Equine
The CEP Equine Initiative Group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 2PM Presented by 
See our Events Calendar for details.
Whether you want to enjoy race horses or world-famous Clydesdales you will find we have it all right here in the Horse Capital of the World®. Our Equine Engagement initiative allows partners to get engaged in building the community’s farm relationships and support the equine industry. In 2015, the CEP commissioned an economic impact study of the equine industry on the Ocala Metro and discovered that the industry contributes $4.3 Billion annually to the local economy!
The CEP Equine Initiative is helping horses and owners in Southwest Florida!
The Florida Horse Park is being used as a central supply gathering point. The Foundation for CEP is gathering funds to purchase hay, bedding/shavings, and other supplies to assist the horses and owners who have been so devastatingly impacted by Hurricane Ian. Supply drops are being made in Ft. Myers and Venice. Please contact Louisa@OcalaCEP.com for information on how you can assist.
Checks to help purchase supplies may be made to: Foundation for CEP and mailed to Equine Disaster Fund, Foundation for CEP, 310 SE 3rd Street, Ocala, FL 34471.
We are grateful to the many indivuals helping with this effort including Tamie & Eddie Leedy, Jason Reynolds, Danyelle McGinity, Wanda Lasher, Betsy Bevacqua, and the following organizations:
Jiffy Transport, Inc.
The Ocala CEP Equine Initiative will raise funds through donations and events such as the Hobby Horse Equestrian Games in order to help farms and horse owners during times of need. Donations may be made to Foundation for CEP and mailed to Equine Disaster Fund, Foundation for CEP, 310 SE 3rd Street, Ocala, FL 34471.
These donations are tax deductable to the 501(c)(3) Foundation for CEP.
Walk of Champions Bricks & Bronze Plaques honoring our Equine Heritage
The Ocala Metro CEP is partnering with the City of Ocala to celebrate our community as the Horse Capital of the World®
Single bricks are available for $150 each or you may buy a group of 10 or more bricks for a discounted rate. (Please contact Louisa@OcalaCEP.com for information on this discount.) Bricks will be ordered in batches of 20 at a time, so that we can start placing your sponsored bricks into the sidewalk as quickly as possible. Click Here to purchase a brick online.
If you prefer to send a check - All payments should be made payable to the Foundation for CEP and mailed to: Walk of Champions, Foundation for CEP, 310 SE Third Street, Ocala, FL 34471.
There are also 28 bronze plaques for each sidewalk segment available for Florida bred champions. If this does not apply to your horse, it may still be possible to sponsor a plaque if you can give a great story as to a strong connection to Ocala. For example, if the horse grew up here, was trained here by an Ocala resident, and/or won a major title. The board will review the story, decide if that fits the Gallop of Fame. These sponsorships are $3,600 for a two-foot by three-foot installed bronze plaque and requires submission of an application. These plaques will be available on a first applied, first created basis, and are limited to two plaques per breed. Please contact Louisa@OcalaCEP.com to apply for one of these bronze plaques
Don’t miss this opportunity to immortalize your horse or pony! These bricks and plaques will be on display around the downtown square for visitors and residents to view and enjoy for years to come.