Get to Know Mary O’Neal– Ocala Broker Associate with Showcase Properties

From horses to real estate, cycling to art, dogs to community involvement, Mary O’Neal has always been “boots on the ground.” Whenever opportunities arise, the long-time Ocala resident has found the hands-on approach is the best way to tackle anything. 

Raised on the water in Westchester County New York and the South Shore of Massachusetts, Mary was one of five siblings in a family of horse lovers. Her sisters’ involvement sparked her own interest at any early age and soon she was active in Pony Club and 4-H.

In high school, she quit riding so much to focus her efforts on ballet, leaving school at 11:00 every day with special permission to go dance at the Boston Ballet School. When Mary received a scholarship to the American Ballet and Joffrey Ballet schools, she trained and danced in New York City for two years before college.

After studying business and economics at Trinity College and Boston College, Mary moved to Tampa, bringing her Palomino Quarter Horse, Invested Impress, with her.

For 15 years, Mary traveled the globe, putting her college studies to use as a retail buyer for Jacobson Stores, an upscale department store chain. She loved the experience and excelled at the challenges but eventually she craved a return to the horse-centered lifestyle she’d known as a child and teen. When Jacobson Stores liquidated after 134 years in business, Mary moved to Ocala. It wasn’t long until she was owning and showing Quarter Horses again.

Fully at home in horse country, she expanded her business skills by working as lab staff and a field equine assistant for Peterson Smith Equine Hospital, one of the state’s largest equine veterinary practices. She also gained a valuable first-hands education working with breeding stock and the sales for Mockingbird Farm, a prominent Florida breeding operation for many years.

Mary even bought her own Thoroughbred broodmare and got into the breeding and sales end of the business.

After moving to Ocala, Mary also got involved with mountain biking and then bought a road bike. She raced mountain bikes, entered triathlons and also completed in the Florida Cyclocross Series, a type of bike racing in which competitors navigate various terrain and also have to dismount, carry their bikes, then remount and continue racing. An avid supporter and collector of local art, she participated multiple times in the MCA Ride for the Arts.

Competitive cycling reminded her of the devotion and physical demands she felt when dancing. Riding a mountain bike is certainly not the same as ballet, but the challenge was familiar and energizing.

“I also love the people I’ve met in the cycling world. I still ride my bike every day,” says Mary.

From foaling mares to breeding, vet work and cycling, Mary was building a network, although she didn’t think of it that way at the time. She realized that real estate would be the perfect career to combine her experience as a retail buyer with her connections in the equine industry and her personal knowledge of Ocala/Marion County.

She earned her real estate license and began working as an agent in 2004. Mary joined the team at Showcase Properties in 2017, and specializes in farms, training centers and luxury homes.

Given her extensive equine background, Mary knows first-hand the amenities that buyers are seeking. Her own experience working with horses is a practical benefit when helping buyers find the horse property best suited for their specific needs. Clients appreciate her knowledge and honesty, as well as her commitment to them.

Horses aren’t the only four-legged friends Mary made part of her life. For nearly 20 years, she’s had rough coat collies, a breed she fell in love with because of their winsome, laid-back personalities. Patrick and Charlotte, two of her favorites, became regulars in her advertising photos. 

Mary’s competitive nature extends to her real estate career and her time off. She golfs regularly and often in charity tournaments. She always plays on Team Showcase when the brokerage sponsors a local tournament. 

One of the top farm agents in the county, she has won multiple awards from the Ocala/Marion County Association of REALTORS® (OMCAR).

Passionate about preserving the county’s farmland and green space, Mary has been a member of Horse Farms Forever since 2018. She actively supports her community by fundraising for local charities and outreach programs. 

“Loyalty is most important to me. My clients are often people I sold farms to 15 or more years ago. They call me back when they’re ready to sell,” says Mary. “I’ve made a lot of connections through the horses, cycling, vet work, the local art world and now, dog showing. I’m here for the long run.”

– by Cynthia McFarland

Check out some of our previous Agent Stories!