OCALA, FL (352today.com) – On Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, competitive equestrians, philanthropists and community leaders will join forces at Ocala’s HITS Post Time Farm for a unique horsing competition and entertainment event aimed at raising money for 10 of the North Central Florida region’s children’s charities.

Now in its second year, the United Way of Marion County’s annual Children’s Charity Classic pits 10 teams of three riders–junior, amateur and professional–against one another in a very real equestrian contest. Each team was randomly paired with a local children’s charity at UWMC’s exclusive invite-only “Pairing Party” on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2026, which each team will represent at the Classic.

The twist is this: Each team has also selected a kids’ board game, in keeping with this year’s theme, and will dress up their mounts and riders to reflect elements of that game, whether it’s Clue, Candyland, Operation, Monopoly or any one of the other six games from which they chose.

“The teams pick their [game], knowing what their horses are like, what they can do,” said Robert Haight, outgoing president and CEO of UWMC. “It’s a great way for the equine community to give back… fifty-two percent of our kids live in households that are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or under the poverty line.”

At the first Children’s Charity Classic last year, the theme was “Children’s Books,” and teams amazed the audience by competing while extravagantly outfitted to evoke classics like the Harry Potter series, The Cat in The Hat, The Wizard of Oz, Where The Wild Things Aare and others. The once-in-a-lifetime spectacle generated $100,000 for the 10 beneficiary charities.

The organizers changed up the theme for this year’s event, but Haight said it wasn’t a particularly arduous process.

“We just had some folks kind of sitting around a table out at HITS, and people [were] reminiscing about their childhoods, the books and movies, and so we just landed on board games that everybody can relate to,” he said. “Most of us played them as a kid, there’s great nostalgia and good memories, and it’s something that’s fairly accessible as far as the participants dressing their horses in the costumes.”

This year’s show aims to outdo the inaugural outing in every way, from costumes to fundraising, and the public is of course invited to attend what’s sure to be one of the most memorable equestrian events of The Horse Capital of the World’s 2026.

“It’s an actual competition, but it’s got a unique fun flavor to it,” Haight said. “We try to make it a familly event where people can bring their children, pull up a lawn chair and enjoy it… there will be face painting, a food truck, all the charities will have tents, we just strive to create an environment that’s family friendly.

Here’s the list of charities, games and team captains

Advance tickets to the 2nd Annual Charity Classic on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at HITS Post Time Farm are available here for $10. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. HITS Post Time Farm is located at 9450 NW 137th Ave. in Morriston.