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During the Covid lockdowns and before I moved to The Villages, I was looking at getting an equestrian property near Ocala. My childhood dreams included having a horse or horses. I became aware of an equestrian club, and even equestrian properties in The Villages. It would be more practical to buy a home in The Villages, and participate in the equestrian club to get a lot more experience, should I ever buy an equestrian property around Ocala.

When Covid restrictions eased in The Villages, the Just Horsin' Around club had its first post-Covid meeting. I recall about 30 people attended the Savannah Rec Center meeting about a year and a half ago. The order of business was to resume where they left off before the club was closed during Covid restrictions -- the current president/leader of the club wanted to step down because leading the club was getting too demanding of her time at her age. So she asked is there anyone willing to 'take over the reins,' of the club. Nobody there volunteered. It was wrong for me then to volunteer because of my limited and outdated equestrian knowledge. I had hoped the club would be a place where I could improve my skills and knowledge and meet other people who are interested in equestrianism. Since nobody volunteered, it was decided the club would disband and the funds in its treasury would be spent charitably on miniature ponies that visit and cheer up people in nursing or retirement homes.

This was quite a letdown. I even bought my home with the help of an realtor who once trained a Triple Crown winner. To my disappointment nobody has stepped forward yet to create a new horsemanship club in The Villages. I have spoken with various people about the topic but the best they could offer is that I go by myself and become a student of horsemanship at any Ocala venue offering trail rides. Other suggestions included that demographics here now has fewer people from rural areas who have worked with horses for much of their lives -- the demographics now is urban and suburban retirees who are not about to take up the possibility of dangerous horseback riding for the first time at 65, and possibly ending up hurt and dependent on their families or the government.

Based on these considerations, I have decided the best way forward is to create a club, hopefully teaming up with some other enthusiasts, in hopes of eventually finding experienced horse-men and -women to lead.

Please comment on this thread if you are interested in reviving an equestrian club in The Villages. If a handful of interested parties can have an informal meeting about creating the club, we can make it happen together. Otherwise, I plan to go through the motions of creating the club, with the objective of finding some experienced riders to take over the leadership when the ball is rolling. Activities would, of course, include excursions, possibly carpooled, with fellow Villagers for trail rides or horse shows in the area, and a monthly meeting with presenters, videos, tips and discussions.

Don't let equestrian pursuits shrivel and die in The Villages. If you don't use it, you'll lose it.