Wellington International Has Big Plans For A New Equestrian Paradise

Wellington International Has Big Plans For A New Equestrian Paradise

By Elaine Shuster

Most residents of Wellington are familiar with Wellington International, the world-renowned equestrian venue located in the village that recently rebranded and changed its name from its former moniker of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Known as one of the world’s premier destinations for equestrian enthusiasts, the venue grew to its current stature under the leadership of Mark Bellissimo and Wellington Equestrian Partners starting in the 2000s but changed hands in 2021 and is now entering its next chapter with Global Equestrian Group at the helm.

The Denmark-based new blood, along with its private equity partner Waterland, has impressive plans for its first foray into the American market, and it has already started to prove that it has the willpower, resources and commitment to transform the existing equestrian haven into something even more remarkable in the coming years.

“The Winter Equestrian Festival started here in Wellington, made its home here at our facility in 1989, and has continued its unprecedented growth ever since, along with the entire Village of Wellington and Palm Beach County, to become the pinnacle of equestrian competition throughout North America and beyond,” explained Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, which operates Wellington International. “We take great pride in our designation as the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World and have enjoyed welcoming thousands of exhibitors and visitors each year to experience the joys and thrills of the sport. Now, with the support of the Global Equestrian Group, we will be able to further expand upon that foundation to create an equestrian facility that rivals the best in the world.”

The first step in the long-term plan for the venue was to change its name and branding to represent its commitment to entering the next era. For years, the proximity and association with Palm Beach benefited the equestrian property as it aimed to attract customers and spectators that frequented the island, but the decision to remove Palm Beach from the name was a conscious one by the management team.

“When the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center was first founded, it relied on the reputation of the popular tourist destination of Palm Beach to bring participants and fans out to the horse shows,” said Vaneli Bojkova, executive vice president of Equestrian Sport Productions. “Now that the venue and community of Wellington have become their own lifestyle, sport and tourist destination, not just nationally but internationally, we felt strongly that the community’s name should stand on its own, thus the new name of Wellington International.”

With more visibility and increased capital comes raised expectations, and the management team behind Wellington International is intent on living up to the hype. As one of the newest members of the Global Equestrian Group portfolio, the venue is in good company, along with some of the most well-known equestrian brands in the industry, such as Helgstrand Dressage, Beerbaum Stables, Riesenbeck International and a host of other names that would cause any horse lover’s ears to perk up.

With a self-proclaimed vision “to become the world’s leading equestrian company,” Global Equestrian Group is certainly setting the bar high, but early looks at the company’s five-year plan for Wellington International are lofty enough to suggest that big things are in store for its South Florida property, and with it the broader community of Wellington.

“We have spent the first year of our ownership of Wellington International understanding how things have been done in the past and recognizing the areas in which we can improve. These insights have helped us to formulate a grand vision for the venue, and we are thrilled to be in the early stages of our long-term plan,” said Andreas Helgstrand, founder and CEO of Global Equestrian Group. “Visitors to the 2023 Winter Equestrian Festival will notice upgrades to the permanent stabling, the hospitality spaces and the riding arenas, but these items are just the first baby steps in a much larger and more ambitious strategy.”

The full scope of the five-year plan won’t be fully realized until at least 2026, but early reports of the construction plans are a horse lover’s dream and will surely catapult the venue into the next tier of equestrian excellence, a Disney World-like level that arguably only a few equine sport venues across the globe have successfully reached.

Proposed facility blueprints include doubling the acreage of the facility’s land, which would allow for a second equestrian center, complete with a stadium, grass derby field, and extensive amenities for guests, to be built directly beside the original property. The size and capabilities of the venues, which could be used independently of each other or as one unit, would be able to comfortably host hunter/jumper and dressage shows concurrently. Additionally, the impressive early renderings showcase modern spaces for shopping and dining, plus enhanced opportunities for hospitality offerings and VIP luxury, offering a comfortable experience for everyone, even those with no horse sense.

For such a massive undertaking, the executive teams have hired experienced contractors, architects and other advisors to spearhead the planning, but the day-to-day operations of the existing facility and events, which sits at close to 100 acres and number more than 40 weeks per year, are overseen by a local team and supported by the Global Equestrian Group team in Europe.

Wellington International’s Florida-based staff is composed of about 25 full-time staff members, split between two offices in the community — one on the showgrounds for the horse show operations team and another just down the street for the back-office team. Though the organization does big business and is an international attraction, the mid-size team behind the success still manages to foster a small-business feel, with all the employees knowing each other and every department chipping in where needed to benefit the group.

Wellington International’s team is not comprised of anonymous numbers, but rather integral employees whose skills, passions and ideas all collaborate to propel the company and its events forward. Now, with Global Equestrian Group behind this small but mighty bunch, the sky seems to be the limit for Wellington International as it aims to further extend its reputation as the most noteworthy equestrian venue in the United States.

As the team at Wellington International looks to the future and makes plans to better serve its participants and community, they are committed to setting new standards for the venue, as well as equestrian sport, guest experiences, entertainment and innovation. So, flip forward in your calendars to 2026 and set a reminder to check in on Wellington International, because exciting changes are coming for this storied venue and the community that supports it.

For additional information, visit www.equestriansport.com and www.globalequestriangroup.com.

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