The new World Equestrian Center in Ocala, which is set to open in January, has been allocated the U.S. Longines FEI Nations Cup™ qualifier by the FEI. The prospective dates for the show hosting it are March 16-21, although the full FEI calendar is still awaiting approval.
The qualifier previously was staged at the Palm Beach Masters in Wellington, Fla., a fixture which is no longer being held. Prior to that, the qualifier was staged by HITS, also in Ocala, a few minutes’ drive from WEC. The class is the qualifier for the Nations Cup final, which was not held this year due to Covid. It usually runs during September in Barcelona. Another Nations Cup that is not a qualifier for the final is held at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington.
WEC has state-of-the-art indoor arenas and two stadiums, a 5-star hotel, restaurants, a veterinary clinic and retail shops. The facility, under the same ownership as the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, will offer not only hunter/jumper shows, but also dressage and eventing competitions as well as shows for a variety of breeds, and non-equestrian offerings.