Albiol Realty is a Florida Real Estate firm offering farmsl, lots and land, horse farms, residential and commercial properties

Albiol & Associates Realty, Inc., 2010 NE 14th Street, Ocala, FL 34470-7749

Florida's horse industry is quite diverse, encompassing both rural and urban types of activities, such as breeding and training horses, competing at racetracks and horse shows, eventing, polo, driving, ranch work and pleasure and trail riding. There are over half a million horses in Florida, representing almost every breed. Local equine champions are famous around the world. Their breeders, owners and trainers make Florida their home because of the year-round moderate climate, mineral-rich water and soil, outstanding facilities and strong support industries.

Marion County has more horses and ponies than any other county in the nation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Census. All breeds are represented by more than 900 farms. The Ocala/Marion County area hosts several nationally recognized equine events, to include Horse Shows In The Sun (H.I.T.S.), Live Oak Combined Driving, the Festival of the Horse and Sunshine State International Combined Driving Event, as well as cross country, stadium jumping, dressage, polo, endurance riding, extreme cowboy races and many other events at Florida Horse Park.

Ocala has been home to many great champions. Florida thoroughbreds finish first in twenty percent of the foremost stakes races in the United States and are counted among Triple Crown, Breeders' Cup, Belmont Stakes, Preakness and Kentucky Derby winners. Needless to say, Ocala is very well represented.

The Florida Horse Park

Ideally situated on 500 acres in the heart of Central Florida, this year-round world-class facility is fast becoming the centerpiece of Ocala/Marion County's equestrian lifestyle and community. The Florida Horse Park offers Olympic caliber competition and an exciting schedule of world-class events that draw top competitors from many equestrian disciplines. This increasingly popular destination gives visitors access to hundreds of miles of pristine riding trails that wind through the lush Florida Greenway.

The facility boasts a state-of-the-art all weather arena, a Grand Prix arena, international marathon driving and cross country courses, a full-size polo field and several warm-up arenas. In 2006, the Park was named an official training site for the United States Equestrian Team and has since hosted training sessions for the riders vying to compete in the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, in August of 2006, the Pan American Games in 2007 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

This Park is helping Marion County take its place in the minds of equestrians and enthusiasts alike that Ocala/Marion County is "The Horse Capitol of the World."

For more information visit flhorsepark.com

or call 352.307.6699

Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association

352.629.2160

Florida Thoroughbred Charities, Inc.

352.629.2160

Horse Protection Association of Florida

352.466.4366

Marion County Extension Service

352.671.8400

Ocala Breeder's Sales Company

352.237.2154