Fox Lea Farm

🌊 Next up in our VET 2027 Meet the Team series: Bob Allen!🌊

Bobby joined our Fox Lea family in 2018, alongside his wife Michelle, as our official photographers through their company, Forever Photography. A retired Army veteran with three combat deployments, Bobby has turned retirement into a whole new adventure—thanks in large part to Michelle’s passion for capturing the grace, athleticism, and beauty of equestrian sport.

With his incredible eye for detail and unique perspective, Bobby has a talent for capturing not just the big moments, but all the little ones that make a horse show special. Forever Photography also offers private photo sessions for riders and horses, making it possible to capture those special memories beyond the show ring.

His years in the military have given him an amazing ability to anticipate the action and be ready for that split-second moment when everything comes together—and it shows in every photo!

We are so grateful to have Bobby as part of our Fox Lea family and for all the memories he captures for our exhibitors, families, and fans. ❤️

The next time you see Bobby around the showgrounds, be sure to thank him for his service—and maybe bring him one of those frappes he likes! 😉📸🇺🇸

Q: If you could ride any horse 🐴, past or present, who would you choose?
A: “If not my own horse Gus than Metallic Cat or Topsail Speckles.”

Q: What is your Starbuck’s ☕️order?
A: “Chai Frappe .”

Q: What would your theme song🎶 be?
A: “Coming in hot by Andy Mineo”

Q: If you could go on a vacation 🌎right now, where would you go?
A: “Somewhere in the Mediterranean probably Greece or Italy.”

Q: Pineapple on pizza 🍕🍍yes or no?
A: “For sure!”

Q: Do you have any hobbies🧶🛼?
A: “I collect coins, guns, and enjoy fixing up things in my spare time.”

Q: What is one food 🍟🌮you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
A: “Steak, or ahi tuna.”

Q: Favorite color 🌈?
A: “Blue.”

Q: Do you have any pets🐶🐱?
A: “2 that are actually mine, Omega my Doberman, and Gus my Appaloosa. However, we also have 2 Frenchies, a cat, another horse, a goat, and who knows what else!”

Q: How long have you been in the horse 🐴 industry?
A: “We’ve owned horses since 2012.”

Q: Are you a small town🏡 or big city 🏢 person?
A: “Small town but it’s gotta have a good grocery store and some good restaurants!”

Q: Favorite book 📚and/or movie 🎬?
A: “Hacksaw Ridge.”

Horses may carry us on their backs, but they hold a forever place in our hearts as our truest friends. 🐴❤️

Yay! 🍧🍧🍧

🌊 Next up in our VET 2027 Meet the Team series, let’s get to know Steven Pelzer! 🌊

As our Director of Creative Media, you’ll see Steven and his camera all around Fox Lea Farm—often accompanied by his trusted assistant, Beebe. 😉📸

Steven is the creative eye behind so much of what you see from Fox Lea, capturing the action, the atmosphere, and all the little moments that make our shows special. From photos and videos to social media content, Steven helps bring the Fox Lea experience to life both on and off the show grounds.

Whether he’s ringside, behind the lens, or putting together our next social media post, Steven is always looking for the perfect shot—and Beebe is never far behind! 🐾

We’re lucky to have Steven capturing so many of the memories that make Fox Lea Farm special. Be sure to say hello the next time you see him (and, of course, give Beebe some love too!)

Q: If you could ride any horse 🐴, past or present, who would you choose?
A: “Spirit stallion of the Cimarron!”

Q: What is your Starbuck’s ☕️order?
A: “Venti chai tea Latte iced with Oat milk.”

Q: What would your theme song🎶 be?
A: “Ike And Tina Turner”

Q: If you could go on a vacation 🌎right now, where would you go?
A: “Croatia”

Q: Pineapple on pizza 🍕🍍yes or no?
A: “BLASPHEMY!🫢 ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

Q: Do you have any hobbies🧶🛼?
A: “I love to run, shooting cool videos.”

Q: What is one food 🍟🌮you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
A: “Steamed pork Potstickers 🥟”

Q: Favorite color 🌈?
A: “Blue.”

Q: Do you have any pets🐶🐱?
A: “1 standard poodle named Beebe.”

Q: How long have you been in the horse 🐴 industry?
A: “15 years.”

Q: Are you a small town🏡 or big city 🏢 person?
A: “Small town please!”

Q: Favorite book 📚and/or movie 🎬?
A: “The Lion king 1994 best movie of all time!”

Fall Dressage Concours I & II
at Fox Lea Farm, Venice, FL
August 29-30, 2026
USEF/USDF Recognized Level #2 Dressage Show
OFFICIAL QUALIFYING COMPETITION FOR THE:
2026 Great American/USDF Regional Championships.

Welcome to the beautiful Fox Lea Farm! We are back again for another USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized Level #2 dressage competition at Fox Lea Farm in Venice, FL. This edition of Fall Dressage Concours I & II will take place on August 29-30, 2025. The entry deadline for this show is Wednesday, August 19th at midnight! This could be your last chance to qualify for the USDF Region #3 Championships!! Please register today to secure your spot today!! Call Deb at 920-819-2891. Entries are open on Fox Village. www.foxvillage.com

🌊 Our VET 2027 Meet the Team series continues with Laurie Birnbach! 🌊

As Fox Lea Farm’s Director of Government & Community Relations, Laurie works with city, county, and state governments to raise awareness of the tremendous economic impact of our sport and what that means for our local community. She also manages relationships with our charity partners, sponsors, and the many local and national organizations that Fox Lea Farm works with and supports.

Laurie has been competing at Fox Lea Farm since she moved to Sarasota in 1999, and she officially became part of the Fox Lea Farm team in 2014. After a 23-year corporate career with The Coca-Cola Company, Laurie decided to turn her love of horses into her “fantasy retirement job” — and she jumped into the horse industry wholeheartedly!

Laurie is a USEF-licensed C1 Steward and serves on the USHJA Board of Directors. Over the years, she’s been just about everything you can be in the horse world — exhibitor, barn owner, pony mom, and horse owner!

These days, Laurie’s favorite role may be simply having her horses at home on her small farm and getting to compete in the Amateur Jumpers whenever time (and the budget 😉) allows.

We’re lucky to have Laurie as part of the Fox Lea family — both in and out of the saddle! 💙🐴

Q: if you could ride any horse🐴, past or present, who would you choose?
A: “United Touch S (if I could manage to hang on!)”

Q: What is your Starbucks ☕️order?
A: “I’m a Diet Coke diehard so no Starbucks for me 😉”

Q: What would your theme song 🎶 be?
A: “Right Here, Right Now (there is no other place I want to be) by Jesus Jones”

Q: If you could go on vacation right now, 🌎 where would you go?
A: “Useppa Island or Catalina Island”

Q: Pineapple 🍍 on Pizza 🍕, yes or no?
A: “No 😧”

Q: Do you have any hobbies🛼🧶?
A: “At this point in my life, it’s all horses, all the time! (okay and an occasional boat day!)”

Q: What is one food 🍟🍣you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
A: “Steak!”

Q: Favorite 🌈 color?
A: “Blue of course!”

Q: Do you have any 🐱🐶 pets?
A: “A mini-Aussie named Lily, and two Southdown Babydoll Sheep, Sammy and Felicia…oh and a whole bunch of deer (IYKYK!)”

Q: How long have you been in the 🐴 horse industry?
A: “In and out for the past 50+ years.”

Q: Are you a small town 🏡 or big city 🏢 person?
A: “Small with an occasional taste of big!”

Q: Favorite book 📚 and/or movie 🎬 ?
A: “The Barbie movie!”

We are excited to add the RHA! 🐴🏆🐴

𝐑𝐇𝐀 is excited to share the news! 🌴☀️

VENICE, FLORIDA — WE CAN’T WAIT!!!

Something exciting is coming your way… 👀

More details to come!
Stay tuned! ❤️🖤