Text © by Jennifer Ward/Jump Media

When designing a dream equestrian property, surrounding yourself with experienced and trustworthy professionals is paramount to success. Melissa DeCaster Lesch discovered this firsthand when bringing her 120-acre Royal Oaks Farm to life in Ocala, Florida.

Like many others in the horse sport world, Melissa was drawn to Ocala when the World Equestrian Center was developed and made the decision to relocate from her native Wisconsin. The amateur jumping competitor turned to Sharn Wordley of renowned footing firm Wordley Martin for advice on converting the farmland into a top show facility for her personal horses. She quickly found much more than a contractor for her farm; she found a new coach and trainer to boot.

“I had watched Sharn ride for years,” explained Melissa. “I met a few people who had used him for their properties in Ocala and was steered in that direction.

“We first enlisted Wordley Martin to come out and discuss ring size,” continued Melissa of the project that began in 2022. “It developed into a brain trust among us all. Sharn has the ability to take a blank canvas and create a plan. The entire project was developed and overseen by Sharn and Craig Martin. Wordley Martin is the best in the business at what they do.”

A brand-new 20-stall barn stands at the heart of the project. It is divided into two separate sides, each with 10 stalls, a full tack room, grooming stalls, and washers and dryers. There is also a big office and viewing area overlooking the all-weather ring, which measures an impressive 300’ x 160’ (approximately 90 x 50 meters). There are three large pastures for young horses and retirees – including one more than 15 acres in size – and 18 smaller paddocks for turn out. A grass jumping field is currently under construction, along with a riding track encircling a large lake.

“The customers gave us free rein to design it the way we would like to design that particular piece of land,” said Sharn of the trust Melissa placed in Wordley Martin. “The barn has very high ceilings, so the air flow is fantastic and the insulation is great. Even in the summer, with such high ceilings, insulation, and big doors, it’s perfectly cool.

“We used a big hill to create different elevations overlooking a five-acre lake, which was pretty unique,” Sharn continued, describing his favorite features of the project. “There were a lot of challenges building on the side of a big hill because in Florida, you don’t normally get those types of elevation changes. That was what was really unique about the property. We took the biggest elevation change and put the barn on the top, then used a different elevation overlooking the ring, and then a different elevation again looking down over the lake.”

“The overall grand scheme of the property is what impresses me the most,” says Melissa. “It’s a masterpiece of design from start to finish. Even details like the placement of the paddocks were thoughtfully considered. They are workmanlike but also beautiful, timeless, and classic. And I think the best thing about the barn is that you can divide it right down the middle to create two separate spaces.”

While noting that the barn is designed so that someone else could come in and run their business out of one side, Melissa currently uses the entire barn for her own horses. She has roughly 18 horses, with six currently competing in the show ring. While quick to note that she is not a breeder, she developed an interest in bloodlines and in purchasing young horses during the COVID era, when numerous online auctions emerged to fill the void left by in-person horse shopping.

“Mostly the horses are intended to be investments,” shared Melissa of her auction purchases. “During COVID, I found myself getting involved in the European sport horse auctions. I thought it was a great opportunity to invest in some amazing bloodlines without it being too expensive. That’s not to say it’s easy, but developing young horses isn’t that difficult with the right people around you. It’s been fun to watch the progress.”

Having picked up riding in childhood, Melissa has been an active competitor for more than 30 years.  Her current top mount is Royal Oaks Michael, better known as “Mikey” around the barn. She competes in the junior/amateur divisions and hopes to move up to some national-level grand prix classes in the future.

Through her collaboration with Wordley Martin, Melissa gained more than a property developer. She now trains with Sharn, whose show jumping training business is based in Ocala. In addition to coaching, the New Zealand Olympian helps scout new acquisitions and shows some of Melissa’s horses.

“He’s very demanding,” said Melissa of Sharn’s coaching style. “He expects perfection and pushes you to achieve it. He also has a gift for finding and matching the right horses to the right people.”

With a new facility for her own horses and the World Equestrian Center just down the highway, Melissa is embracing the Ocala lifestyle.

“We chose Ocala because it’s horse country,” confirms Melissa. “The lifestyle it provides for someone in the industry is unmatched anywhere in the country. Ocala offers plenty of opportunities for everyone.  You can watch the best in the business in your own backyard, and you can have a family life. My young teenage son is not a rider, but he loves being in the barn and being involved in other sports. It’s great not to be on the road chasing horse shows for months at a time.”

For Wordley Martin, they have yet another satisfied customer.

“It's a beautiful barn in a beautiful location,” said Sharn. “It’s a top-notch place, and it's five minutes from the World Equestrian Center. It’s indicative of how Ocala is changing, as it’s bringing more high-end properties to the area, which was predominantly focused on racehorses. It’s really becoming a high-end equestrian area, with certain stables rivaling those you find in Wellington.”

For Melissa, working with Wordley Martin was a fantastic customer experience.

“The word I would use to describe working with Wordley Martin is seamless,” said Melissa. “They’ve taken care of everything from start to finish with no issues. They are very communicative and responsive, and they explain everything clearly. The best part of the process has been the great working relationship we’ve had with them.”