WEF

Three days after scoring a major win in the $50,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix, Katie Dinan still can’t quite believe what she did. “I'm still a little over the moon about the whole thing. It was definitely one of the most exciting things that's happened to me on or off a horse,” she said.

Mark Bellissimo, 49, is managing partner and the largest shareholder of Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC, which includes Equestrian Sport Productions LLC. ESP operates the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., attracting more than 5,000 horses from 49 states and 30 countries with more than $6 million in prize money to their Palm Beach International Equestrian Center each winter.

Wellington, FL - January 4, 2012 - Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is pleased to announce that Rolex has signed on as a sponsor for the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, one of the finest horse show facilities in the world. Rolex will serve as the "Official Timepiece" of the PBIEC, which comprises the show grounds for the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival and the Global Dressage Festival Stadium show grounds.

One of the course designers shares his philosophies behind this event and the series.

What was your vision for the Wellington Hunter Derby’s handy course?

The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association High Performance Hunter Committee developed the USHJA International Hunter Derby to bring the art and tradition of horsemanship back to the show ring.

Wellington, Fla., April 2

Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano came to the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival for one reason and one reason only: to win the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. And sure enough, Alfano and Jersey Boy will bring another blue rosette back to Buffalo, N.Y., for SBS Farms. 

Wellington, Fla., April 1

Scott Stewart entered the Eugene R. Mische Ring six times during today’s first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, and by the end of the day he’d ended up with two of the top 12 ribbons.

Representatives from the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival announced March 19 that, after having taken into account input from hunter riders and trainers, the World Championship Hunter Rider Palm Beach Hunter Classic Spectacular would return to the original format. The 2012 Spectacular will be a one-night event, held on Saturday evening during Week 6 of the 2012 WEF.