Ocala, FL – This week’s Ocala Sunday Spotlight features Jordan Lubow, a seasoned professional who owns Jordan Lubow Sporthorses and serves as the Rider/Trainer at Opening Bell Farms in Ocala, Florida. Having embarked on her riding journey from a young age, Lubow now plays a pivotal role in managing two thriving equestrian businesses. We had the opportunity to connect with Lubow and delve into her career and contributions as an owner, trainer and rider.
WEC: Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am from Calabasas, California. I began riding when I was just three years old. I think I started competing at six. I competed throughout my junior career in the pony divisions then went onto junior hunters, equitation and junior jumpers, until I turned 18. I went to school for a little bit, and when I came back, I wasn’t quite ready to step back into the horse world. I wanted to explore singing and I actually ended up working in the restaurant management industry for a long time. So, I took a good break from horses for 10 to 11 years, but I always missed it.
When I was 30, I saw Instagram reels of people doing the hunter derbies, and it looked like so much fun. I was like ‘Man, I wish they had that class when I was a junior, I would have killed to do stuff like that.’
Eventually, I made the decision to get back into horses and I wanted to buy a horse of my own, but knew I couldn’t afford a nice derby horse, so I opted to look for a three- or four-year-old. That’s when I found Timmy. I flew to Illinois to Taylor Flury’s Aliboo Farm and tried him. I signed the paperwork that day.
He came to California, and then I got my first professional job, and my riding expanded from there. I moved to Wellington in 2021 and that’s when I started my business, Jordan Lubow Sporthorses. I had two sales horses and Timmy. I didn’t have any grooms, I did everything myself, so it was a lot of work, but so rewarding. I sold those two horses pretty quickly, then people just started to give me more horses to sell, and it took off.
WEC: Tell us a bit more about your business and your partnership with Opening Bell Farms.
Valarie Kalderon is someone I have always been connected with on social media but had never met. She reached out to me in the Summer of 2021 to send me two sales horses and we met in the beginning of 2022. She made me a job offer because she was moving from Texas, and had just bought a farm in Ocala. At the time, I was really needing back surgery from an old fracture, so as much as I wanted to, realistically she wouldn’t have a rider for a year.
While I was recovering, I stayed in Ocala, with the full intention to eventually move back to Wellington after I healed, but I never left. As soon as I was able to start riding and competing again, I began working for Valarie and brought in a good friend, Abby Strohmeyer. Now we all run the business together and just opened up the doors to clients. My eight months on the ground while I was recovering was a huge help in the transition to teaching more. It’s something new to me but I love working with our clients.
WEC: What has your experience been at World Equestrian Center – Ocala?
Like I said, I had the full intent to go back to Wellington after my surgery, but I fell in love with WEC. I mean, how could you not?! It’s the best venue in the world and it was right in my backyard. Now I run a great business with amazing people, and we get to come show here every week.
I mean just the schooling days they added last month was amazing. We could bring a few horses to jump in the best conditions for barely anything. I don’t know how you can beat it.
I also think it has now become a community, I see myself waving to every single person I pass, and people are moving from everywhere to come be in Ocala because of WEC. I am really excited to keep building my business here and continue to watch WEC grow the industry.
