From January to April this year, elite travelers have the opportunity to witness the pinnacle of equestrian competition, performance, and elegance. United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) athletes and competitors from all over the globe will be riding at the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival, the largest and longest-running equestrian competition in the world.
The Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival will inhabit the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL for 12 weeks of weekend events featuring the finest in international Show Jumping and Dressage. Athletes from over thirty countries will be in attendance, including American Olympians such as New York’s McLain Ward (Gold, Show Jumping, Athens 2004), Wisconsin’s Beezie Madden (Gold, Show Jumping, Athens 2004), and California’s Lisa Wilcox (Bronze, Dressage, Athens 2004). With the 2016 Rio Olympics rapidly approaching and victory prizes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the competition is sure to be exceptional.
Elite travelers can take in the Friday dressage festivals (Friday Night Festivals) and Saturday show jumping events (Saturday Night Lights) in style and comfort. VIP options range from season tickets to tables with unparalleled views of the competition arena to single-night access of tables or VIP areas. VIP spectators can dine on the culinary creations of top chefs and sip from the vast selection of wines while viewing the riders and their horses. For those elite travelers considering where to host company parties or galas, or weighing the ideal setting for a philanthropy event, the Winter Equestrian Festival features a ringside pavilion available for corporate or philanthropic events. Autism Speaks has hosted events from the pavilion in past years, offering the unique chance for riders to donate their winnings to research and awareness.
And for those of you who wish to explore the grounds, the Tiki Hut, Oasis Café, Beachside, The Gallery, Tito’s Tacos, and many other food vendors offer casual dining options when you need to refuel.
Close by, in and around Palm Beach, visitors can enjoy Florida’s pristine white sand beaches, or take advantage of the cast cultural resources of the area before heading back to the Equestrian Center for more thrilling competition.
USEF athletes will be trotting in style as the USEF Show Jumping team enjoys the sponsorship of Hermés, who will also host a pop-up shop alongside the countless jewelry and fashion shops surrounding the ring, including Kingsland Equestrian and Karina Brez Jewelry. Rolex serves as official timekeeper, and Pernot Ricard, Fidelity Investments, US Trust, and Hermés are top sponsors.
For more information on VIP tables and ticketing, contact Kathleen LaMour (Kathleen@equestriansport.com, 561.793.5867).