they all get to experience the facility. The size of the facility makes it possible to host different events concurrently,” he says. It is, he continues, important to blend gran- deur and pure fun for horse show competitors. “We don’t compare ourselves to anyone else— but when people are at our horse shows they help each other out, like a team or family. It’s not about a ribbon or a certain place, but an overall experience,” he explains. “We wanted to make horse showing a
more positive experience for everyone—the kids and the families, trainers, owners and the horses,” he continues. “I think what people notice is that there is no pressure at WEC like you have at some other horse shows. Horse showing today is very expensive, there are too many entries in classes, there’s added pressure on in-gate and jump crew, drags get skipped, trainers are running between rings and exhibi- tors are all feeling rushed and anxious. People aren’t always treated nicely in that environ- ment and that’s not fun for anyone.” “For me, WEC is about offering a safe place
in a world that feels a little crazy right now,” he explains. “We’re trying to create a nice place for people to be and to enjoy their horses—a safe, sane place where people can enjoy themselves while pursuing their passion.” “A steward came up to me recently at WEC Ohio. She
said, ‘I have to write a letter to the US Equestrian Federa- tion after each show. I want to tell you that no horse show has the personality and the excitement and the happy people that this horse show has.’ That made me feel good. Of course people want good sport—they want to compete and win ribbons - but they want to have fun too, and I think that has been forgotten at some horse shows.” “It’s a combination of both looking back and making
it a modern experience. We look to the past to incorpo- rate things that we loved about showing horses as kids— and then we tie in more modern aspects to the facility like better footing, equipment and technology. These things make managing horse shows easier and more efficient and that translates to making showing horses easier and more enjoyable for everyone,” he says. “And then we try really hard to be nice and take care of
everyone. I want people to feel like they are coming home when they arrive at WEC. If you have a problem, we’re going try and help fix it,” he concludes.
Equestrian Estates The new facility will also include a gated residential community called Equestrian Estates, located adjacent to the show complex and offering farm estates on multi-acre lots, company representatives say. It will be, they add, “an ultra-luxury and unique lifestyle destination.”
78 January/February 2018 “We have set aside three-acre lots—that can be sold
together or sold separately—and 50 will be available to purchase in the next 90 days. There will only be 300 total released for sale,” Roby continues. Equestrian Estates is intended to be a high-end,
amenity-filled community. Some of those planned ameni- ties include an onsite veterinary practice (for both large and small animals) and laundry/dry cleaning services. Smaller homes and condominiums are available at the
nearby Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, also owned by the Roberts family.
Showing First and Foremost The focus of the new facility is showing rather than train- ing. “It’s a horse show facility with 1,500 permanent stalls and it’s an equestrian community. Stay at the hotel and come and go or buy [here] and live [here],” Roby Roberts says. “It’s a horse show facility and a real estate play—so you can come and horse show and stay in the hotel or you can buy property and live here.” He notes, however, that this may change with time. “I
am sure there will be trainers who buy property here to build farms,” he adds. It is clear the new World Equestrian Center (
www.world-
equestriancenter.com) is a facility designed for progress from the outset. Joining as it does other large equestrian facilities in Ocala (including Post Time Farm, site of HITS Ocala), it will offer the region new opportunities for growth, only enhancing Ocala’s boldly announced reputation as the horse capital of the whole world.
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