Inaugural event looks to “unite the equestrian community”
The Festival of the Horse will offer classes for hunters, jumpers, equitation, hunter breeding, dressage, western dressage, arena eventing (e-cross) and pony club games.
The inaugural Festival of the Horse will offer classes in a variety of disciplines and for all ages. [Photo courtesy HITS/Festival of the Horse]
At this time of year, equine sports can be found in nearly every corner of Marion County. And this year, two new endeavors have entered the scene.
In February, the inaugural Children’s Charity Classic show jumping competition kicked off a new equine/philanthropy tradition for Ocala and Marion County. The event took place at the HITS Post Time Farm west of Ocala. It was organized by United Way of Marion County and featured riders and horses adorned in costumes based on classic children’s books, with $95,000 spread among 10 nonprofit teams.
From March 27-30, HITS Post Time Farm will host another inaugural event, The Festival of the Horse, a celebration of equestrian enthusiasts.
The stated vision for the event is to connect horse people with horse people, uniting the equestrian community around a shared passion for equestrian sport. It will be, according to provided materials, “a unique celebration of equestrian enthusiasts through a multidiscipline, unrated competition format.”
According to its website, HITS was founded in 1982. The company produces hunter, jumper and dressage horse shows. Based in Kingston, New York, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with events in Florida, New York, Illinois, Vermont, Virginia and California.
Jumpers will be among the competitors in the Festival of the Horse, which is new in the Ocala area. [Photo courtesy HITS/Festival of the Horse]
The Festival of the Horse will come on the heels of the closure of this year’s winter circuit. To learn more about the new event, the “Gazette” did a Q&A with HITS LLC Marketing Director Amanda Picciotto Feitosa.
What was the impetus for this event in Ocala?
HITS CEO Peter Englehart was enjoying a meal at the Horse & Hounds Restaurant in Ocala and noticed that he was surrounded by equestrian enthusiasts. What became more apparent, however, was that this was not just a hunter/jumper crowd, but people from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. He loved the idea of all of these people coming together, united by their passion for horse sport and wanted to replicate that sentiment at HITS.
From March 27-30, the HITS Post Time Farm west of Ocala will host the Festival of the Horse. [Photo courtesy HITS/Festival of the Horse]
The inaugural Festival of the Horse at HITS Post Time Farm will be the first of its kind. After, the series will have an event at HITS Culpeper’s Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, on May 1-4 and then at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on June 26-29. There will be subsequent events, and the hope is that the series grows even more in 2026.
What disciplines will be showcased?
At the HITS Ocala Festival, there will be classes for hunters, jumpers, equitation, hunter breeding, dressage, western dressage, arena eventing (e-cross), and pony club games. At each event, there will likely be slight adjustments to the offerings to best serve the exhibitors in their respective areas, but the goal is always to be able to welcome everyone to participate, whether that means practicing something they know well, or trying something new.
Why is this event important for equestrians?
This event is meant to epitomize an exhibitor-focused experience, and we want everyone to feel welcome to attend. While, ultimately, this is a competition, it is meant to showcase the reason equestrians participate in horse sport at all, and that is for the love of the horse.
Will there be vendors and special activities?
We will have vendors available from our usual hunter/jumper show, including tack and saddles, and we are excited to welcome new community partners exclusively for the festival. There will be complimentary brunch and lunch events as well as informative demonstrations and fun activities. The aim is to make this a true festival.
Is the public invited to attend?
The public is definitely invited to attend this unique celebration and there is no cost at all to spectate. For exhibitors, stabling costs and class fees are advantageously priced to make the event accessible to as many as possible.
Have there been recent upgrades at Post Time Farm?
In the past couple of years, HITS Post Time Farm has seen numerous upgrades to the property. New arenas, designed by Wordley Martin, incorporate the venue’s iconic granddaddy oak trees and feature more than 250,000 square feet of premium footing, elevating the experience for horses and riders of all levels. In addition, a brand-new food court was built this year with several delicious offerings and beautiful arrangements by Equestrian Gardens bring the grounds literally to life.
“We are thrilled to welcome equestrian enthusiasts of all levels to the first-ever Festival of the Horse at HITS Ocala,” said HITS Chief Customer Officer Joe Norick. “This event is for everyone to enjoy and celebrate in our common passion for horse sport. With that in mind, we are excited to expand our HITS community and deliver a fun and unique experience for horses, riders, families and friends. We also are looking forward to the growth of the festival as it features across our other HITS venues as well.”
Local equestrian enthusiast and Realtor Amy Agricola is working with HITS as the vice president of partnership.
“I have been out and about in the community sharing the information on this exciting new event. This is a community focused event, featuring several disciplines, including arena eventing, pony club, western pleasure. It’s all inclusive, bringing horse people together,” she shared.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to show at the beautiful HITS show grounds, participate in a brand-new event at great pricing and meet and learn from other horse people participating in other disciplines. I think it’s always fun and educational to watch a new discipline. It’s amazing how versatile horses really can be,” Agricola added.
HITS Post Time Farm is located at 13710 US Highway 27, Ocala. To learn more, including daily schedules, go to festivalofthehorse.com
Humans and horses often form special bonds, as seen during recent activities at the HITS Post Time Farm. [Photo courtesy HITS/Festival of the Horse]
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