Horse Farms Forever is a community leader that has been active in promoting education and knowledge about conserving our agriculture and natural resources. Their commitment to protecting the soil, water, and habitat that horses depend on helps foster and expand the community’s understanding of why preserving them is so important. The goal is for those environments to still be as vibrant and vital in the generations to come, with a continuing and thriving equestrian culture. That’s why the annual Conservation Summit on November 13 is so important, and why Showcase Properties is proud to be a sponsor.
Ocala is regarded as one of the top locations for trainers, breeders, and owners to bring their horses, and a big reason for that is literally the soil. Marion County’s rich limestone deposits and clay layer makes it incredibly fertile; it’s full of minerals and yields crops with high nutrition. In other equestrian hubs, most breeders add supplements in the feed that Marion County grows naturally. You know what they say about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence, or “there’s something in the water”? Well, here that’s…kind of actually true.
Iconic horse farms have flourished here and been handed down through generations over decades of work, helping to create that economic foundation and reputation for Ocala as a destination for equine professionals. Look at almost any Kentucky Derby post-up list, and you’ll likely find more than one horse that was raised, bred, or trained here. This region’s climate, conditions, and the land are uniquely suited to equestrian success, so it’s no wonder so many horses and people flocked here to build farms, facilities, and businesses around the industry.
The 2025 Conservation Summit, “How Horses Think” will be held at Ocala Breeders and Sales Arena, with Keynote Speaker Temple Grandin. A legend in the equestrian community, Grandin is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and has authored several books, including Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport, The Autistic Brain, and New York Times Bestellers Animals in Translation and Visual Thinking. Grandin’s life was depicted in an eponymous Emmy-winning HBO biopic, based on her books Thinking in Pictures and Emergence. She was played by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Claire Danes. The film introduced her innovative methods of humane livestock handling to a wider audience and told the story of her inspiring achievements.
Horse Farms Forever’s overarching goal is to keep a watch on government and other actions that affect the continued growth and development of the equine industry in Marion County. The Farmland Preservation Area is especially important to the strength of the region’s preservation of horse farms and pastureland.
Organizations like Horse Farms Forever help protect and preserve our natural resources, working in conjunction with state and local governments and monitoring what decisions are being made that affect long-term conservation. Their commitment is to help ensure that these pasture and farmlands, reserves, and equine habitats can thrive and stay healthy for decades to come. Showcase is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s Conservation Summit, because we believe those are things that make Ocala and Marion County a stronghold for our equestrian community.