- March 24, 2025
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Those who venture to the TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City to see the Split Rock Jumping Tour's $100,000 TerraNova Winter Series Finale March 15, will also notice some very obvious reminders of what region is the host.
The obstacles will leave no doubt.
There will be a jump that looks like a manatee. And a dolphin. And an homage to the circus. And a sandcastle. And citrus fruit.
All are quintessentially Florida, and upon closer examination, quintessentially Sarasota-Manatee counties.
Those reminders, front and center both in the Saturday finale and in the Wednesday through Friday preliminary rounds, are one way of showing the world there’s a new equestrian hotspot in Florida.
“We’re privileged to have this level of competition in Myakka City," said Ruby Tevis, director of marketing and communications for TerraNova. “That was part of the vision to build here, to bring this level of sport and competition to the west coast (of Florida). Typically, you think of these kinds of competitions happening in Ocala and in Wellington, but we’re bringing it right here.”
Derek Braun, a Rollins College graduate and a show jumper who launched Split Rock in 2015, added Sarasota to his schedule in 2022, and he aims to make the area his operation’s winter hub.
“Honestly, we love the area so much, my wife and I bought a house in Lakewood Ranch," he said. “We sort of committed to spending a couple months every winter down here, we like it so much."
Braun said he and his wife, Michelle, grew up spending a lot of time in Wellington, west of the Palm Beaches, because of their love of equestrian sports. Now, with the development of TerraNova in rural Manatee County and the growth of Split Rock, “the brands sort of aligned together because of the attention to detail they put into the venue."
Split Rock produced TerraNova’s first event in 2022, but few dates have been more prestigious as this series. While the intricacies of high-level horse jumping might escape first-time viewers, the basics can be pretty simple to appreciate.
"Like NASCAR racing, you go fast, you’re against the clock, you want to go clean and clear, and what that means is that you want to be inside the time allowed, and you haven’t knocked down any rails," Tevis said. "And that means you’ve had a fault-free effort."
Beyond the actual competition on the course, equestrian events can be posh experiences on the sidelines, made clear last summer when rapper Snoop Dogg delivered his takes on dressage for TV viewers during the Olympic Games in Paris. No, Snoop won’t be in Manatee County this week, but the proceedings at TerraNova will be sanctioned by the Federation Equestre Internationale, the worldwide organizing body for the sport. Professional riders from around the world are expected. Olympians are never out of the question.
Among the big names expected this week:
Though the sport skews toward the affluent, athleticism and grace quickly snap into sharp focus from a spectator perspective.
“You’re going to see the grandeur, the exquisite nature of this level of competition that comes with having this much money on the line for these athletes," Tevis said. “They love a crowd to come on out to cheer them on, and I think we’ve been building throughout our series. The spectators are not going to be disappointed."
Everything begins on Wednesday and Thursday – competitors who have their sights set on Saturday’s Winter Series Finale will have to compete on either of those two preliminary days. On Friday, there’s a $5,000 National Hunter Derby planned that stands apart from the bigger competitions.
There’s free admission for those simply interested in watching, but there are also a series of packages that include brunch and other extras, along with reserved-table seating and access to VIP spaces.
“It’s a nice place to come with the family, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money," Tevis said. “We don’t want to be exclusive. This is for everybody."
Beyond this weekend’s wrap-up of the five-week TerraNova Winter Series, more events are on the calendar beginning on Sunday, March 16, and in the months to come. On March 29, show jumping and cross country are taking place, and on May 3 — Kentucky Derby Day — TerraNova is presenting an event that links its specialties with those of world-famous Churchill Downs.
“The venue is second to none," Braun said.
