Think about hunter and jumper shows in Florida. What location comes to mind first? It’s probably Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Palm Beach County on the state’s east coast. That’s the circuit with the greatest name recognition after decades of memorable competitions attracting riders from all over the world.
But Ocala, about a 4-hour drive north and west, is getting more than the usual attention these days because this is the first season for the World Equestrian Center, a glossy eye-opener of a venue offering 17 rings (including air conditioned indoor arenas) on approximately 4,000 acres, complete with a 5-star hotel (to open next month) and a variety of restaurants. The stalls are permanent (no tents) and so are the restrooms (no portables).
The World Equestrian Center is making a splash in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Of course, Ocala also has another major option, the HITS venue in a more rustic setting 10 road miles or so from WEC. That show organization has been offering classes in Marion County since 1985 under the direction of Tom Struzzieri, who also has showgrounds in Illinois, New York and Virginia.
It’s quite remarkable that last weekend, high quality grands prix were offered at each venue. WEC had the $75,000 Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian feature on Saturday night, while HITS presented the $150,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix the following afternoon. And consider that WEF had a Sunday FEI (international equestrian federation) grand prix worth $214,000, attracting many international riders seeking Longines ranking points. Over two-days, 103 horses jumped courses laid out in Florida by top designers at all three sites, with a total of $439,000 in prize money offered.
Aaron Vale and Prestige won their second HITS grand prix of the season on Sunday in Ocala. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Since WEC’s grands prix during its Winter Spectacular are not FEI (neither are the HITS grands prix) riders have the option of picking what suits them and their horses best in the Sunshine State. Over the course of the circuit, many riders will take advantage of all three choices, with WEC now adding another destination to consider. Depending on your vantage point, it could be called a case of the more the merrier.
In Ocala, WEC’s Roby Roberts believes it’s no problem for his shows to coexist with HITS.
“There’s room for both here. They’re two different experiences,” said Roby, a member of the family that owns not only WEC, but also the Golden Ocala club and the high-end housing around it.
There were 28 horses in WEC’s grand prix and 25 at HITS. In Tom’s view, having another show so close to HITS affected entries at his competition. On the same weekend in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown, the HITS competition drew 43 horses, he pointed out. Tom wondered if prize money will be sustainable at that rate.That’s especially pertinent when he says it, since the $1 million Great American Grand Prix is his Ocala series finale.Having another show nearby has meant things are different in Ocala this year.
“Our business is off about 30 percent, after you factor in Covid,” said Tom.
“So yes, it’s affected us,” he continued, then quickly added “we’ll survive.
HITS follows strict U.S. Equestrian Federation protocols, which means no fans due to Covid. WEC, on the other hand, is governed for this series by the National Snaffle Bit Association, which does not have the same constraints, so people came to watch the grand prix and be tourists at the new place.
Santiago Lambre of Mexico, who was 1-2 in the WEC grand prix with Comtesse and Easy Girl, appreciates the new venue. Santiago lives in Wellington and is prepping for the Olympics there, but considers WEC “the best facility in the U.S. and I think it’s the best facility in the world for me,” commented the veteran of 15 years in Europe..
“You have two stadiums, the best stables in the world,” added Santiago, who came for one week and stayed for six.”
In honor of the LPGA tournament last weekend at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club, the Golden Ocala jump in Saturday night’s grand prix was flanked by a putting green and a golf cart. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron Vale, a consistent winner at HITS who has also done well at WEC, topped the Purina class with Prestige, a 9 year-old purchased from some friends in Slovakia. Aaron has spent five years producing the gelding, who logged his second HITS victory of the winter.
Having two shows so close is “awesome,” said Aaron, who also has been a winner at WEC this season.
“I’ve got eight or nine horses I can enter in a grand prix,” he commented. “Having two venues gives us some options because you can’t ride eight in one grand prix. It’s great that we have the options. I hope both (shows) keep going for a long time,” added Aaron, who wants to take Prestige to Wellington when he’s ready.
Aaron Vale rides out of the arena at Hits as a winner again. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
Aaron lost 45 pounds in the last 14 months.
“ I’m motivated, I’m mounted and I’m having fun,” he said, but also gave back donating $5,900 that was his share of a pre-jump-off Calcutta auction to benefit the Marion County Therapeutic Riding organization.
“We get so much support here at HITS,” said Dana Waters on behalf of MTRA. “Tom always lets us have a nice event here and it has become our biggest fundraiser and we are so appreciative.”
