Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

WELLINGTON, Florida, April 13, 2025–An area of Wellington International show grounds that is bigger than the existing Global Dressage Festival arenas has been tentatively selected as the future home of international and national dressage competitions.

The area is near the main entrance of the current Wellington International venue and is currently primarily used for hunter competitions.

The area adjacent to the existing centerpiece International arena is planned to be re-purposed for dressage ahead of the 2027 winter circuit of winter-long dressage and para-dressage events.

A covered arena is also tentatively planned for the site.

Based on agreements undertaken when the local government approved conversion of the existing Global grounds to become a high-end housing and sports complex, moving Global cannot occur until new facilities are available at Wellington International which hosts the Winter Equestrian Festival focused on jumpers and hunters.

An expansion of the show grounds by about 70 acres/28ha. of competition arenas and a grass derby field was originally penciled in as the new Global grounds. However, as work has progressed on the site planning has tentatively assigned the area for jumpers.

Global’s 2026 competition schedule includes some proposed changes–the biggest being to move the top rated CDI5* to January from its current dates in mid-March and increase prize money from the 2025 amount of $150,000 for that single event in an effort to attract more top foreign riders.

The 2026 international schedule as published by Global but different than that posted on the official FEI site is:

Jan. 7-11–World Cup
Jan. 21-25–CDI5*
Feb. 4-8–CDI4*
Feb. 18-22–World Cup
Feb. 25-Mar. 1–CDI4*
Mar. 5-8-CPED3* Para-Dressage
Mar. 11-15–World Cup
Mar. 19-22–CDIO3* Nations Cup