Horse Farms Forever Conservation Summit Inspires Dialogue about Smart Growth and Land Conservation
Charlotte Weber, the owner of Live Oak Stud, center, is awarded the Acorn Conservation Award by Bernie Little, the Horse Farms Forever President, left, and Mark Casse, at right, a two-time Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Trainer who trained Weber’s horse World Approval and many other of Weber’s winning horses.
On November 23rd, Horse Farms Forever (HFF) held the second annual Conservation Summit at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, attended by more than 400 people in person and online. Speakers included Dr. John C. Malone, CEO of Liberty Media Corporation and Kevin Sheilley, CEO/President of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP). Charlotte Weber received the inaugural Acorn Conservation Award. Worthy of Preservation The 193,000-acre Farmland Preservation Area is unique because of the deep limestone base that enriches the soil with minerals. “It is no coincidence that many of the world’s best horses have ties to Ocala. Our mineral rich soils have produced some of the strongest, best equine athletes in the world,” said Sara Powell Fennessy, HFF Executive Director.
Malone, the largest private landowner in North America, with more than 2.2 million acres, including Ocala’s Bridlewood Farm, said he purchases land for conservation and to practice sustainable ranching and forestry. “We hope these lands will end up with some level of affirmative preservation, whether owned by my family or a foundation,” he said. “Ocala, which has this great heritage in horses and Thoroughbred horses, it’s kind of a unique area when you think about areas that deserve preservation. There aren’t that many places on the planet that are great for raising and training horses. The best ones have deep limestone soils.” Quality of Life Survey Sheilley presented results of the Marion County Quality of Life Survey, conducted by The Matrix Group. The survey was organized by HFF and