Erin Gilmore

The development of an “Equestrian Village” on the old Polo Stadium grounds in Wellington, Fla., continued to be a contentious issue this week during what became the longest running government meeting in Wellington history to approve the new dressage grounds and commercial facility within the village’s equestrian preserve.

Beginning on Jan. 31 and ending after 20 hours of meeting over three days, the village was split on whether or not to approve commercial designation and land use changes that would move the project forward.

Equestrian Preserve Master Plan amendments approved during five-hour board meeting

An overflow crowd packed into Wellington City Hall during a marathon session of the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment board meeting on Jan. 4 to review Wellington Equestrian Partners’ 96-acre dressage showgrounds and commercial development, currently under construction at South Shore and Pierson Roads in Wellington, Fla. 

All plans for development at the site of the future Global Dressage Festival were recommended for approval during a meeting of the Equestrian Preserve Committee at Wellington City Hall, Fla., on Dec. 14.

The meeting gave residents a chance to air their support or opposition to the development known as the Equestrian Village Master Plan Amendment.

Insults and accusations have been traded in recent months between those who see the venture as an exciting step forward for dressage and those fighting against what they believe to be overdevelopment of protected equestrian land.

Nov. 12, Sacramento, Calif.

Rich Fellers and Flexible showed no signs of being rusty when they picked up World Cup points and raced to a win in Northern California on Saturday night during the $50,000 Grand Prix of Sacramento CSI-W at the fourth annual Sacramento International Horse Show.

It was the first time in four months that the popular 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion (Cruising—Flex, Safari) had been in the ring after a minor injury to his right front leg put Flexible on the sidelines for the end of the summer season.

It was just eight weeks ago that Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo and six-time Olympian Robert Dover officially announced plans for a new dressage facility in Florida that promised to be on par with the best competition venues in the world. On Tuesday, May 10, that dream took one big step towards reality, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on a rarely used polo field in the heart of Wellington.

He sits back and lets his eyes follow a student as he explains. “Sometimes, it is more difficult teaching at a top level, because it is very difficult to change something in a top rider. Especially an older rider.”

Oded Shimoni pauses, projects his voice across the vast indoor and tosses encouraging words to the event rider trotting across the diagonal. He is reserved, clean cut and commanding.

“But in another way, you can utilize a lot of the knowledge to your advantage,” he continues. “Younger riders are more like a sponge. You can shape them any way you want.”

During a packed press conference on March 16 at the White Horse Tavern in Wellington, Fla., developer Mark Bellissimo and dressage legend Robert Dover announced plans for an ambitious new facility in Wellington that will cater specifically to the dressage community and further establish Wellington as the “equine destination of the world.”

McLain Ward admitted that the “getting to know you” process cost him big during the $150,000 Spy Coast Farm CSI-W at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. A small disagreement with Antares F in front of an airy vertical on the jump-off course meant a stride added and a time fraction lost to Laura Kraut and Cedric, who won the class on 43.28 seconds over Ward and Antares’ 43.46 seconds.

As Kraut and Cedric entered the International Arena to cheers on Feb. 12 in Wellington, Fla., it was clear the gelding was having an “on” night.

It isn’t often that horse sport leaders reach across discipline lines and gather in the same room. But on Jan. 8 in Wellington, Fla., equestrians put aside their differences to discuss the issue of helmet use—a topic that affects every rider and has steadily gained steam across all equestrian sports.

Presented by SUCCEED and sponsored by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, GPA, Charles Owen, Tipperary, Troxel and Samshield, the Riders4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium was a day-long gathering of the minds to discuss and take action.

No shoes required for this successful junior hunter.

At this year’s West Coast Junior Hunter Finals in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., a group of farriers gathered at the in-gate as riders were called back for the under saddle phase. Catering to an old tradition, they quickly pulled front shoes left and right before the horses returned to the ring for the final flat test.