The Riding Academy Hotel

Took my granddaughter, daughter and her friend to see the Grand Prix FEI cup competition WEC Valentines weekend. First time stating at the Riders Academy and Michael Greene who was at the front desk and checked us in was just awesome!! There was an issue with our room still being occupied, and he immediately resolved the problem and found us an even better Room location. He was so helpful and accommodating, great conversationalist and took his time with us even though he was at the end of his shift. Best customer service I’ve had in a long time Thanks to Michae Will definitely be returning and hope that he’s the one that checks us in again

We stayed here for the Food and Wine Festival package, and everything was absolutely wonderful! The hotel is beautiful and feels brand new. The staff was professional, kind, and very accommodating. Our 4th-floor room was cozy, elegant, and tastefully decorated with an equestrian touch — a perfect blend of comfort and style. The room included a Keurig, refrigerator, safe, and a surprisingly spacious closet. The modern bathroom was spotless, with great counter space and a large shower featuring both a rain head and a handheld wand. Every detail was thoughtful. We had such a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back!

I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel. Our family of four, along with our two dogs, stayed here this weekend, and we had a fantastic experience. From the moment we arrived, the front desk staff made us feel incredibly welcome, especially Sandra, who went above and beyond to ensure our stay was as comfortable as possible. The housekeeping staff was professional and very accommodating—particularly the team on the 4th floor, where we stayed. Olivia (which I believe was a manager) was also amazing helping us extend our checkout time. Our room and bathroom were both spacious and tastefully decorated, offering plenty of comfort. The room was well-equipped with a Keurig coffee maker and a sub zero fridge (though I do wish the microwave was included without an additional fee). The hotel is also very dog-friendly, with a lovely dog park on-site that our pets enjoyed. There are several great restaurants in area with reasonable prices and high quality food. (Only exception to the food was an acai bowl we order at the market. Unfortunately it was frozen and my daughter wasn't able to eat on the spot. They should mention that the acai bowl is frozen on the menu or let you know when you order it). It’s worth noting that the location is a bit far from stores and fast food restaurants in the area. Overall, it was a wonderful stay, and we would definitely return.

This hotel is a top notch experience. It is beautifully decorated with a quirky touch. Rooms are well kept and clean. The views are not the best as there is a lot of construction happening on the grounds and there generally is not a lot to look at in Ocala. So having a balcony is not a plus as the real view is inside the room. There is no microwave in the room even though there is a refrigerator. If you want to use one, you will need to use the community microwave located on each floor.

If you’re competing or attending an event at WEC and want to stay on property without splurging on The Equestrian, The Riding Academy is the perfect sweet spot. The rooms were spacious, impeccably clean, and clearly well cared for, huge credit to the top-notch housekeeping team. The front desk staff was equally excellent, and Michele B. deserves a special shout-out for going above and beyond with her help and professionalism. A major bonus is the convenience of The Tack Room, it’s an easy grab-and-go option for breakfast and coffee in the morning, and it also works great for a quick cocktail by the pool in the evening. Overall, this is an easy, comfortable, no-stress choice for anyone who wants to stay close to the action at WEC while still enjoying great service and a clean, relaxing space. Highly recommend.

I stayed at this hotel as I heard great things, and it was close to where I had to go for work. I had an exceptional experience from start to finish. After a long day of awful traffic and missing Thanksgiving with my family, I arrived in a pretty bad mood. Amanda H. at the front desk greeted me the moment I walked in and completely turned my day around. Her warm welcome, compassion, and upbeat personality made me feel genuinely cared for. She was extremely knowledgeable about the property and upcoming events, and she kindly took the time to listen while I vented. The room she placed me in was wonderful—beautiful view, incredibly comfortable bed, and the perfect space to unwind. I was also able to enjoy the Winter Wonderland Christmas lights and the vaulting show, both of which were impressive and memorable. Amanda went above and beyond by offering two discount toy store tickets so I could bring home gifts for my young kids. When I mentioned how much I loved the crosses and wanted to bring some back to my local congregation of about 20 people up north, she didn’t hesitate to provide a set for me to share—something I truly appreciated and found incredibly thoughtful. An outstanding stay all around. Highly recommend!

Huge thank you to Miles for taking such great care of us! From check-in to helping us move to a new room, he made the entire process smooth and stress-free. He was patient, proactive, and genuinely kind. It made a big difference in our stay. We truly appreciated his help!

My family and our dog stayed this past weekend and had a wonderful time and experience with the hotel. This was our second weekend stay and continues to exceed expectations. The staff is genuinely welcoming and friendly. Both of our stays we were very impressed with the cleanliness of our rooms and were very comfortable. The hotel is decorated beautifully for Christmas and we had a great time enjoying the Christmas celebrations over the weekend. All the decorations were so pretty and make for awesome holiday photos, the music and the meet and greet with the Grinch was hilarious and very well done even my dog enjoyed it! The only issue we had over the weekend was with the Yellow Pony Pub and although the manager there did not seem to care when we brought it to the attention of the hotel manager Albert and Amanda they genuinely cared about our experience and did everything they could to make it right. We really appreciated that kind of care and it speaks volumes of the way the hotel appreciates their guests. The entire property is beautifully maintained and theres so much to see and do. The hotel is exceptional and we will continue to enjoy weekends here!