservation Area

On Friday May 20, we held our annual Spring Speaker Series at the College of Central Florida Vintage Farm Campus. It was an intimate event for our members, guests and other large farm owners to continue the conversation about conservation.

Posted on Jun 14, 2022

Horse Farms Forever®
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Horse Farms Forever® Talks Turnpike with Florida Department of Transportation

In October 2021, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), began an Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) study to evaluate the extension of Florida’s Turnpike from its northerly terminus in Wildwood.

Posted on May 20, 2022

Oak Tree
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Victory for Ocala's Farmland Preservation Area

Horse Farms Forever® worked diligently for over a year with community leaders, major land owners, developers, and other stakeholders to seek support for the Amendment to strengthen Future Land Use Objective 3.3 – Farmland Preservation Area.

Posted on Apr 30, 2022

Emily Holmes
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida

Emily Holmes New Executive Director for Horse Farms Forever

Horse Farms Forever® is pleased to announce Emily Holmes as the incoming Executive Director effective May 1. Many of you may know Emily from her tenure at the Florida Horse Park as Events Coordinator and Director of Events where she assisted in...

Posted on Apr 6, 2022

Ocala Jockey Club
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida, World Equestrian Center - Ocala, Florida

Horse Farms Forever Supports The WEC Jockey Club Proposal To Preserve the Farm as a World Class Equestrian Event Facility

The proposal by the Golden Ocala Equestrian Land (GOEL) organization to preserve and expand the iconic property into a world-class equestrian facility for polo, 3-Day eventing, driving, rodeo, and other equine activities is the best way to protect the land from incompatible development and to further uplift the horse sport industry in Marion County.

Posted on Feb 25, 2022

Bernie Little
Horse Farms Forever - Marion County, Florida, World Equestrian Center - Ocala, Florida

Horse Farms Forever President Bernard Little Clarifies Position on WEC Ocala Jockey Club

Horse Farms Forever recently submitted a letter to the newspapers supporting the request from Golden Ocala Equestrian Lands for their plans at the Jockey Club. President Bernie Little aware of the negative reaction of this position from many of the residents in the area, has communicated more detail as to why this important position, of the Marion County "Watchdogs" working to protect and preserve the essence of Ocala and what this region means to all.

Posted on Feb 25, 2022

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