Marion County Commissioners turned out for the Dedication of the New Wing at Fort McCoy VFW Retirement Center.

Stan McClain, Kathy Bryant, Carl Zalak were able to attend.  Commissioners Mike Amsden and Charlie Stone strong supporters sent their warmest regards along with Representative Charles Van Zant, Senator Alan Hays and Governor Rick Scott, from the State Capital in Tallahassee.   Hollywood Star Kay Stevens did her best "Entertain the Troops Program".  Everyone wanted to be there and the veterans appreciated the effort of all.

VFW Ft. McCoy Retirement Home Joins EDC Marion County with Horse Festival. 

In 2010 Fantasy Arabian Riders members were introduced to the men and women of the Veterans Of Foreign Wars Home.

They were delighted and began to share their experience with their horseman friends and organize the first VFW Horsefest. It was a success with over 500 persons from the community, along with the veterans celebrating the beauty of the horse. These ladies, Judith Hamlett, Cindy Harding, Theresa Posthuma, Barbara Smith, Yuliya Silanskas, and Betty Wolff, originally worked together to showcase the purebred Arabian horse. Together they make up a precision drill team and have been performing in central Florida since 1998. They have performed for the Symphony of the Horse, Florida Carriage Museum, the Deland Museum of Art, and the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire to name a few. Each lady is mounted on a purebred Arabian and performs intricate routines to music in costumes bedecked with jewels and glitter. 

Now, not only are they performing but they are also organizing and presenting the Annual VFW Home’s Horsefest. Of course, they will be performing but they will be only one of many outstanding acts. Among the 2011 performers will be: The National Champion Cowboy Shooter, the Paso drill team Paso Elegante, in dressage; Greta Wrigley, winner at Arab Regional competition, and Kristen Petzold from the World Cup competition in Kentucky, and The Marion County Sheriff’s Posse under direction of Wayne Vaught.

This year will also show some of the many breeds of horses used in riding and driving. Some of the breeds presented will be the Shire, the Gypsy Vanner, the Irish American Hunter, New Forest ponies, The American Drum Horse and the versatile Arabian in harness. 

Western enthusiasts will thrill to the cutting horse working with the artificial cow, a reining horse working patterns and a true Native American Apache, Wahaia, telling a story from her childhood on a New Mexico reservation.    

The list of performers also includes, Carole Fletcher, with the trick horse, Jen Hall demonstrating training techniques and Chris Crowhurst demonstrating the lost art of long line training.