FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013 129
Farm, a world-class hunter/jumper training facility, the tours give
visitors a chance to interact with horses along the fence lines and
learn some fun facts about the area. Both small and large groups
are welcome and lunch or dinner tours are available for groups of
10 or more.
Farm Tours of Ocala:
Farm Tours of Ocala offers an inside
look at the local equestrian farms. Depending on the time of the
week and year, Farm Tours of Ocala offers a peak at a state-
of-the-art equine rehabilitation facility, large animal veterinary
hospital, Thoroughbred training facility, sport horse breeding
farms and more. Each tour includes three stops.
The Sanctuary Equine Sports & Therapy Rehabilitation
Center:
Situated on nearly 30 acres, the sanctuary treats world-
class horses at its multi-million dollar facility. Some of the facility’s
features include an equine
swimming pool, Aqua Pacer
Water Treadmill and equine
hyperbaric chamber.
Ocala is also home to many
equestrian superstars. Here’s
a list of some people you
might run into in Ocala:
Aaron Vale:
Having ridden in his frst grand prix at eight
years old, Aaron is no stranger to the grand prix. Some of his
accomplishments include sweeping the top fve places in the
$50,000 Grand Prix of Roanoke in 1997, being a three time winner
of the $100,000 WIHS Presidents Cup and winning the $100,000
HITS Ocala Grand Prix several times. Aaron offers boarding,
training and coaching in Ocala during the winter season.
Bobby and Danica Meyerhoff:
From Culpeper, Virginia, this
couple operates R&D Meyerhoff Show Horses – which specializes
in three-day eventing, dressage and show jumping. They usually
spend the winter season in Ocala and participate in HITS.
Leslie Law and Lesley Grant:
Former member of the British
Olympic three-day eventing team Leslie Law and his wife, Lesley
Grant, are both accomplished riders based in Ocala. They
relocated here from Canada approximately fve years ago.
Now married, Sara and Joe Williams on the day of their
engagement enjoying a carriage ride at Horse Country Carriage
Company and Tours.
Photo courtesy Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours
Lauren Hunkin, who
represented Canada in
the 2010 Nation’s Cup
in Argentina, spends her
winters in Ocala and will
be competing at HITS.
Photo courtesy of Synergy Farm
World Equestrian Games
veteran Buck Davidson
calls Ocala home.
Photo by Lauren R. Giannini
Grand Oaks Manor is the winter home of trainer Jamie Stryker,
of New Jersey, and Canadian rider Lauren Hunkin.
Buck Davidson:
Son of multiple Olympic medal winner
Bruce Davidson, Buck is also located in Ocala. Some of Buck’s
accomplishments include being in the 2010 World Equestrian
Games and being the number two-ranked rider in the United
States in both 2009 and 2010.
Karen and David O’Conner:
Also based in Ocala is the famous
O’Conner event team. Together, this pair has represented the
U.S. in several Olympics - often coming home with medals. David
recently took over as Team Chef D’Equipe in December.
Jamie Stryker:
A hunter/jumper from New Jersey, Jamie
winters in Ocala with his amateur and junior riders. They will be
staying at the legendary Thoroughbred farm where the late Triple
Crown Winner Affrmed was born and raised.
Lauren Hunkin:
An up and coming Canadian grand prix rider
with Olympic dreams, Lauren will spend most of the winter in
Ocala and will be competing in HITS. Lauren and her partner,
Mark Struthers, operate a full service hunter/ jumper facility called
Synergy Farm in Ottawa, Ontario and Lauren coaches at the
University of Ottawa. They will also be staying at the farm where
Affrmed was born and raised, Grand Oaks Manor.
Chester Webber:
A nine-time USEF Four in Hand Combined
Driving Champion, Chester lives in Ocala on a farm called
Live Oak Stud. He has also represented the U.S. in the World
Equestrian Games three times.