Tammy A. Gantt with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association presented to the College of Central Florida’s Equine Sport and Competition students on October 14.

Gantt shared the history of the Florida Thoroughbred industry, its significant presence in Florida, and specifically Marion County. She explained the role of the Association and the financial incentives available to those who raise Florida-breds. She also noted that while most Thoroughbreds are bred for racing, Thoroughbreds are versatile and can be found in many other athletic equine sports including show jumping, eventing, driving, polo, among others. 

She also shared the history of how Ocala, Marion County became Horse Capital of the World® and the economic impact of the industry in the county – which includes one in five jobs, 22% of the GDP, and 210,000 acres in use for equine. Since Marion County is one of the fast-growing counties in Florida, she also highlighted land preservation efforts and the role of the Farmland Preservation Area which encompasses 195,000 acres.  

The goal of the CF course is to increase student awareness of the variety of equine disciplines and the breeds that typically compete in those disciplines. Under the guidance of Marie Davidson, CF Associate Professor and Program Manager for Equine Studies, the class is a three credit, elective course typically offered to freshmen as part of the Equine Studies Program at the college located in Ocala, Florida.

Return to the October 22 issue of Wire to Wire