Ocala, FL – Wordley Martin has completed a monumental project at HITS Post Time Farm in Ocala, FL, home of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, which runs for 10 weeks and starts in January 2025. The venue is currently hosting the HITS Holiday Series. The renovation included multiple show rings spanning nearly six acres in what is a multi-phase plan for the venue. Wordley Martin is a leading developer of equestrian properties and premier riding surfaces, offering full-service bespoke equestrian facility planning.
More than a month of excavation work by the Metzger Construction Corp. took place before Wordley Martin came in to build the riding arenas, fencing, and cement curbs around the two mature live oak trees inside the rings. Similar to the first phase of renovation in January 2023 when Wordley Martin redesigned the Grand Prix Arena and Main Hunter Arena at HITS Post Time Farm, they trimmed and preserved the trees, maintaining the special atmosphere that the Ocala environment provides. Metzger also helped complete the project by building the berms and service roads.
Photo by Wordley Martin
The old Hunter 2 and 3 rings were removed, which created a brand-new riding area and will hold Hunter Rings 2, 3, and 4, along with the Post Time Arena and Post Time Annex for jumpers.
By continuing this work at the opposite end of the venue from the first phase of renovation, the property looks and feels truly connected and will give all exhibitors – no matter what level they compete at – the safety and security that quality footing provides.
“We are lucky to partner again with Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin and their fabulous company,” said HITS Chief Customer Officer Joe Norick. “They created a new blend of footing for HITS to provide the ultimate riding surface and give riders and horses the best experience and footing to compete on and protect their animals.”
Photo by Wordley Martin
“Our crew pre-blended 6,000 tons of footing in conjunction with building the arena, completing the whole project in an amazing 24 days,” said Craig Martin. “It was a great team effort by all of the crew plus our office staff managing all of the logistics. We are grateful to the HITS team for all of their help and support and look forward to a great 2025 season.”
Earlier in 2024, Wordley Martin also designed and built new arenas at the high-profile HITS Hudson Valley showgrounds in Saugerties, NY, to rave reviews.
As grand prix-level riders themselves, Wordley Martin co-owners Sharn Wordley and Craig Martin fully understand the requirements for a modern equestrian sports venue. They have used their extensive experience and knowledge to design and install hundreds of arenas, including for Olympians, with their world-class surfaces.
Wordley Martin is more than just a footing installer, helping clients through every stage of the process of realizing their dream facility, from the initial designs, through site work, construction, and maintenance. They help clients map out and build full facilities and work as part of the Equine Design and Development Collective (EDDC) to provide a variety of additional services for equestrians and their farms.
About HITS
Since its inception in 1982, HITS, LLC has grown into the market-leading lifestyle management company producing hunter, jumper and dressage horse shows. Based in Kingston, NY, HITS is a national company producing horse shows in Ocala, FL; Culpeper, VA; Wayne, IL; East Dorset, VT; Del Mar, CA; and Saugerties, NY. HITS is owned by Traub Capital Partners.