This was my first time visiting the World Equestrian Center, and even though we were in a rush, I…read morewas so impressed. We stopped by last minute to take a few graduation photos of my niece before heading to her ceremony, and the grounds made the perfect backdrop. We didn't have much time to explore because we were trying to get to graduation, but everywhere we looked was beautiful. The property is well maintained, clean, and full of gorgeous photo opportunities.

UPDATE (July 2026): I also posted this review on a wedding review website. Approximately 18 months…read morelater, The World Equestrian Center disputed that review and asked the platform to remove it. I provided documentation supporting the factual statements in my review, yet it was still removed based on a technical eligibility determination, not because my experience was found to be untrue. Based on the platform's published review policies and the timeline of my case, I believe the review was removed in error. In my opinion, this is another example of WEC choosing to challenge customer criticism rather than take accountability. It only reinforces the lack of professionalism we experienced throughout our wedding planning process. I stand by every word of my original review and hope other couples will carefully consider our experience when choosing a wedding venue. - original review- Brides and grooms, beware. My fiancé and I signed a contract with the World Equestrian Center in December 2023 for our wedding ceremony in the Chapel and our reception on the Stirrups Terrace. We were thrilled, believing we had secured our dream wedding. However, just 41 days before our big day, I discovered on WEC's website that they were hosting a Grand Prix event in the main arena and selling tickets for a dining experience on the Stirrups Terrace where our dream reception was to take place. Learning about this significant change online, rather than through our WEC representative, highlights their unprofessionalism--unacceptable for a venue of this caliber. When we confronted WEC, they admitted to being aware of the conflict but insisted we relocate our reception to another area. All that was offered to my fiancé and I for this massive inconvenience was a 40 x 40 tent for 74 guests. Since we were unwilling to move our reception to a new location, WEC cancelled our contract with 37 days to go before our wedding date. They also refused to mass cancel our room block so my fiancé and I had to contact every guest that booked at the hotel to call and cancel. This breach of contract has utterly ruined our wedding day. It feels like a blatant bait-and-switch, driven by greed; they clearly prioritize making money over honoring commitments to their clients. They will toss aside your wedding contract if a better offer comes along. I strongly advise prospective couples to consider other options before trusting the World Equestrian Center with such an important occasion.

Lovely equestrian themed hotel The staff at the check in…read moredesk are full of knowledge about the hotel and center. Full of information if you ask Quite a big place. I got turned around a few times and needed directions I suggest a golf cart rental to get around the equestrian center The rooms are pet friendly and lovely. Refrigerator in room. The desk staff will microwave anything that needs heating Pool is outside and have tables and chairs Several fitness rooms Plenty of free parking 100 channels on the tv Very new and clean upscale hotel Not as fancy as the main hotel but still wonderful

The blend of elegant British castle-inspired architecture and equestrian-themed decor sets a unique…read moretone. Ample parking surrounding the hotel grounds with close proximity to entry doors. The large lit Christmas tree at the entrance made a striking first impression, and the tranquil grounds provided a welcoming environment. The check-in process was efficient, and the warmth from the lobby fireplace was comforting, especially during the cold weather. Ultra dog friendly hotel with doggy treats at every turn in the lobby making my pup a happy guest. The Tack Room Market provided a convenient and cozy spot for guests to enjoy snacks and drinks while mingling in the lobby. The lodging director, Olivia, was super friendly and professional, providing me with an array of facts about the hotel and upcoming projects. The guest room's classic yet stylish design, with wood and marble flooring, added to the sense of luxury and comfort. The hotel's proximity to the World Equestrian Center and upcoming Event Center shows that it's well situated for guests attending various events, which makes it very appealing for those visiting the area.

Amazing Superior service at many levels…read more Incredible bedding and pillows World class horse facility on site. Tried Polo sport club

1000% YES - this place is awesome! SO much better than every other hotel we've stayed at in…read moreFlorida. This hotel felt like and treated their guests like a true 5 star hotel. First....the grounds are beautiful, well maintained and vast. Upon arrival there's a choice of valet or self-park just out front. Before you can even get to the door someone has rushed to open it and greet you warmly. In fact, 1 guy was there at noon when we arrived and still there at 9pm. Even at 9pm he was still hustling, smiling and putting in just as much effort as he was many hrs earlier. The excellence of staff continued beyond the doormen. Every single staff member we encountered was equally engaged, acknowledged guests, was friendly and was genuinely competent at their job. SO refreshing!! We never saw any of the staff on their phones or busy talking with each other. The work ethic & polish this hotel expects from staff is obvious, appreciated & makes an impact on how we felt as guests. Upon entry, the lobby is gorgeous! Pristine, classy yet inviting. Loved the player piano & large fireplace. There were even some really lovely olive wood crosses available at the front desk, which was an especially nice touch over Easter. Often when a lobby is beautiful, the rooms are a let down. Not here! I didn't see any areas that were in need of attention. Our room felt incredibly clean - no missed corners, grimy spots, etc. It was immaculate and so welcoming...oh, and the room was really really big...and so comfortable. There was a large 2 door closet as well as a smaller closet for our child to use and appreciated having 3 suitcase holders that could fit into the closets so we didn't have to look at them in the room. The chairs in the room were actually comfortable to sit in and made sense with their location. Beds were wonderful and I might have to get 1 of their pillows as it was the first night in awhile that my neck hasn't hurt. Winning! The chocolates by the bedside were a fun treat, particularly the lemon truffle. The next key takeaway from this hotel is how clean it is everywhere. Already mentioned the lobby & rooms, but were out by the arena after the candy shop had closed and the person cleaning had all chairs completely off the floor, rug rolled up and outside and was cleaning like they wanted it to shine. My husband immediately noted that's a sign that someone actually taught the person how they wanted it cleaned rather than just asking them to clean. Big difference. Seriously - I could write a novel about this hotel/property and how great it was. Dog portraits line the walls and halls. There's a small patisserie (large one in the Manor, which you also need to explore), toy shop, bar, restaurant and shops to explore. You MUST stop at the patisserie - fresh, beautiful. We grabbed some items in a lovely box to take home as a gift. We also had breakfast at Stirrups and fully recommend dining here. It was wonderful and blew away all the "best" restaurants in Ocala. Our fruit platter was customizable, came with pink pineapple slices (!) and dragon fruit bits. The 3 egg omelet was the size of a 6 egg omelet and had more beautifully cooked bacon than one could hope. While filling our water glasses the pitcher dripped a couple times. Love that our server was right there with her towel to notice every detail. Beyond the really delicious food and outstanding service, we loved watching the horses warming up in the arena outside, looking around at the many dog portraits in the room and relaxing in the large leather chairs. HUGE shout out to the management staff! It's obvious the leadership here has expectations, does comprehensive training with staff and is actively engaged in ensuring the quality of the hotel. Is The Equestrian Hotel more expensive than the other hotel on site or hotels closer to town - yes, but it's so worth it and we would happily pay a higher price to stay here. Thank you for the wonderful weekend retreat!! We can't wait to return!

If you love horses, or just want to see some beautiful animals and farms and learn about the…read morehistory of Ocala, this is a superb tour. Karen knows a ton about horses (she is a lifelong horseperson) and the area, and is happy to answer all your questions. It's a terrific way to spend a few hours soaking in the Ocala atmosphere and learning about horses and the horse industry in Florida. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Karen had a great wealth of knowledge of the surrounding area, history, breeders & horse community…read more Highly recommend her tour if you're in the area!

Fantastic setting and servers! The pricing is competitive and the food is good. I'll keep going…read moreback.

Amazing golf course. Wide fairways. Fairways and greens are in amazing shape. Everyone is…read morehospitable and courteous. Great experience and we can't wait to go back. A+++++

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!…read more Ambiance is beautiful and quiet. Food was fantastic and the service matched the food!! 10/10

After church service at the WEC chapel (Pastor Bill does a good job!) and checking out the Home &…read moreGarden Show, my wife and I developed an appetite and were looking for a lunch spot. Having dined at Yellow Pony and Ralph's before, we considered Filo's Mexican Cantina or fairly new The Poly Pony at the Equestrian Manor. We decided to try out The Polo Pony. Much like the Equestrian Hotel, the Equestrian Manor is just as opulently appointed with canine and equestrian art adorning its walls. When we approached the hostess, we were greeted warmly and had our information taken to "create" a reservation. Upon getting seated, the hostess informed us that The Polo Pony has only been open for 110 days...but who's counting? The Polo Pony's decor seems more formal than at the Yellow Pony, but the menu items, at least for lunch, were similar. Our server greeted us by our names as she prepares to take our orders...nice touch. My wife ordered the Ultimate Chicken Salad with sea salted fries and I ordered the Ocala Cubano served with a honey mustard sauce (at our server, Rachel's suggestion) and truffle fries (not aware nor informed there's a $3 up-charge). My Cubano was quite good, especially when dipped in the honey mustard sauce. My wife, while liking the fresh citrus flavors of her chicken salad, thought it was not as creamy as she would prefer. Service was a bit detached. Our server never checked on us after our meals were served and we had to ask for water refills. All in all, a decent meal with exquisite ambience. However, I think we prefer the Yellow Pony...especially that smoked Reuben sandwich! Lunch for 2 with tip came out to just over $52.

This review is based on the RV Park located at the World Equestrian Center and the amenities at the…read moreRV Park and not the amazing equestrian facility itself. I want to start off by saying we did not stay here but wanted to check it out for future options after seeing it advertised in several RV publications, after speaking with the staff at the registration center and given permission to explore the property I think I have a clear understanding of this beautiful RV Park. Let's start at the RV Check-in and Registration Center which is located inside the beautiful and spacious general store - the entire staff here was very friendly and accommodating and the general store is very clean and has a little bit of everything including ready to eat meals and a nice selection of wines. In the same building with separate entrances are spacious restrooms complete with showers and dressing areas that are all immaculate and modern - next is a beautiful laundromat that is amazing and spacious and a golf cart rental center. Once you've checked in there are wide paved streets lined with level back-in concrete pads all with full hookups and beautiful landscaping across the property. Now for something I've never seen at a RV Park - a gasoline and diesel fueling station with multiple pumps and all under a tall canopy, it's self-service so only pay at the pump. I actually filled my F-150 for $3.20 a gallon for regular which is only a few pennies more than the stations in the area and a great and rare amenity. I think this is a beautiful RV Park although it's a destination and what I mean by that is if you're here for a horse event or a overnight stay this is perfect but as far as atmosphere it kinda boring with little to no shade but was clearly designed to accommodate those here for events at the World Equestrian Center and not a vacation resort by any means and likely the reason it mostly empty when there aren't any events scheduled. I'm am really glad I came here to check out this beautiful property but it's probably not a place I'd stay since I don't have much interest in equestrian events - if you're attending events here it's a five star venue, for me because it's so tied into everything equestrian and I'd probably only do an over stay overnight while driving to my final destination I'll give it 4 stars...

This place is awesome, even if you don't have horses. Very relaxing and quiet. Sandy was a great…read morehost and told us about the local area and places to go. House was clean and comfortable. Would highly recommend.

From the owner: Acadia Acres offers beautiful homes for rent along with state-of-the-art horse boarding facility…read more Rent/Ride/Relax with Acadia Acres in Ocala

Terrible front desk customer service. IHG should be embarrassed. They have unfair practices when…read morechecking anyone in and have a disregard for a customer service experience at any level.

Two nights in a row a 10:30pm and later, on the bottom floor of the atrium area of the hotel kids…read morewere screaming at the top of their voices, playing football, and playing kickball all within 50 feet of the front desk and next to TV's and expensive decorative items. Also parents were just sitting there watching and drinking. I called the front desk and they told me not to worry about it the kids would get tired soon and go to bed. The noise could be clearly heard inside our 5th floor room and we were not able to sleep! We will never stay here again! Holiday Inn should be ashamed of what this hotel is doing to their customers by allowing this to go on!