United States
Florida (FL)
Central Florida
Ocala
Things to Do in Ocala
Farm Tours of Ocala
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Farm Tours of Ocala

See all things to do
See all things to do
Farm Tours of Ocala
5
319 reviews
#2 of 58 things to do in Ocala
Farms • Ranches
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8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
"Get Behind the Gates" for an Insider`s look of Ocala`s magnificent Farms! Close Encounters with foals, different breeds, disciplines and meet the people train and care for them. Between the farm stops, we will note points of interest, and facts about different farms, disciplines during the drive. Each stop is about 20 to 30 Mins with a " WALKING TOUR" of each facility. We are doing 6 morning tours a week. The groups are no larger than 8 people and are driven to 3 locations. Children are loved and welcome but, please THIS TOUR IS NOT SUITABLE FOR SMALL CHILDREN . You will see this in reviews of past guests. Tour meets at Tack Shack of Ocala 481 SW 60th Ave. Ocala.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
319 reviews
Excellent
288
Very good
23
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Carri
St. Petersburg, FL7 contributions
Fantastic!!! Interactive journey through Ocala Horse country. Visited Farms that are not typically accessible.
Jul 2022
This tour is an interactive journey through the stunning Ocala landscape and leading Horse Farms that are typically not accessible but through this tour. Our guide, Karen has equestrian experience, is a local and her love of horses was ever present with every story she shared and answer she provided. We visited three prestigious farms and the Horse Auction and many thanks to the owners and trainers who graciously opened their farms for our tour. I was knocked out impressed at the beauty and majesty of it all. We started at the Auction and then went to a leading thoroughbred training center. As we walked out to the track, we got to experience what a morning workout entailed for future thoroughbred winners. Next, we walked around a magnificent world-famous Arabian farm and got to pet and give treats provided by Karen. Our last stop was at Pleasant Acres where we happened to meet Helen Barbazon who kindly provided an overview of life on a stud farm – thank you Helen!!! By far my favorite part of the tour was loving on Pleasant Acres world famous Presious Passion who smashed the Monmouth Park record 1 3/8 miles on the firm turf in 2:10.97. This tour is for all age groups but be aware there is a lot of walking. So, wear comfortable shoes. Karen provided water but it’s hot and humid in Florida so you should also bring a hydration drink.
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karen Grimes
Your review is so much appreciated, more than you know. Thank you for the time you took to do this review and we hope to see you again soon!
Written August 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charles Stansfield
Rockville, MD86 contributions
A terrific way to spend an afternoon.
Apr 2021
We were visiting some friends who live in The Villages, so the four of us took this tour as an afternoon activity. Karen (our guide) was outgoing and very knowledgeable. Our experience with horses was limited to having attended a few Kentucky Derby parties. She told us what we could do and should not do, keeping us out of trouble, yet giving us lots of contact with the animals, the newborns, the foals, mares, stallions, etc. She showed us how to feed them, what to feed them, where to put them, everything we needed to know to experience these beautiful thoroughbred horses. She explained the horse breeding process, how it differs by type of horse. She told us the history of horse breeding and horse culture in Ocala, which started 100 years ago. She pointed out the names of the horse farms we passed and told us some interesting tidbits about the owners and the horses they have raised. She showed us the huge World Equestrian Center, which is partly finished yet still under development. She gave us an insider’s view of the world of horses. This was an afternoon very well spent. Thank you Karen.
Written April 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FarmToursofOcala
Wow! Thank you for the awesome review! I hope to see you again in the future. VIVA The Villages!!
Written June 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rameg
Ocala, FL19 contributions
Fun morning learning all about horses in Ocala
Jan 2023
We highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in horses! We really enjoyed our tour with Karen, visiting several lovely horse farms, and learning a lot about the equine industry that is such an important part of Ocala! Karen is so knowledgeable, having worked in the industry herself for many years, and she told interesting stories that really gave us an inside look at the farms we visited. We were able to interact with some of the beautiful horses, and learned about the different breeds and functions and rehab of the horses. We walked a bit, but they were not a difficult walks, and there were bathrooms available at some of the stops. We would highly recommend this tour. Very interesting morning!
Written January 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bob C
Ocala, FL131 contributions
Worth doing IF itinerary is clearly stated
Sep 2022 • Couples
Very interesting and informative. My wife and I have lived in Marion County since 1988 and have some friends involved in the horse industry and we learned a lot during today’s tour. We booked the tour because we have friends that are visiting from out of state who like horses and wanted to see some farms. We enjoyed visiting the farms and learning about them and some of the other farms. The real treat was interacting with several horses… that was awesome. I honestly would have given the tour a 5 out of 5 rating except for the fact that when I made telephone contact prior to booking, I asked for details about the tour and I was told we would visit 3 horse farms. We actually visited 2 farms plus Ocala Breeder Sales which had no horses onsite and was strictly an informational type visit to a facility that is open to the public anyway. Also, the information on the tour website describes being able to meet and I talk with trainers at the farms visited, but that didn’t happen either. So our guests were not disappointed at all and thoroughly enjoyed the tour but I was expecting to visit 3 working farms, not just 2 plus a vacant sales facility.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Siya
1 contribution
Wonderful tour, Wonderful guide
Feb 2023
This trip is excellent! In the morning, I took a uber to go to the World Equestrian Center. However, the uber driver only speaks Spanish and I only speak English (I felt desperate after I realized she didn't understand the sentence "go straight" ), something went wrong with her navigation and she drove me in the opposite direction. I contacted Karen and told her I would be late by 30 min. Karen asked other guests whether they wanted to wait for me, and everyone agreed (they are super nice!) Karen showed them around the World Equestrian Center during that time so nobody would get bored. After I got there, we visited 3 farms together. Karen told us everything about horses and reminded us of those aggressive horses we should stay away from. We even saw several newborn horses that day!
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Judith M
7 contributions
Get to know the real Horse Capital, Ocala, FL!
Jul 2022 • Family
I’m so glad we booked this wonderful tour of the horse farms of Ocala! We learned so much about horses from Ashley as we toured the farms and the spectacular World Equestrian Center. It was a real treat to be so close to so many horses. We also got a kick out of the farm dogs that escorted us about looking for carrot treats! I would recommend this tour to horse enthusiasts and really anyone who wants to learn about horses from someone who truly knows and cares for them.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Karen Grimes
Thank you for your awesome review! We hope you take another tour. We really liked you and especially that you gave us those yummy cookies. -Blondie, Blackie, Brownie and Basil ( The Dogs)
Written August 25, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Linda G
Mount Vernon, Missouri57 contributions
A great experience!
Jan 2022 • Couples
This was a great experience! We toured three horse farms and learned a wealth of information about horses, training, and the Ocala area. We watched thoroughbreds running and got up close with a dozen or so different horses. Our guide was knowledgeable and experienced. Highly recommend this tour.
Written January 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lorisarah
Minot, North Dakota, United States10 contributions
"Thoroughly" enjoyable!
Dec 2020
My husband and I "thoroughly" enjoyed this three-hour tour of Thoroughbred country outside Ocala. Owner/guide Karen has earned the trust of several individual breeders, which allows her to take clients past farmyard gates for an up-close and personal look at operations — including, of course, horses! Her knowledge of the area, along with her own equestrian background, makes for a wealth of information she shares along the way. It was a wonderful (and wonderfully affordable) experience of a part of Florida few may know exists.
P.S. Don't let Covid scare you away. Precautions are taken.
Written January 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FarmToursofOcala
That was a fun fun morning! I love bragging about Ocala! Ask me anything! lol Thank you for the wonderful review. It means so much in these trying times.
Written March 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
amberlilwood
Des Moines, Iowa9 contributions
Worth every penny!
Mar 2021 • Couples
We took the 8:30 am tour and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Karen has lived in Ocala for 30 years, worked as an equine vet tech, and owns horses herself, so she really knows her stuff. We saw thoroughbreds galloping on a training track at the first farm, beautiful Arabians at the second, and several renowned studs at the third. Karen brings a supply of carrots, so we were able to see a number of horses up close and personal! We got to meet a retired thoroughbred, Presious Passion, who holds the track record at Monmouth Park in NJ and was nominated for the Eclipse award back in the day. Karen patiently answered all our questions and we never felt rushed. I can't recommend this tour highly enough to fellow horse lovers.
Written March 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FarmToursofOcala
Precious Passion was very happy to meet you! He is still mooching carrots and enjoys watching himself race on YouTube! Truly a Champion.
Written June 15, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandy
Franklin, MA5 contributions
A Horse Lovers dream tour!!
Feb 2022 • Couples
This tour was terrific, a 10 out of 10! The owner/operator, Karen, is a wealth of information. We visited a training track and watched the horses being trained and exercised. We visited an Arabian farm and met the horses up close and personal. Also got to see some adorable foals. Then onto a thoroughbred breeding farm and toured the barns, learned all about the stallions on premises and even got to give the horses carrot treats! I would take this tour again!
Written February 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Farm Tours of Ocala - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Farm Tours of Ocala
Farm Tours of Ocala is open:
  • Mon - Mon 8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
  • Tue - Tue 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Wed - Wed 8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
  • Thu - Thu 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Fri - Fri 8:30 AM - 11:59 PM
  • Sat - Sat 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM