Stadium Jumping Inc., which produces the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit in Wellington, Fla., rejected a proposed tendered lease offer on Nov. 28, which places the future location of the country\’s most popular winter hunter/jumper and dressage circuit in doubt.

During a vote taken on Nov. 27, the Stadium Jumping Inc., Board of Directors unanimously voted against the lease offer by Mark Bellissimo on behalf of the Wellington Equestrian Partners for the show grounds and facility at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club on Pierson Rd.

The proposed lease offer is for slightly more than 50 acres, which the Board of Directors said is not enough to host the estimated 3,000-plus horses that compete during the eight-week circuit. The current lease, in effect through 2008, includes slightly more than 70 acres. When Stadium Jumping initially moved to the facility in 1979, they had more than 100 acres to work with.

The Stadium Jumping Board has authorized their agents to move forward immediately in search of a viable alternative location for the show season beginning in 2009.

Stadium Jumping, Inc., also manages the National Horse Show and Family Festival, now in its fifth year at the same show grounds. Before the equestrian tour moved to Wellington, Stadium Jumping created and operated the long running Sunshine Circuit in other parts of Florida.

Stadium Jumping Inc., President Eugene R. Mische and the Board of Directors had been actively seeking either a long-term lease or purchase arrangement through the Wellington Equestrian Partners (Bellissimo, Roger Smith, Dennis Dammerman and the Burton family) for the past six months.