Dressage-News

WELLINGTON, Florida, July 15, 2023–Wellington International has unveiled plans to expand the main horse show grounds to include dressage along with hunters and build a specially designed second competition stadium for jumpers.

An appeal for support for proposals to expand the show grounds to 180 acres/73Ha was made Saturday by Michael Stone, president of Wellington International that has hosted equestrian events, including the Winter Equestrian Festival, for almost five decades. Global Equestrian Group, based in Europe, has owned and operated the showgrounds for the past two years.

Plans to expand the main show grounds to include dressage that for the past decade has been staged at nearby Equestrian Village has become embroiled in controversy over plans to build a resort style community on the site.

“We recognize the need to dramatically expand and enhance the showgrounds to incorporate it onto one large, consolidated site to better support all three horse disciplines–jumpers, hunters and dressage,” Michael said.

Wellington International has an agreement to acquire 90 acres to the south to effectively double the size of the show grounds. However, a change is required in the zoning tp Equestrian Commercial Recreation from its current designation as Residential.

“This change will ensure that the land is kept for Equestrian Showgrounds rather than more residential development in the Equestrian Preserve,” said Michael referring to a large slice of Wellington known as the Equestrian Preserve.

“The three horse sports are all important businesses with hunter/jumpers marshalling up to 3,000 horses per week, and dressage fielding 300 horses per week,” he said, “yet each sport business is very different in terms of size, scale, and profitability.

“We are committed to all three sports and the entire equestrian lifestyle that defines Wellington. However, we need to plan for the future. The existing Equestrian Village site is not viable long-term, and we need to expand and enhance the showgrounds onto one site to optimally operate the business and stage the competitions across all three disciplines.”

The zoning change needed by Wellington International is currently part of a larger application by a development group called Wellington Lifestyle Partners for high end equestrian communities, part of it on the current Global Dressage Festival facilities.

Michael disclosed that Populous is the official architect of cecord to help plan, design and create the new showgrounds.

Populous is a global architecture and design firm with extensive expertise building venues for Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl, professional stadiums, arenas, ballparks, and collegiate facilities as well as equestrian facilities including the Ascot Racecourse in England; Churchill Downs, host of the Kentucky Derby, and the equestrian venue for the London Olympics in 2012.

“They will design the showground expansion that includes additional parking, a new show stadium venue with improved hospitality offerings, nine rings (two of which will be covered arenas), a derby field, additional permanent stabling, and a new FEI area.” he said.

“Upon completion, we will welcome the jumpers to the new facility and the hunters and dressage to the re-imagined existing Wellington International facilities. The two international arenas will provide the opportunity for all disciplines to compete in different stadium environments with ample practice areas, supporting barns and broader facilities.”

The new and enlarged show grounds will enable, he said:

–Staging all three disciplines on one site will allow us to operate with more efficiency and excellence;

–Improved parking to include multiple egress access points, and better facilitate flows of both participants and spectators;

–Create a larger, safer, and more secure facility for horses, riders, and support staff;

–Establish better spectator experiences and hospitality offerings which support the competitions and sponsors, and

–Further support Wellington’s position as the Horse Sport Capital of the World with new, larger facilities that would be professionally designed and built

“Horse sport is continually growing,” Michael said. “We have the opportunity to develop a cutting edge venue to give all our stakeholders the best experience available in the equestrian world. We have our horses’ and athletes’ safety and welfare at the forefront of our decisions. Additionally, we are committed to increasing our spectator offerings and access for everyone who desires to experience our Saturday Night Lights events.

“I am personally reaching out to you, our fellow equestrians, to provide feedback to improve our conceptual plans as we move forward and formally engage the Village of Wellington with our own site plan application and approval to expand the showgrounds.

“We are asking for your support as we go through the process of zoning changes with the Village of Wellington necessary to create the new, expanded showgrounds. We would be grateful if you could express your support, and we encourage you to write to your local leaders in support of the expansion by emailing Cory Cramer, Planning and Zoning Manager at ccramer@wellingtonfl.gov.”