Horse Farms Forever Founder and Director Rob Desino and Five Star Eventer Liz Halliday-Sharp pursue their World Championship and Olympic Dreams in Ocala!
With three major three-day eventing venues and an Olympic qualifying event in 2019, the eventing community continues to grow in Ocala. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Rob Desino are both proud to call Ocala home and are strong supporters of Horse Farms Forever.
Business Builder
Rob chose Ocala more than a decade ago for its ideal weather and scenic landscapes. He is part Owner and Agent at Ocala Horse Properties, which was founded in 2007. In 2010, he co-founded Wellington Equestrian Realty in Wellington, FL. Between the two real estate companies, Rob and his business partners proudly offer the largest inventory of listings in the country.
Passion for all things equestrian started with Rob as a young child. This blossomed into eventing as an amateur at the age of 28. During this time, he had two farms. One in New York and one in Ocala. Rob has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He founded the Great Northern Pizza Kitchen restaurant chain in New York with his brother, Chris Desino. The brothers sold the chain in 2005 and eventually relocated to Marion County to pursue their equestrian and real estate ventures.
Although Rob no longer competes in three-day eventing, he owns five horses along with his partners at Ocala Horse Properties, ridden by one of Horse Farms Forever’s original members, Liz Halliday-Sharp.
Things That Go Fast
Liz is a dynamic and world-renowned athlete competing in three-day eventing at the CCI5* level. She was also a professional race car driver and for many years dedicated her life to the pursuit of both. She also has a background in TV broadcasting and has worked with several companies in the United States and Europe. She calls both the Blue Fox Farm in Lexington, KY, and Horsepower Equestrian here in Ocala, FL, home for her equestrian pursuits.
Hoping to one day represent the USA at the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and World Championships, she and her horse Deniro Z, owned by Ocala Horse Properties, were recently named to the 2020 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Eventing High Performance Pre-Elite Training List. The Pre-Elite program supports riders with the potential to compete on a Championship team in the next four years.
With an ideal climate, mineral rich soil and water, and an abundance of training opportunities in Ocala, Rob and Liz are well on their way to chasing their World Championship and Olympic dreams! We thank them for their commitment to protecting and preserving the way of life in Marion County for future generations.
“If you believe in Ocala, and the ‘open spaces, beautiful places,’ we ask that you support Horse Farms Forever so that your children may be able to enjoy what we are enjoying.”
