by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 3, 2026
Who is Jordan LaPlaca?
Those who don’t know the name can be forgiven. Although he led the U.S. to bronze in the dressage 4-star Nations Cup at Hagen, Germany, on Friday, it was his first time competing in Europe.
The U.S.bronze medal team and those who helped it happen at Hagen. (Stefan Lafrentz sportfotos)
Jordan, who was also on the winning U.S. team at the Nations Cup in Florida over the winter, had the best American finish in the Grand Prix, eighth place with Gold Play. Although that horse was not passed in the first soundness inspection at the show, he got accepted on the morning of the Cup and stepped right up to achieve a personal best percentage of 70.631 percent.
Jordan La Placa and Gold Play at the U.S. national championships in May.
Jordan finished just ahead of teammate Christian Simonson, the runner-up in April’s World Cup final with Indian Rock. Christian was aboard his back-up mount, Fleu de Baian (70.478 percent). The third U.S. score belonged to Genay Vaughn and Gino, eleventh with 69.848. The U.S. total was 210.957 percent.
As expected the home team ran away with the victory, earning a total of 230.834 percent, as Isabell Werth took first place on Wendy de Fontaine (81.051.) The Germans also accounted for second and third, as well as fifth, which didn’t count in the total because that was the drop score. Spain was silver on 212.892.
Looking ahead to next month’s world championships at Aachen, German National Coach Monica Theodorescu pointed out that is “another test, but this was an important test. This is another important step toward the championship—and whichever championship there is in a year, it’s the same procedure.”
She added having senior stars like Isabell and Frederic Wandres riding with younger teammates like Raphael Netz and Semmieke Rothenberger is a confidence builder.
“We go through all of our age categories, and it proves that our system is working well in Germany,” she emphasized. Raphael and Semmieke rode together in the youth division and rose up the ranks from there.
Jordan has had Gold Play, who he owns with Nancy Hutson, since the son of Grey Flannell was four. Speaking about bringing the gelding along for seven years, he summed up the experience as “an incredible journey.”
The Vermont native is trained by Christine Traurig, who is also the U.S. chef d’equpe.
“She is the force who pieced together the refinement of where we’re at,” he said.
“I have to give her a lot of credit. She understands me, she understands my horse. She’s the calm in the storm.”
After trying everything from eventing to driving and western, Jordan said he picked dressage as his focus because he’s “a type A, and I loved the fact that this will never be perfect, never 100 percent.”
Jordan La Placa and Gold Play at Hagen.
Vaughn was a late addition to the team after Anna Marek’s Fayvel was not able to compete.
The top ranks of U.S. dressage are not at their strongest — Indian Rock is taking a rest and won’t be in the world championships next month at Aachen. Marcus Orlob’s 2024 Olympic mount, Jane, has been rehabbing from an injury and will not go to the championships either.
So earning the bronze really meant something. The U.S. finished ahead of Belgium, which was without its star, world number one Justin Verboomen and super horse Zonik Plus. Sweden was fifth and Austria sixth.
Click here for Nations Cup individual rider results Click this link for Nations cup team results
In other action at Hagen, Adrienne Lyle won the 3-star Grand Prix on her 2024 Olympic mount, Helix. He was the only horse in the class to break 70 percent.
The USA’s Ellesse Gundersen, who won the national Grand Prix championship in May with her homebred Quintessential 4, had a series of problems to finish twenty-fifth and last in the class. The horse seemed a bit unsettled from the start, and had major issues in both the collected and extended walk, each of which were movements with coefficients that made them more important in the scoring.
Click here for the 3-star results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2026
Dale Harvey, a show manager who is a former Grand Prix rider, posted his thoughts on social media about the outlook for the U.S. Equestrian Federation as selection of a successor to CEO Bill Moroney is pending. Here is what he had to say:
“The end of Bill Moroney’s tenure as CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation marks a rare and pivotal moment—one that will shape the future of American equestrian sport for decades. This transition is not simply an administrative change; it is a structural inflection point that determines whether USEF evolves into a modern, member‑driven governing body or continues operating through insular, top‑down decision‑making. The stakes are high, and the membership’s willingness to assert its voice will define what comes next.
Why This Leadership Transition Matters
Moroney’s term has been characterized by consolidation of authority, increased regulatory complexity, and a widening gap between USEF leadership and the everyday equestrians who fund the organization. Whether members view his tenure as stabilizing or restrictive, one fact is undeniable: USEF has become increasingly centralized, with major decisions—rule changes, competition structure, licensing, and disciplinary processes—flowing from a small circle of executives and committees.
The departure of a long‑serving CEO creates a rare opening to reassess that structure. Leadership transitions at national governing bodies are infrequent, and when they occur, they often set the tone for the next decade. This is why members must insist on meaningful participation in selecting the next CEO and shaping the strategic direction of the sport.
The Disconnect Between USEF Leadership and Membership
Over the past several years, USEF has faced criticism from athletes, trainers, competition managers, and parents who feel increasingly unheard. Many cite: Opaque decision-making, escalating fees and costs, inconsistent enforcement of rules;a lack of transparency in SafeSport-related processes; limited pathways for member feedback to influence policy.
These concerns are not fringe complaints—they are widespread and persistent. They reflect a structural imbalance between the governing body and the governed. When members feel decisions are made about them rather than with them, trust erodes.
This is why the CEO transition is so critical. It is an opportunity to reset the relationship between USEF and its membership.
Why Members Must Demand a Voice in Selecting the Next CEO
The CEO of USEF is not simply an administrator. They are the architect of the sport’s future. Their philosophy determines:
How competitions are licensed and regulated
How amateur and professional rules evolve
How SafeSport policies are implemented
How grassroots riders are supported
How elite sport is balanced with broad participation
How financial resources are allocated
How transparency and accountability are prioritized
In other words, the CEO shapes the lived experience of every USEF member—from the child entering their first short‑stirrup class to the Olympian preparing for international competition.
Yet historically, CEO selection has been conducted behind closed doors by a small subset of the Board. Members are informed after the decision is made. This model is outdated, misaligned with modern governance standards, and inconsistent with the expectations of a dues‑paying membership base.
Members deserve more than notification—they deserve participation.
What Member Participation Should Look Like
Demanding a voice does not mean every member votes directly on the CEO. Instead, it means establishing structured, meaningful mechanisms for input. These could include:
A public job description outlining qualifications, priorities, and expectations
Open forums where members can express what they want in a leader
Transparent search committee composition, including member‑selected representatives
Publication of finalist profiles, allowing members to provide feedback
Clear communication about how member input influences the final decision
These are standard practices in modern nonprofit governance. They are not radical—they are responsible.
Why the Direction of the Sport Must Also Be Member‑Driven
Selecting a CEO is only part of the equation. Members must also demand influence over the strategic direction of USEF. The sport is facing existential challenges:
Rising costs that push families out
Declining accessibility and diversity
Competition managers struggling under regulatory burdens
Trainers frustrated by inconsistent rule enforcement
Athletes navigating complex qualification pathways
A fractured relationship between USEF and other equestrian organizations
These issues cannot be solved by leadership alone. They require member‑driven priorities, including:
Affordability initiatives
Simplified rule structures
Transparent disciplinary processes
Support for competition organizers
Investment in grassroots programs
Modernization of governance practices
Without member involvement, the next CEO may simply inherit and perpetuate the same structural issues.
The Risk of Silence
If members do not assert their voice now, the opportunity will vanish. A new CEO will be selected, a new strategic plan drafted, and USEF will continue operating as it has—centralized, insulated, and increasingly disconnected from the people it serves.
Silence is not neutrality. Silence is consent.
The Opportunity for Transformation
This moment can be transformative if members choose to engage. A member‑driven selection process and strategic reset could:
Rebuild trust
Increase transparency
Improve accountability
Strengthen the sport’s financial sustainability
Support competition managers and organizers
Empower athletes and trainers
Modernize governance
Create a healthier, more inclusive equestrian community
The end of Moroney’s term is not simply an ending—it is a beginning. It is a chance to redefine what USEF stands for and how it serves its members.
A Call to Action
USEF members must insist on:
Participation in the CEO selection process
Representation on search committees
Transparency in finalist selection
Public forums for member input
A member‑driven strategic plan
This is not about politics. It is not about factions. It is about the future of American equestrian sport.
The next CEO will shape that future. The membership must help choose them—and must help define the direction they will lead.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 2, 2026
The upheaval in the Middle East has claimed the FEI Endurance World Championship, scheduled for November in Saudi Arabia.
The organizer announced that “due to the current geopolitical situation, it was no longer in a position to organize the championship as planned.”
FEI President Ingmar De Vos said, “We are acutely aware of the impact this has on National Federations, Athletes, Officials, support teams and, above all, the preparation of the horses. However, under the circumstances, we had no option but to seek an alternative organizer.”
Wise move. The FEI has reopened bids for the competition
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 29, 2026
The Rutgers Equine Science Center’s free Summer Showcase from 1-3 p.m. July 9 offers a variety of learning experiences that are also fun. The session at Rutgers Cook Farm’s Red Barn, 65 Sheepfold Lane in New Brunswick, N.J., deals with topics of interest to those who want to go more in depth about horses, both their mental and physical aspects.
Horses are notorious for being afraid of things we may think are inconsequential, but which can alarm them. Work through such situations with a process called desensitization. These techniques can be utilized with many items your horse may encounter.
The next topic involves ultrasound. Participants will gain insight into the way an ultrasound machine works and how to differentiate among such bodily structures as fat, muscle, and bone. The session will conclude with an ultrasound demonstration on a horse.
The showcase wraps up with a lesson about equine anatomy. Horses have some similarities to humans within their bone structure. This session also will involve a discussion about dogs and cats in the same vein.
While admission is free, those planning to attend are asked to register using this link.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 29, 2026
The Premier Jumping League, set to debut in April 2027, has sold its first team for $50 million to race car driver Jason McCarthy and McCarthy Jumping League LLC.
UPDATE: At the same time, the PJL has received FEI Series Approval that formally sanctions the rules and regulations of the series, including competition formats, team formation structure, rider selection process, prize money distribution and other operational mechanics.
There will be $1 million in prize money available to riders on each 5-star weekend.
Neil Moffitt, CEO of the PJL said the league “is not seeking to reinvent jumping, nor to disrupt the existing ecosystem. Our objective is to present the sport in a way that protects its integrity, respects its heritage and creates great opportunities for everyone involved.
“This is about positioning jumping alongside other elite sports – not as a niche pursuit, but as a premier international sporting product capable of attracting major audiences, sponsors, broadcasters, commercial partners.”
Jason McCarthy; his wife, Newsha, and their daughter, Natalia, are all involved with horses. Still in the junior ranks, Natasha aspires to compete at the highest level of the sport. The family owns horse farms in Watermill, N.Y., and Wellington, Fla.
According to a league statement, Jason’s investment “represents an unprecedented valuation for a team in a newly established sports competition and underscores the confidence that sophisticated investors are placing in the PJL.”
McCarthy brings extensive investment and trading experience to the League, having held leadership ositions across the financial sector throughout his career. A graduate of MIT, McCarthy is the founder and managing principal of a proprietary trading firm active across a diverse range of domestic and international markets.
Race driver and investor Jason McCarthy
The PJL is working with the FEI as the it progresses through the series approval process. The PJL, with its global 16-team competition, is backed by McCourt Global and its executive chairman, Frank McCourt, who was a co-founder of the Global Champions Tour, an innovator in non-national team jumping.
The PJL “brings together the world’s top riders and horses to compete for the biggest prize pot in the discipline’s history,” $300 million guaranteed prize money across the first three years. It will be staged in 14 venues in North America, Europe and the Middle East. The League is designed to open the sport to new audiences while respecting its heritage.
The PJL, according to its statement, is committed to “the highest standards of horse and rider welfare.”
It combines “extraordinary athletic performance with premium entertainment, strengthened by the league’s partnership with Box to Box Films (the production company behind F1’s ‘Drive to Survive’), and supported by a free-to-view broadcasting model.
“Cutting-edge technology, radical transparency, and innovative team formats enhance the drama, intensity, and rivalry that define elite sport – unlocking the full potential of jumping, demanded by today’s global sports and entertainment marketplace, without compromising its core values.”
PJL’s objective is “to build a modern, commercially sustainable platform that elevates the sport, supports its athletes, and secures its future on the global stage. Jumping is primed for innovation. Historically, the sport has proved hard to follow, and growth has been hindered by repetitive formats and a lack of education for new audiences.”
Frank McCourt
The league bills itself as “a modern, fan-focused model that combines elite athletic performance with innovative formats, enhanced transparency, and best-in-class, free-to-view broadcasting.”
Commenting on his investment, Jason said: “Like Frank McCourt, our family’s journey into this sport began with my wife, Newsha, whose lifelong love of horses first introduced us to the equestrian world. Through her passion, we became fans of jumping and developed a deep appreciation for the extraordinary partnership between horse and rider.
“We believe strongly in the PJL’s vision – a league committed to the highest ethical standards,meritocracy, and elite competition, underpinned by a sustainable commercial model that attracts the world’s best riders and delivers fan experiences on par with the greatest global sporting competitions.
“We see enormous potential for the sport to grow its global audience while remaining true to the values that make it so special. We are confident the PJL will help realise that potential and drive meaningful growth for the sport we have come to love.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2026
In the wake of news that U.S. Equestrian Federation CEO Bill Moroney will retire at the end of the year after a decade in the post, the organization stated Tuesday that it is “committed to a thorough and deliberate search” for his successor.
A search committee of directors across a range of breeds and disciplines has been designated to reflect the perspectives of the federation’s community is reflected. The committee is in discussion with several nationally recognized executive search firms and will select a professional partner to support the search. The process will include feedback from a diverse cross-section of membership including amateur athletes, trainers and affiliate leadership, among others, to help define the priorities and qualities that matter most in the next leader.
When the search partner is selected, the firm will establish a process for interested individuals to submit a letter of interest for the search team’s review. USEF will share those details in a follow-up communication. When the committee completes its work, it will bring its recommendation to the Board of Directors, which will make the final decision.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 25, 2026
Dr. Jack Lowe, a much-admired veterinarian who served the horse industry and Cornell University in a variety of important ways for decades, died Wednesday at age 91 after complications from a fall.
“He was one of the few people I know who loved his job every single day; the horses, all the animals and the people and lifelong friends. He absolutely loved life,” said his daughter, Stacy Lowe-Jonas, who characterized him as “a big teddy bear. He was still smiling the last day I saw him.”
She pointed out that Dr. Lowe’s death came while the Lake Placid, N.Y., horse show was going on. It was one of his favorite shows, Stacy noted, and he served as veterinarian there, as well as at the Sussex County show in New Jersey, where he handled that role for more than half a century.
A graduate of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine in 1959, he received the Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service, which honors veterinary graduates who have distinguished themselves in service to the profession, their communities or to the college.
“Jack has spent his entire professional career at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine enthusiastically contributing to the teaching, research and service missions of the college for many generations of veterinarians and horse owners,” Dr. Susan Fubini, an associate dean, said at the time her received the honor.
Dr. Lowe first studied at Rutgers University for his bachelor’s in dairy science before coming to Cornell, where he earned an M.S. in veterinary pathology after obtaining his veterinary degree. He went on to complete an internship and residency in surgery at Cornell before becoming an assistant professor in 1963. He developed many milestone techniques still in use today.
“Jack has published landmark discoveries, and he was the go-to surgeon for many owners of horses and farm animals,” noted Fubini.
Dr. Lowe was a member of numerous veterinary associations, and for most, he also dedicated time as either an executive board member or president. Among these groups were the American Horse Shows Association, a predecessor of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. He served on the AHSA’s drug control committee for more than 40 years, during nine of which he was the chairman. In this role, he helped develop many of the drug control policies for the horse show industry.
He also originated and continues to work on the USEF’s Health Research Fund. His pioneering efforts earned him many honors, including the Horseperson of the Year Award from the New York State Horse Council. His many roles also included serving as director of the Cornell Equine Park for 13 years.
Jaclyn Brennan, Dr. Lowe’s granddaughter, remembered him this way on social media, “My grandfather was many things to many people. A father, a friend, a husband, an uncle, a world-renowned veterinarian, a horseman, a mentor, a colleague, and everything in between. Jack, Dr. Lowe, Doc… but to me, he was Papa Doc.
“Outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, taxi, cheerleader, road tripper, babysitter, gardener, meat smoker extraordinaire, (terrible but enthusiastic) dancer, lover of western movies, Johnny Cash, and obscure music he would discover on thrift store tapes. Because of him, I have my name. Because of him, I have horses. Because of him, I have humor, logic, and the minor trauma of him giving me `the talk’ using completely medical equine terms in the front seat of his Lincoln on the way to Washington D.C.”
Stacy stressed how important being a grandfather was to Dr. Lowe.
“My kids were his world. He never missed a baseball game, a football game, a downhill ski race or a horse show. He was there for them.”
Dr. Lowe has asked that his body be donated to the Syracuse University School of Medicine, so it can help with the education of medical students.
UPDATE: A celebration of his life will be held July 25 from 4:30-8 p.m. at the Dryden VFW, 2272 Dryden Road (Route 13), Dryden, N.Y.
Sharing of memories and stories will take place from 4:30-6 p.m., with dancing to live music from the Tarps until 8 p.m. RSVP to CelebrateJack725@gmail.com or text 607-227-2538.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Lowe’s family requests that gifts be made in his memory to the Jack Lowe Equine Health Fund. Contributions may also be sent via check (payable to Cornell University) to: The Jack Lowe Equine Health Fund, Cornell University, Box 37334, Boone, IA 50037-0334.
Dr. Lowe is survived by his wife, Joyce; his daughter and her husband, Hugh Jonas; Stacy’s brother, William Lowe and his partner (Melissa); granddaughter Jaclyn and her new husband, Dylan Brennan and grandsons Sterling Trevor Calale and Richard J. Calale III.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 26, 2026
It’s no surprise to see Laura Kraut and McLain Ward named Friday to the Icon Global squad for August’s world championships at Aachen. The veteran competitors both are, after all, Olympic team gold and silver medalists. Laura, 60, will be up on Bisquetta and McLain, 50, is set to ride one of his newer mounts, High Star Hero.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta.
At the same time, it’s refreshing to learn that some different and younger faces will be filling out the squad.
Marilyn Little, 45, a former show jumper who became an eventer and then a show jumper again, was named with La Contessa, a speedy mare who has made a mark in Nations Cup and the Longines League of Nations competition.
Marilyn Little and Contessa
Lillie Keenan, 29, representing the under-30 set, also has a quick mount, appropriately named Fasther. And Katie Dinan, 32, third in the FEI World Cup Finals during the spring, will be riding the reliable Out of the Blue SCF.
Katie Dinan and out of the Blue SCF
The U.S. did not medal in show jumping at the last world championships four years ago in Denmark, so the goal obviously is to correct that oversight.
McLain Ward and High Star Hero.
Missing from the squad is world number one Kent Farrington, who was shortlisted for the team. He always does what he thinks will suit his horses, as evidenced by the way he won April’s World Cup. He used Toulayna in the first leg, then the marvelous Greya in the next two segments, making sure not to overdo with the sensitive mare.
He explained on social media, “After giving a great deal of thought to this season and what I believe is the best long-term management for my horses, I have decided to withdraw from consideration for the World Equestrian Games. (it’s actually the World Championships not the WEG).
“Greya has already contested a championship on home soil this year, and we were fortunate enough to come away with the victory,” the rider wrote.
He has another promising horse in Descartes SR, but noted that while that Mexican-bred mount “has delivered some outstanding performances this season, I believe he is still developing and that a championship of this magnitude comes a bit too soon in his career.”
As usual, Kent is astute in planning and looking toward the future.
“With the Olympics on home soil in Los Angeles in 2028, I believe the right decision is to prioritize that goal and continue developing both horses with their long-term future in mind. This approach gives them the best opportunity for sustained success while allowing each horse to progress at the right pace,” he said.
Germany has announced its team, and there are a few surprises. As expected, European Champion Richard Vogel and United Touch S are part of the squad, along with Richie’s partner, Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Andre Thieme (DSP Chakaria) and World Cup Finals runner-up Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom).
The first reserve is Marcus Ehning with Coolio, while Olympic individual gold medalist Christian Kukuk and Checker have been relegated to second reserve.
Meanwhile, Brazil has a powerful squad lined up for the championships, and hired as its coach Franke Sloothaak. Franke hasn’t competed internationally since 2017, but the native of the Netherlands was on two Olympic gold medal teams when he rode for Germany.
So add Brazil to the list of nations with medal potential for the championships. Riding for that country will be a former world champion, Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom/Prins van’t Eigenio), Marion Modelo Zanotelli with McLain Ward’s 2024 Olympic silver medal ride, Ilex, or Dorette Old; Lucinia Diniz (Vergio du Deser); Yuri Mansur (QH Alfons San Antonio) and Stephan de Freitas Barcha (Dinozo Imperio Egipcio or Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio).
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2026
The new FEI Horse Condition Task Force met Monday to discuss horse welfare issues, particularly the subject of blood on competition horses, for which rules differ according to discipline.
“There was broad consensus across the stakeholders that Horse Welfare sits at the center of the rules under discussion and that, while complex in some circumstances, current existing rules regarding serious cases of abuse are strong,” noted a statement from the FEI.
Participants included a broad range of representatives from across the international equestrian community, among them the FEI Board, technical committees, regional groups, the veterinary and athletes’ committees and national federations, among others. They are seeking a more harmonized approach to horse condition protocols, regulations and sanctions across all FEI disciplines.
FEI President Ingmar de Vos said he was encouraged “by the constructive approach in the lead-up to this meeting and confident that we are on the right path towards developing a sustainable, harmonized framework that serves both our horses and our sport.
“By working together in this way, we demonstrate that the FEI is capable of addressing complex issues through dialogue and consensus. That unity will further strengthen our sport and reinforce its place within the Olympic Movement.”
Let’s see what they come up with next…
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2026
The new version of Wellington International will be as much a showcase as it is a showgrounds.
The finishing touches are being put on the expanded and upgraded host of the 2027 Winter Equestrian Festival, the world’s longest horse show. Dressage competition will share the revamped location with the centerpiece hunters and jumpers, who have occupied it mostly on their own for the last 14 years.
An additional 98 acres added to the once-crowded facility offers space for construction of the site’s first covered arena, new stabling, installation of the grass field, and addition of more rings both for competition and exercise, as well as facilities geared to spectators for dining, shopping and viewing the competition. Permanent restrooms, including those located by the barns, in the show office and the VIP area, will be another welcome improvement, along with shade structures offering shelter from the bright sun.
The new covered arena.
There will be an international dressage arena measuring 250 by 350 feet, with covered seating for 3,000, as well as two dressage rings for national dressage competition. While the jumpers “will be close,” they won’t be on top of the dressage horses, as they were at the showgrounds in the days before nearby Equestrian Village became a venue for the discipline.
Having a total of 215 acres will afford much more parking than there has been at the main grounds, with institution of a golf cart shuttle system for those seeking to skip a long walk between the North and South sections of the property. There also will be dedicated rider shuttles between the barns and the rings.
Wellington International President Michael Stone by the new grass field.
Meanwhile, having three entrances and exits, to the showgrounds, instead of one bottleneck access route, also should ease the traffic jams that have become a standard frustration as cars leave after a major competition. While the current Pierson Road entrance will remain, two other entrances will be available from Gracida Street on the other side of the property.
The enlarged facility was required to be open by 2028 as part of a deal to enable construction of Wellington Lifestyle Partners’ luxury housing development on what was the former Adequan Global Dressage Festival grounds, which have been in operation during the winter months at Equestrian Village since 2012.
Michael Stone and Mark Bellissimo when the Adequan Global Showgrounds was under construction in 2011.
The work on the expanded main showgrounds is being finished early, however, and will be ready for a soft opening later this year.
“We’re really excited to get going,” said Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, noting the expansion “means we have way more space.
Plantings will beautify the showgrounds as they grow.
“One of the criticisms we’ve always had is that we don’t have enough space; too many horses on a small footprint.
“But now we’re doubling the footprint. Even though we’re bringing over dressage, it only takes up a relatively small amount (of acreage). We have all these new rings and bridle paths and parking to enhance the experience,” he observed.
The abundant parking is particularly important for dressage, since many of those who compete are in “show and go mode,” heading back to their farms after competing, rather than stabling on the grounds, as most of the hunters and jumpers do.
The lack of space and parking made for a situation “that people have been justifiably critical of over the years,” as Michael pointed out. The first year the expanded grounds is in operation, he acknowledged, will be a bit of a learning experience, as competition manager and chief operating officer David Burton works on coordinating everything, a project which already is under way. The idea is a schedule that insures someone won’t be showing on the South grounds and then five minutes later have to appear with another horse on the North grounds.
One of the large exercise rings.
“We’ll refine it as we go along for the hunter/jumper side. The dressage side is pretty straightforward, with a lot more room for warm-ups. It’s a much better venue for dressage,” Michael contended.
Although WEF and other shows at the site draw riders from all over the Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, the facility is no longer one of a kind, as it was in its early days.
Florida has become the epicenter of showing in the U.S. during the winter. Not only has the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, four hours to the north gotten a share of the spotlight with its 5-star hotel, restaurants and shopping, but TerraNova, another newer development three hours west of Wellington, also has a modern facility that is an attraction.
Crowds jammed the stands for the featured 2026 Rolex US Open $1 million grand prix at Wellington International.
“We clearly have a lot of competition,” Michael observed.
But he quickly added, “We welcome competition, because the better the competition, the better we will become.”
