Wordley Martin: U.S. Olympian Will Coleman’s Top Choice

U.S. Olympian Will Coleman has a long and trusting relationship with professional horsemen Craig Martin and Sharn Wordley, owner-operators of Wordley Martin.  That’s the reason the company was Coleman’s top choice when it came to building a large-scale project.

Ever since Wordley Martin renovated an arena for Coleman at his former base in Virginia almost two decades ago, the Olympic eventing athlete has trusted the experienced duo with the construction and maintenance of his properties.

When the Booth family purchased Okonokos Farm in Ocala, FL, in late 2018 as Coleman’s new base, there were core structures, including houses and barns, in place but they knew they needed experienced, reliable guidance for the large-scale remodeling project that lay ahead.  Given Coleman’s experience working with Wordley Martin and the company’s continued growth from its roots as a footing company, he knew exactly who to call.  Wordley’s own show jumping facility is located in Ocala, providing the company with access to local contacts and quality partner contractors.

Coleman collaborated with Wordley Martin to significantly redesign the layout of the 50-acre farm and improve the flow and functionality.  Two new arenas were installed, the hay field was converted into a cross-country field, all the paddocks were re-laid and re-fenced, and the property was landscaped.  There are now 26 stalls, two international arenas, a full cross-country field, and a round pen to meet the needs of a world-class training operation.

“Wordley Martin is simply the best in my opinion,” stated Coleman, who is one of several eventing and show jumping Olympians who train on Wordley Martin surfaces.  “Since our relationship was formed almost 20 years ago, Wordley Martin has been my go-to for all my training surface needs.  Sharn and Craig are horse people themselves and know what you need when you’re training and competing at a high level.  They have built their own farms and have a lot of experience, not just with installing an arena but also figuring out how to situate it on your property for maximum effect.

“The process was unbelievable; putting in the two arenas was a three-week job from start to finish,” continued Coleman.  “That’s a pretty remarkable timeline given that there were two arenas they had to level and grade, and then bring in all the materials.  They were very efficient.”

Coleman appreciates Wordley Martin’s ongoing commitment to the maintenance and upkeep of the arenas at Okonokos Farm to ensure they continue to provide a sector-leading riding experience.

“Wordley Martin comes every year; that’s important to us, having made big investments into these arenas,” explained Coleman, who competed on back-to-back World Championship teams in 2018 and 2022.  “The arenas need to be reworked and regraded from time to time.  Wordley Martin has all the equipment and staff to do that, so they make it very easy for us.  You really notice it in the arenas and how they ride after they’ve come and done the maintenance.  It’s so important and yet often overlooked by people.”

With his years of experience, Wordley noted, “An arena is a moving, living creature that needs maintenance.  Customers should manage them well on a weekly basis themselves, including raking in the edges if necessary, and we show them how to do that.  We then come once or twice a year and laser-grade the surface to make sure it is even everywhere.  We also soften it or roll it back in, if necessary.

“Wordley Martin is not just an arena-building company; it’s about building relationships with the people who ride on those arenas so we can keep serving them the best surfaces to train on year after year,” he added.

Thanks to the reliability and durability of the riding surfaces, Coleman is now able to hold schooling shows at Okonokos Farm.

“With Wordley Martin it’s all about the quality of the materials first and foremost,” said Coleman.  “It’s a higher caliber blend than you get with most other synthetic footing companies.  Sharn and Craig put a lot of focus on the sand part of it and have a very specific formula.  You really see it in the footing, in how it feels and how it rides, particularly when you’re doing bigger jumps and have a lot of horses working over the surfaces.  The arenas hold up much better and offer the same concussion absorption but with better stability.”

With a five-star reputation earned from working with top stables and prestigious horse shows across the country, including HITS Ocala in Florida and HITS Hudson Valley in New York, Wordley Martin is a trusted farm and arena construction company that riders and owners can count on.

Visit Wordley Martin for more information, and check out the Equine Design & Development Collective to learn how Wordley Martin collaborates with a trusted network of experienced contractors to take care of every element of an equestrian project, from concept to completion.  Be sure to follow Wordley Martin on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest design and construction projects.