Ocala, Florida is a main hub of US eventing from January through March; but then most of the snowbirds pack up and head home, leaving only the locals behind. One of those locals, Jon Holling, checks in with us today to tell us about Willow Run Farm and Ocala outside of winter. Thanks to Jon for writing, and thank you for reading.
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Jon Holling and Downtown Harrison at the Fork Horse Trials, photo by Samantha Clark
From Jon:
Ocala in the “Off Season”
I often tell people that come to Ocala for the winter that they are really missing out. I tell them that the best time of year in Ocala is the summer. At this point they usually tilt their head to the side, smirk at me and say something like, “You’re nuts!” While I can’t really argue their point about my sanity, I do stand by my opinion. Ocala in the summer is the best place on earth. I will admit it is darn hot here. After all, it’s not so much the heat, it’s the darn humidity! Having said that, I have never woken up and had it be so hot that I have had to shovel the sunshine off my driveway. Having grown up in Wisconsin I am all too familiar with the early morning ritual of plowing and shoveling your way out of the house.
The reality is that starting in the beginning of June it rains here nearly every afternoon. Now this is not rain like I grew up with back in the cheese state. Here it is sunny and beautiful all day until about three o’clock in the afternoon. Then the clouds roll in, and look out! It will usually rain as hard as you can imagine for about two hours. While this does hamper afternoon turnout, it also makes for the best footing in the world. Really it does; don’t believe me? Ask yourself why the majority of team training camps have been right here in Ocala for the past few years. That’s right, footing. We are lucky enough to have a fairly sandy loam soil here and so long as we get consistent rain it just simply cannot be beat.
Now there is a downside to Ocala this time of year. While we do have some fantastic local schooling and jumper shows, the events are far away. I am not talking a few hours; I am talking west coast far away. Last weekend we went to one of our local summer events. It was in Atlanta, that’s six hours in a truck. Next week I am getting in my rig with Leslie Law and Rick Wallace to head up to Bromont. After that 26 hour drive it is entirely possible that Leslie will speak in a nasally Midwestern accent and I may even sound a bit more dignified. I know it’s hard to imagine me being any more dignified, but I may just surprise you. Rick has promised complimentary haircuts en route, which thrilled me, but not Leslie (The Brits can be so unappreciative). Rick doesn’t actually cut hair but he was president and CEO of FAB (Florida association of Beauty Professionals) so I figure what the heck, surely he has seen someone cut hair before. Besides what could possible go wrong while Rick is wielding a scissors around my head, and Leslie is driving my 72-foot long truck and trailer on the wrong side of the road? Good times.
The reality is that you can find the good and the bad wherever you live. I live here in Ocala year round because I honestly believe it is the best place on earth. I am aware that it’s hot and that is not something everyone can deal with. However, I look around and see some of the best conditions for training event horses in the world. Perfect footing, and beautiful lush green pastures filled with happy horses make a perfect setting. We also have a very unique blend of people from all walks of life. It is those people coupled with that beautiful setting that make up our local charm. The majority of the time you feel like you are right in the center of the greatest horse country in the world. Occasionally the funny or even slightly disturbing side does come out though. I promise you that there is nothing like a relaxing Sunday afternoon riding on the farm listening to the melodic tones of the ice cream truck luring children to come buy a cone. Maybe it’s just me but I always envision the clown from Stephen King’s IT popping out of the back! Or our local neighborhood holiday tradition of riding pieced together dirt bikes at 100mph down the dirt road that parallels our farm. Those are the stereotypical Ocala things that make me feel like I am home. So come on down and we will find that truck and face my fear of clowns so we can get a cone and watch the local charm whiz by at 100mph. Maybe we can even go for ride–on a horse of course!
