Tryon International Equestrian Center Gearing Up To Host 2018 World Equestrian Games

Make plans to join the world in western North Carolina for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 from Sept. 11 through Sept. 23. Showcasing eight FEI equestrian disciplines — reining, vaulting, dressage, para-dressage, driving, eventing, jumping and endurance — the games will be held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center at the Tryon Resort in Mill Spring, N.C.

The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games were hosted in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990.

Since then, the games have been staged in The Hague in the Netherlands in 1994; Rome, Italy in 1998; Jerez, Spain in 2002; and Aachen, Germany in 2006.

The first games to be organized outside Europe were held in Lexington, Ky., in 2010, where 57 countries were represented by 800 human athletes and their horses. The games returned to Europe for the 2014 edition in Normandy, France.

The 2018 World Equestrian Games has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history with 500,000 attendees expected over the 13-day event next September.

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is busy preparing for a daily attendance of 40,000 to 50,000 people. The 2014 games in Normandy delivered more than $400 million in economic impact, and attracted 984 athletes, 1,234 horses, 74 nations, 1,900 accredited media from 52 countries, and 575,000 spectators.

The global competition is being held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, a sister venue to Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington.

PBIEC CEO and Managing Partner Mark Bellissimo is also founder and CEO of the Tryon facility. The 1,600-acre equestrian lifestyle destination is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and family entertainment.

The venue currently provides outstanding facilities for hunter/jumper, dressage and eventing competitions, and will host all eight FEI disciplines following the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

With onsite shops, dining, entertainment and plans for more — including the current development of a 50-acre Tryon Village — non-equestrian visitors are equally marveled by the Tryon Resort experience.

From carousel to competition, the mission of the Tryon International Equestrian Center is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport and increase access to this majestic animal. The 2018 World Equestrian Games builds on this mission with a theme of, “Celebrate the Horse, Celebrate the Sport.”

“The love of the horse is universal and profound,” Bellissimo said. “The games are an incredible stage to show the world how important and valuable this creature is and celebrate our relationship with them.”

The legacy of horse and rider penetrates all of human history. Nearly every facet of life is connected to this extraordinary creature. As partners, horses have discovered with us, transported us, sustained us, worked with us and protected us. As friends, they have mourned with us, healed us, loved us, entertained us, trusted us and comforted us. As athletes, horses have competed with us, won with us and celebrated victory with us. This message is portrayed beautifully in the film “#together” that is featured on the Tryon2018.com web site.

Complementing the unparalleled opportunity to watch the world’s top riders and horses compete is the chance to discover the distinct culture and adventures within the Carolinas region.

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is centrally located within an hour of some of the United States’ top destinations, including Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina, and Greenville in South Carolina. World Equestrian Games attendees are encouraged to plan excursions to experience the collection of small towns and dynamic cities that surround the venue.

So, make plans to join the global community of horse enthusiasts as we celebrate the horse and celebrate equestrian sport together!

Tickets to the 2018 World Equestrian Games are on sale and can be purchased at www.tryon2018.com, where information about corporate hospitality, accommodations, competition schedules, media credentials and volunteer opportunities can also be found.

Michael Stone: The Man Behind WEF And WEG

Another successful Winter Equestrian Festival has concluded its run in Wellington. Once again, past and future Olympians from numerous countries — along with riders from many different skill levels — competed for 12 weeks in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

On the other side of the grounds from the International Arena, where the world’s best show jumpers and hunter riders competed for almost $10 million in prize money, is Michael Stone’s office, located at the end of the hall in the administration building.

Stone joined Mark Bellissimo’s Equestrian Sport Productions 11 years ago. He is the man behind the scenes who makes it all happen. Prize money has quadrupled over that time, and so has the number of horses competing in the largest and longest running horse show in the world.

Bellissimo knows how important Stone is to the continued success of WEF. As president, Stone is involved in every aspect of the business, from operations to scheduling and special events. Stone deals with many additional topics, including licensing and planning while monitoring and handling issues with international entries. He also has meetings with the different managers and regular phone conferences, talking to foreign federations, and organizing visits from their presidents. Every day is different, and that appeals to the 61-year-old Stone, who was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland.

“We have very different styles, but they are extremely complementary,” said Bellissimo, who is CEO and the public face of the company. “He is very disciplined in managing within very complicated environments. He has been critical to the vision, but in many ways, he prefers to be behind the scenes and just make things happen — a great team player who is respected by all. I get a tremendous amount of credit, but it wouldn’t have happened without Michael’s leadership and management. There is no ego there, if the team wins, we all win, and I think that attitude pervades our organization.” 

Olympian Shane Sweetnam has known fellow Irishman Stone for more than a decade.

“He’s done a great job; he’s made a big difference in the structure,” Sweetnam said. “He’s got a relaxed attitude. I think that helps the people around him so they don’t feel flustered. They have a lot of projects going on, not just in Wellington, and he seems to handle it with ease.”

Bellissimo and Stone work very closely together. As with most relationships, there were a few bumps that had to be smoothed out.

“Whenever Mark gets an idea, he calls; it could be five o’clock in the morning or 10 at night,” Stone said. “Over the years, he realized I don’t like being called early in the morning or late at night. So now, he generally waits or sends an e-mail. He knows I’m open to try anything, and I’ll try to find a way to make it happen. Being together for 10 years, I think he values my opinions.”

Bellissimo called Stone the consummate team player.

“He is calm and steady in a storm and is able to distill complex strategies into ‘feet on the ground’ operating plans whose elements are effectively communicated to and executed by the team,” Bellissimo said. “He is extremely well-respected within our organization, locally, nationally and internationally. Another great attribute is that he will roll up his sleeves to get the job done, whatever it takes. I still remember he and I unloading a truck at 2 a.m. in the morning before opening day of WEF in 2008. Together with Vaneli Bojkova, Paul Regal and David Burton Jr., there is no better team to have your back.”

However, their relationship almost didn’t get off the ground.  

Bellissimo didn’t know Stone before he hired him to help turn around WEF, which was losing money at the time. While looking for strong candidates, Stone’s name came up from several respected sources. Stone had been working in high-profile equestrian jobs throughout his adult life. He had just left as secretary general of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), which is the sport’s world governing body.

Stone left the FEI on a Wednesday, and Bellissimo called on Friday. Stone didn’t want to take the call but was talked into it by his girlfriend. It changed his life.

“I hired him on the call,” Bellissimo said. “Everything I heard about him was that he was humble, intelligent, principled, hard-working, respected by his peers, and he knew the industry better than anyone… Katherine [Bellissimo] and I wanted the best person for the job. He was it. It was the best decision we ever made, as together we charted a course that reshaped Wellington, and even equestrian sport in this country, as the largest show organizers in the world in terms of overall revenues, number of international competitions and horses competing.”

Under Stone’s leadership, Equestrian Sport Productions’ business has quadrupled over the last decade as a result of Bellissimo and his partnership investing more than $300 million in acquiring and developing land, licenses, building and upgrading what is now more than 900 acres of property that directly employs nearly 1,000 employees during the season. Its economic impact on Palm Beach County exceeds $200 million per year, Bellissimo noted.

In addition to the world-famous WEF, the firm now operates the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, the International Polo Club Palm Beach and the Wanderers Club. At WEF, they have added innovative special events, such as the Great Charity Challenge, Saturday Night Lights, an Under 25 series for rising stars and the popular Battle of the Sexes, as well as family entertainment and vendors to create a world-renowned equestrian wonderland.

Stone said one of the biggest changes in the last 10 years is the scale and size of the show.

“Revenue-wise, we have grown over 400 percent, and it’s a much more intense show now because of the amount of effort to make it an entertainment value,” Stone said. “Saturday nights have grown to such an extent it’s unbelievable the crowds we’re getting.”

Creating the successful Saturday Night Lights series is one of his proudest accomplishments so far during his tenure.

“Mark and I looked at it,” Stone said. “The former management of WEF used to charge people to come here. It was a customer prevention strategy. The major jumping event was on Sunday afternoon, competing against polo and general family activities.”

Their solution was to make general admission to spectators free, charge a nominal fee for parking, and market the event to families and schools.

“The first year, we got a lot of grief from people, such as riders asking why we’re doing it at night,” said Stone, who admitted that there were more empty seats than spectators at the beginning of the changeover. “But we proved them wrong. We’re one of the very few shows in the U.S. that get massive crowds that watch Grand Prix events. And that’s at all our venues, not just WEF.”

That would include the affiliated Equestrian Sport Productions shows in Parker, Colorado and Tryon, North Carolina, the site of this year’s prestigious World Equestrian Games. It is expected to be the largest attended sporting event in the United States in 2018, attracting more than 500,000 attendees, according to Bellissimo.

Stone and his team are in Tryon to oversee final preparations for the games, which are held every four years, halfway between the Summer Olympics. This year’s competition will be held Sept. 11 through Sept. 23, and will include eight equestrian disciplines. More than 55 countries are expected to participate.

Stone spent much of this time this winter working on WEG, organizing the event, including accommodations, transportation and the food operation.

He has produced intricate timelines for each discipline, while also working with the numerous world and national federations, as well as the USDA regarding the quarantine of horses coming into the country.

“There are so many extra layers,” Stone said. “Usually there are five FEI stewards for 200 horses. For WEG, there are 11 stewards for each discipline. And we have to build a veterinarian hospital. We will have 60 or 70 vets. Each team comes with a manager, a vet, a farrier, grooms and physios. And every country comes with a president and a secretary general.”

But the massive undertaking doesn’t faze Stone. “I like the challenge of organizing, and the WEG is a huge challenge,” he said.

Stone believes that the games this fall will be one of Equestrian Sport Productions’ greatest achievements, but won’t make that pronouncement until it’s over. There are plenty of other high points, including putting together the first horse show at Central Park in New York City. There were logistical issues and a small time frame to get everything in place and ready for live TV.

“Everyone said it was impossible, but that’s never a good word to use with Mark,” Stone said. “Impossible only takes a little bit longer.”

That’s the attitude that has allowed WEF to flourish. In Stone’s office, he shows off a framed golf tee flag from the Masters in Augusta, a trip which he said should be on everyone’s bucket list. On Stone’s bucket list is to watch his favorite tennis player, Roger Federer, play in a major championship, like Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. His walls are covered with equestrian photos, but it’s a photo from a local rugby team that energizes Stone.

“My favorite sport is rugby,” said Stone, who has traveled to watch some of the premier teams compete. “I used to play. We helped the Wellington Wizards when they started up.”

When Stone joined Equestrian Sport Productions, he was simply coordinating a horse show.

“It has evolved into doing a lot of different things — dealing with village issues, organizing permits for special events, planning and zoning, building codes,” he said. “Every morning is different. There were a lot of things that I had no idea about. But the best thing about my job is that I work with a fantastic group of people. There isn’t a day that we don’t have a laugh about something. It’s an enjoyable environment to work in. Mark is very big on family. We’re all part of the family.”

Kerrigan Gluch Rides P.R.E. Horses To Success On Dressage Circuit

In the early 1980s, the P.R.E. — which stands for Pura Raza Española or Pure Spanish Horse — started to be introduced in the international dressage world.

The great Alvaro Domecq catapulted the breed into the high competitive scenery. Very few people bet on the Iberian horses back then, since the international dressage world was dominated by Warmbloods. Three decades later, thanks to the investment of breeders and owners, the P.R.E. has the respect of the judges, and the United States is now home to the second-largest population of P.R.E. horses in the world.

Today, there are a growing number of young, talented riders who choose P.R.E. horses for dressage competition, which means that the Spanish horse is among the future stars of American dressage. One of these riders is Kerrigan Gluch.

“I have found the P.R.E. horses to be super-sensitive,” Gluch said. “Their personalities are very prominent. With each horse, you can tell their personalities very quickly, and that makes it much easier to adjust to a new horse. The Spanish horses are still new to international dressage, so I think when you ride a horse that is still new to the judge’s eye, it makes you ride much more correctly and accurately in order to get the scores that are needed.”

Gluch met Kimberly Van Kampen, owner of Hampton Green Farm and a major supporter of P.R.E breeding, through Lendon Grey’s Dressage for Kids program.

“I participated in Dressage for Kids for many years,” Gluch said. “Through those clinics, I attended Robert Dover HorseMastership Week the first time it was held, seven years ago in Wellington.”

Students in the program rode horses provided by local sponsors, and Van Kampen provided HGF Camaron IX for Gluch to ride during the Robert Dover event.

“I just happened to ride her horse,” Gluch recalled. “I’m originally from Michigan, and she has a farm in Michigan. I started as a working student at age 15, and it just kind of developed from there.”

Gluch spent the summer there working with Van Kampen and her team. She helped prepare several of Hampton Green Farm’s horses for the next winter season and returned with Van Kampen to Hampton Green Farm in Wellington.

Since then, Gluch has been advancing up the levels in dressage on Van Kampen’s P.R.E. horses.

She found success in 2015 at the North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC), when she became reserve champion with Vaquero HGF in the Young Rider Division.

After a successful 2016 season in Wellington, Gluch was selected for the European Tour, including the CDI in Compiègne, France and the Festival of Champions in Hagen, Germany. Then 19 years old, Gluch and 2007 P.R.E. stallion Vaquero HGF concluded the 2016 USEF Young Rider Euro Tour in the ribbons at the Young Riders Nations Cup in Hagen, capping the six-week tour of Europe.

The Hagen CDIOY, known as the PSI Future Champions show, brings together teams of Young Riders and other youth levels from all over Europe in both dressage and show jumping.

The United States Young Rider team finished fifth overall, with Gluch and Vaquero the leading pair for the American team. In the Young Rider individual class, they finished sixth, and a respectable 10th in both the team and freestyle tests — distinguishing themselves among the best in Europe for their age group.

At the end of 2016, Gluch and HGF Brio capped their first year together at the U25 Grand Prix, finishing third overall behind Anna Buffini in the USEF Brentina Cup Finals (U25) at the Festival of Champions.

The final week of the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington kicked off with the first FEI Nations Cup CDIO-U25. It was a red, white and blue victory day, as the USA “A” Team bested the competition in the FEI Intermediate II 16-25* CDIO. Along with teammates Anna Buffini and Sierra Keasler, Gluch took the win with the blue medal.

Gluch, now 22, was back in action during the 2018 AGDF. During Week 7, she was the best of the five entrants in the U25 Grand Prix Freestyle, coming tantalizingly close to 70 percent aboard Hampton Green Farm’s 14-year-old stallion Bolero CXLVIII with a score of 69.95 percent. Earlier in the season, when Danish Olympic rider Andreas Helgstrand gave a master class for spectators featuring P.R.E. horses, Gluch joined Danish team member Mikala Münter as a test rider.

Gluch spends about nine months out of the year in Wellington, with the rest of the time either at Hampton Green Farm in Michigan or on the road at horse shows.

“I would love to go to Europe to represent the U.S. again,” she said of her future plans. “I think going to Europe is so eye-opening as someone coming up the ranks, because everyone in Europe is so good, and it makes you realize what you have to do to be internationally competitive.”

Daniel Bluman’s Horsemanship Skills Lead To International Victories

With six horses currently competing at the Grand Prix level in show jumping, Daniel Bluman has slowly and steadily worked his way to the top through great horsemanship and care.

Already in 2018, Bluman, 28, accomplished two huge CSI Grand Prix triumphs and one national Grand Prix in Wellington on three different horses all within two weeks.

In February, Bluman first captured the $205,000 NetJets CSI4* Grand Prix aboard his Olympic partner Sancha LS, and a week later, he won the $384,000 Fidelity Investments CSI5* Grand Prix riding Landriano Z, owned by Over the Top Stables LLC. That same week, he also topped a national show.

The two-time Olympian for his native Colombia holds dual citizenship with Israel and recently switched flags in his efforts to qualify an Israeli show jumping team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. But first, he hopes to represent Israel aboard Landriano Z at the FEI World Equestrian Games this September in Tryon, N.C.

Thrilled to be standing at the top of the winner’s podium, Bluman’s hard work and dedication are paying off this winter. “When I’ve won a Grand Prix, there’s always a cool story behind getting there. My first Grand Prix was followed by two more weeks of wins,” he said. “I can tell you that this is the first time in my life that has happened.”

Born in Medellin, Colombia, Bluman showed a passion for horses early on. His parents were not riders, although his cousins, Ilan and Marky Bluman, introduced him to riding and fueled his passion for the sport. His family later moved to South Florida, within an hour’s drive of Wellington.

“I started working with horses at a young age because my older cousins were riding and showing,” he recalled. “I realized I was good at it, and competitive. Because of that, it pushed me to continue to do it.”

Bluman’s grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who moved to Colombia after the war. His father became an entrepreneur and his mother, a psychologist and social worker. His parents set high standards for Daniel and his brother Steven. As a young man, Bluman was mentored by them, and many others along the way. “I have been fortunate to have met a lot of great people who helped my career,” he said.

He rode with some of the sport’s greats, such as Canadian Eric Lamaze and later Brazilian Nelson Pessoa, whom he trained with in Belgium. The opportunity gave him a chance to compete at some of the world’s most prestigious competitions. He competed at his first Olympics at the age of 22, representing Colombia in London in 2012, and then again at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“When I was 20, I met Eric Lamaze, and that was a turning point in my career,” Bluman recalled. “Sancha and Eric Lamaze came at the same time.”

The two riders, one up-and-coming, one an established champion, hit it off.

“He offered to guide me and took my career to a whole different level,” Bluman said of Lamaze. “Then Nelson Pessoa closed the circle. He taught me everything that anyone can know about horses, and I share a passion for the horse and its care. That is something that really changed me. Nelson and I come from similar realities. He came from a family that didn’t come from horses. He is in love with horses, every aspect of them.”

In 2015, Daniel and Ilan Bluman created Bluman Equestrian, with farms in Brewster, N.Y., and Wellington, in collaboration with the owners of Over the Top Stables.

Working with his wife Ariel and cousin Ilan, Bluman hopes to compete in Tokyo on what would be Israel’s first Olympic show jumping team with Mexican Alberto Michán, who has also changed his nationality to Israeli, and Wellington-based Israeli Danielle Goldstein.

One of the great things Bluman has emulated is excellent horse care, building a great relationship with each horse and not over jumping his horses.

“Every horse that we have here has its own personality, its own way and its own program,” Bluman said during a tour of his barn. “I am a believer in giving each horse the time to develop a good relationship with the rider and to give the rider enough time to develop a relationship with the horse, and the same with the team. Once all of those things happen, and the puzzle comes together, then the results start happening.”

Bluman is careful picking when competition opportunities during Wellington’s 12-week winter series. “I try to keep the horses I have going here in Wellington fresh,” he said. “There are a lot of competitions. You have to be careful to not over-jump your horses. You don’t want your horse tired at the end of the season.”

He is thrilled by his current successes and the chance to train so many horses to the top level in one season.

“I think we have a group of horses at the moment that we have been working hard to improve,” Bluman said. “I have been trying to learn as much as I can in order to get better every day for many years already. Things are falling into place. When that happens, you have great moments because of the timing.”

But don’t expect Bluman to be out partying after a big win.

“My celebration when winning the Grand Prix has been to come to the barn the next day and work with my horses,” he said. “That is what I do. I do it because I love it.”

Changing his nationality with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to ride permanently for Israel was not an easy decision.

“I am very proud to be Colombian, and I am proud to be Jewish and from an Israeli family,” Bluman said. “I just felt it was the right time. I grew up most of my life in Florida and Colombia in a Jewish family. I have also lived in Belgium. I’ve lived in many places. My culture, and the way I do things, are due to that Israeli sentiment from my family. It is something I carry very dear to my heart.”

After riding for Columbia in Rio, he felt it was time for a new chapter. “I got married to a woman who represents Israel. It’s time. It’s the right decision, and only amazing things have happened since,” he said.

With all the success, Bluman keeps a tight ship.

“I use the Wellington season in a different way now. I keep my young horses in Europe. I have a program there running year-round with a very good friend of mine, almost like family. His name is Camilo Robayo. We grew up together in Colombia, and we’ve been together a very long time,” he explained. “I only bring the A team to Wellington to prepare for the big competitions.”

Once WEF ends, Bluman will be off to Europe to prepare for the World Equestrian Games.

“I am a big believer that in order to be at the top of your game, you have to compete in Europe,” he said. “I will be in Europe in May, and then I will go to Calgary because I love Calgary to prepare my horses for the championships there. Then I’ll make my way back to Europe for July and August. That should be the proper preparation for WEG in September.”

The FEI requires that the top teams qualify from this year’s WEG for the 2020 Olympics.

“Every athlete in the sport looks forward to WEG and the Olympics,” Bluman said. “I have a good group of horses, and I will try to be as prepared as I can. This year we have Landriano Z aimed for WEG. I think he’s as good a horse as you can have for a championship like this one. We aim to qualify a team for 2020. Team is what we are aiming for, and we are hoping we are going to get there.”

It’s the horses and the daily interaction with them that drive Bluman.

“It means everything. It’s the only thing that is important,” he explained. “My philosophy and strategy is only added over that interaction and relationship I have with each horse. I absolutely love my horses, and I love what we do.”

To keep up with show jumper Daniel Bluman, visit www.blumanequestrian.com.

A Lifelong Love Of Horses Inspires Barrel Racer Courtney Kitching

Courtney Kitching of Wellington has been riding since she was five years old. She began barrel racing at eight years old and has never looked back.

“My mom had horses and a whole farm when she was younger but moved away,” said Kitching, now 21 years old. “Then, after I came along, my family got some property and one horse.”

It has grown from there. Today, Kitching is training seven horses, including one breed mare. Her favorite, however, is Nemo.

“He just has a lot of personality. I got him off the Quarterhorse racetrack and began training him,” she recalled. “It has been a long process, but he’s very talented. I stuck with him, and now he is actually my fastest horse.”

Her horses each have their own personalities.

“Each horse is different,” Kitching explained. “Some are hot in the alleyway; some have to be warmed up a certain way. With some, you have to be quieter on the ground because they get spooked easy.”

Kitching spends time getting to know each horse. It’s almost unavoidable with the hours she puts into riding and practicing.

“I have a lot to ride,” she said. “So, I go out three or four times a week, riding multiple horses. I suppose it adds up to 30 hours or more each week.”

Kitching is a member of the South East Florida Barrel Racers organization, although she started with the smaller shows through the Palm Beach County Mounted Posse.

“I tried other disciplines as well — jumping, English,” she said. “But I found I had a love for barrel racing.”

In the 1930s, barrel racing was established as a women’s rodeo event, where female riders alternated maneuvering between a figure 8 and a cloverleaf pattern. Judging was based on the rider’s ability to work through the patterns — and on her outfit.

All that changed in 1949 when the newly established Girls Rodeo Association, now the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, made the event all about speed. Suddenly, the relationship between horse and rider became crucial.

The course consists of barrels placed in a triangle in the middle of an arena. The rider races into the arena at top speed, and the timer starts when the team crosses the start line. After completing the tight turns of a cloverleaf pattern and racing across the finish line, the timer stops. The team that puts up the best time with no overturned barrels wins. What the rider is wearing is no longer a factor — it’s all about the athleticism and abilities of the horse and rider pair.

Modern barrel racing is open to girls, boys, men and women of all ages and levels of experience — weekend riders as well as professionals. Payouts and award packages sometimes surpass $250,000.

The win of which Kitching is currently most proud took place last fall in Kissimmee. “It was a Halloween Spooktacular. Nemo won the barrel race out of about 160 horses,” Kitching said. “We actually outran two NFR [National Finals Rodeo] finalists.”

The South East Florida Barrel Racers put on the events in which Kitching generally competes. However, there’s also the National Barrel Horse Association, which stages events throughout the U.S. and hosts its annual World Championships in Perry, Ga.

“You have to qualify to go to that,” Kitching said. “There are also rodeos. I haven’t really started at the big rodeos. I’m still in school to become a veterinarian.”

Kitching is attending classes at Florida Atlantic University with an eye toward the University of Florida, which houses the only veterinary college in the state. “My passion is horses. I love everything about them,” Kitching said. “They’re very innocent but have the capacity to do so many different things. Take dressage, for instance. It’s beautiful. I have a love to care for horses. If they’re hurt or injured, I have a passion to help them.”

And what would Kitching tell today’s eight-year-old wanting to barrel race?

“Never give up,” she said. “I definitely had to work my way up. I wasn’t given a top barrel racing horse; I made my own. The horses taught me how to ride; how to barrel race properly. Once you get riding better, and you train a horse that has the potential to win, you start winning. It’s just like in anything — when you start, you’re not going to be the best. You have to work for it. It takes skill and dedication. You’ll improve each week and find that what you get out of a horse is really amazing. My goal in life is not to make it to the NFR or to make it really big, but just to be happy with what I’m doing — and to make a difference.”

Chisholm Gallery Uses Unique Partnership To Bring Palm Beach Art Scene To Wellington

Palm Beach County is synonymous with the lifestyle of the rich and the famous. As a winter destination for many of the world’s most affluent citizens, there is certainly no shortage of high-end events and artwork. Wellington, specifically, is an unrivaled winter destination for equestrians worldwide, and Chisholm Gallery, locally based but internationally recognized, has used a unique partnership with the Wellington National Golf Club to combine the best of the international art and equestrian scenes.

Already a prominent fixture in the local golf, dining and social scenes, Wellington National’s management team agreed that the prospect of boosting their space with specially curated sporting, lifestyle and equestrian art could add another level of benefits to members and the local community.

Launched in early 2018, the meticulously selected collection propelled the club into the realm of the international art world with help from Jeanne Chisholm of her namesake Chisholm Gallery. The beautiful artwork now adorning the club’s walls and grounds is available for purchase, so that members and guests may be able to enjoy it in their homes, office or even stables. As each piece is sold, a new piece will take its place.

“Being able to display so many of the special works that I have spent years curating was a really unique experience for me,” said Chisholm of her new partnership. “I feel strongly that this is a special cultural opportunity being presented to Wellington through Doug Marty and Wellington National. Local and seasonal residents of Wellington and the Palm Beaches have the unique opportunity of viewing artwork from all around the world in their backyard.”

Boasting more than 100 unique pieces in various mediums, the Wellington National collection is second to none in South Florida, boasting a plentiful array of pieces to please any art lover. Primarily representing golf and equestrian themes, the hand-selected collection is perfectly suited to the Wellington culture and its interests. The newly opened Champions Bistro, hallways, locker rooms and the main ballroom have all been transformed into an art lover’s dream and benefit from the impeccable pieces spread throughout the club.

For equestrian enthusiasts, a life-size metal statue of a horse landing after a fence is a welcome sight at the entrance to Wellington National, setting the tone for the rest of the impressive display. Inside, the distinguished grouping of 20th and 21st century American and Continental art includes landscape, marine and equine paintings, in addition to photographs, drawings and breathtaking sculptures. Sporting scenes and portraits, still life paintings and notable holdings in American illustration add diversity and breadth to the unique library of art.

“We were excited to enhance the appeal of Wellington National with high-quality art, and Chisholm Gallery was the perfect partner for us,” said Doug Marty, co-owner of Wellington National. “It is my sincere hope that our members, as well as their family and friends, are able to enjoy the artwork and appreciate how it complements not only the club’s style, but that of Wellington as a whole. Jeanne has a great eye for art, and I believe that Wellington National showcases it brilliantly.”

Chisholm Gallery was founded in 1978 by Chisholm and her late husband, Hugh Jeremy Chisholm, a well-known businessman and polo player. The first gallery quickly acquired the largest collection of polo art for sale in the world, which has since expanded to include more equestrian, golf, abstract and other subjects.

Jeanne Chisholm has become a fixture at all the major international art events in Florida, including Art Basel in Miami, while also attending many of the major events hosted in Wellington during the winter season.

Driven by her passion for art, she has consistently expanded Chisholm Gallery’s holdings. The internationally recognized gallery offers items for a variety of tastes, from originals by well-known and highly desirable artists, to pristine collectibles, decorative pieces and even the works of promising up-and-coming artists on the verge of breaking into the art world.

With the first round of artwork already installed, Chisholm Gallery will continue to provide Wellington National with a series of high-quality artworks and sculpture to be rotated throughout the year. The initial art installation took place just in time for the grand opening of the Champions Bistro in January, in which attendees could view and purchase the artwork.

For a number of months, Wellington National members, families and guests will be able to enjoy the paintings that decorate the club, and at the conclusion of the display period, buyers will be able to take their new art home for display, replaced by new featured works.

“The extraordinary site — the intersection of art and first-class sport — emphasizes Wellington National’s commitment to the preservation of the natural, cultural and scenic resources of Palm Beach County,” Chisholm said.

Using its position in the local community to promote philanthropy, Wellington National also featured the artwork as the hosts of a recent event in support of the popular charity Brooke USA, which drew people from across Palm Beach County to learn more about the artwork offered, with fine wine in hand, as well as Wellington National and its exciting membership offerings.

With the prospect of many successful acquisitions on the horizon, Chisholm Gallery and the Wellington National Golf Club have a bright future working together to elevate the Wellington cultural community.

Learn more about Chisholm Gallery at www.chisholmgallery.com.

Carlucho Arellano Of Wellington Named Executive Director Of Services At USPA

The United States Polo Association recently announced that Carlucho Arellano Jr. of Wellington has been selected as the association’s executive director of services.

Arellano earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia, which enables him to effectively manage financial budgets. He comes to the USPA after having worked as a professional polo player and president of Capataz Polo for the past 16 years. His experience in hiring and managing employees, coaching and mentoring, combined with his extensive knowledge of the polo industry, were key factors considered when adding him to the executive team.

“I’m excited to have Carlucho join our team,” USPA CEO Bob Puetz said. “He brings with him a lifetime of polo experience, along with an in-depth knowledge of the culture of the sport. His understanding of the players, clubs and the inner workings of the association will be a great asset and addition to the leadership of the USPA.”

Arellano will serve the members and clubs of the association and oversee the responsibilities and staff of USPA Services. He will focus on facilitating improved external communication between the association and players, members and clubs, as well as assist with internal communication between the board, committees and staff. This will be achieved through oversight of handicaps, tournaments, club approvals and board meetings, along with communications and committee objectives.

Arellano has many achievements to his name as a polo player, ranging from intercollegiate to international titles. Some notable accomplishments include: Intercollegiate Player of the Year in 2000; University of Virginia Varsity Polo Team Captain and National Men’s Intercollegiate Championship finalist in 1998 and 2000; member of the U.S. Team for the Camacho Cup in 2009; Team USPA coach and mentor from 2015 to 2017; member of Villa del Lago Herbie Pennell Cup winning team in 2017; and Team USPA assistant coach in the XI FIP World Polo Championship in 2017.

“Joining the USPA staff when so much is happening for our sport and the success of our future players is most gratifying,” Arellano said. “This is an opportunity to give back to polo all that it has given to me. I look forward to working with my fellow players, the board, committees and staff to strengthen American polo.”

Founded in 1890, the USPA is the national governing body for the sport of polo. The association is currently comprised of almost 300 member clubs with thousands of individual members, and oversees 40 national tournaments. For more info., visit www.uspolo.org.

Addison Piper Builds A Strong Base
For A Great Future In Jumping

Growing up in Wellington, Addison Piper comes from show jumping on all sides of her family. She has been competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival for 10 years and enjoys the confidence building and learning that comes with the local 12-week series.

Both of her parents, Will and Tiffaney Piper, competed in equitation and jumpers as young riders.

“My mom rode, my dad rode and my grandma still rides,” Piper explained. “I was basically born into horses. I started off with the ponies, like most riders, and then I moved onto the horses. I love it.”

Piper has had some great results along the way. In 2017, she placed fifth in the nation at the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search in Gladstone, N.J., judged by McLain Ward. This year and next year, she has the opportunity to compete in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final and the ASPCA Maclay Equitation Finals before she ages out of the junior division.

At 17 years old, she has big goals for the future.

“I want to keep excelling in the jumpers,” Piper said. “I have a new jumper that I am getting to know, and two other jumpers, plus my equitation horse. I just want to keep moving up. I will go to Spruce Meadows this summer, which is exciting because I will get to jump some big courses. If everything goes to plan, I will do indoors this fall with the junior jumpers and all the equitation finals. I want to stay competitive in equitation. I got a ribbon last year in Gladstone. Hopefully, I will get a ribbon again this year. That is the goal.”

With four horses to ride, sometimes more, Piper is always on the move.

“Bonita Z, I just acquired from Eric Lamaze and the team at Torrey Pines. She is awesome. She is a cute little chestnut mare, really feisty,” Piper said. “Then, there is Hermine 44; I have had her for two years. She took me to my first NAJYRC FEI Junior/Young Rider Championships in Colorado. And with All About Anjes (aka Onions), my other jumper, we do the Low Junior Jumpers. She is one to get into the ring for practice. For equitation, I lease a horse named Skara Glen’s Prologue.”

A typical day includes school and horses.

“At home, I start at 8 a.m. I usually have four to five horses to ride,” Piper said. “Most days are riding on the flat, or I may have a jumping lesson or two. When I finish around 2 or 3 p.m., I go straight to school until around 5 or 6 p.m. Then I start the next day all over again.”

During the winter 12-week WEF series, Piper has classes in the early mornings and throughout the day.

“Today, I started off with the Junior Medium Classic,” she said, explaining how she schooled her horse, Hermine 44, at 6:30 a.m. and made sure she was ready. “Then I walked the course at 7:30 a.m. and competed at 8:15 a.m. It can be pretty busy running from ring to ring.”

The schedule includes showing two or three horses in a week. To give her horses, and herself, a rest, she takes regular breaks. “I do two weeks on and one week off during the season,” Piper explained.

Piper is coached by Ken and Emily Smith of Ashland Farms, whom she travels with on the circuit all year.

“I have been riding with them for almost six years now,” she said. “They also have two great people who work for them, Chrissy Kear and David Nation, who have been a huge help in my junior career. They have always found great horses for me, and they are so supportive.”

She is currently completing her junior high school year at the Palm Beach International Academy. “It’s an awesome place. I have been going there since eighth grade,” Piper said. “I’m starting to look at colleges and preparing for the ACT. When I am traveling, my teachers Skype with me. It has been a great program for my college preparations.”

Piper approaches her career with sincere insight and a drive to learn.

“I love the horses. Even if I didn’t show, I love being around the horses and being back with them in the barn,” she said. “I also have that competitive drive to do well. My horses try so hard for me, and I have a very supportive team behind me. It has been a great opportunity for me to grow up here in Wellington.”

Wellington Offers The Perfect Home For Quality Saddle Fitter Debbie Witty

When Debbie Witty first visited Wellington 10 years ago, she immediately felt at home with its charming atmosphere and sense of community.

Although she originally planned on only residing in the equestrian hub for the winter seasons, seven years later, she officially moved her family from Ithaca, N.Y., to become year-round Floridians.

An avid dressage rider, Witty fell in love with all that Wellington has to offer in addition to the abundance of equestrian networking opportunities at the highest levels of the sport. From the Olympic sports of dressage and show jumping to the thrilling game of polo, Witty had found the ideal location to further establish her company, Trilogy Performance Saddlery.

“When I began riding, I noticed that the expectation from riders was to swing their leg over a saddle, sit on their horse and everything go perfectly,” Witty said. “I quickly recognized that many riders were struggling with their performances due to incorrect saddle fit for themselves and for their horse. Personally, I remember taking a lunge lesson in a saddle that was so uncomfortable and left me sore, and the trainer said, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.’ I decided at that moment the saddle-fitting industry needed to be revamped.”

After embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, with stories of rider discomfort and saddle shopping nightmares inspiring and motivating her, Witty dedicated her life to developing a line of saddles that would provide comfort for both the horse and rider.

“I saw the opportunity for change, and I enveloped everything I had personally experienced and witnessed with fellow riders into designing my own saddle line,” Witty said.

Early in her career, she gained extensive knowledge and expertise on equine biomechanics from her 10-year tenure at the Cornell Veterinary College. Thus, the Trilogy Performance Saddlery design process became ingrained with scientific studies.

Witty also spent a great deal of time in England learning from and becoming certified by the prestigious Society of Master Saddlers.

“It was my desire to show people that I was really passionate about the correct fit of the saddle,” Witty said. “I am always hungry for information and a thorough education. During my time with the Society of Master Saddlers in England, I was among the first group of international students to be accepted as a qualified fitter, while more than 50 percent of the participants failed. It showed me how, as an industry in the United States, we needed to step up our game. The qualifications proved that I was knowledgeable, and I wanted to share my expertise with my potential clients and the equestrian community.”

Over the years, Witty’s Trilogy Performance Saddlery has developed into one of the top saddle manufacturing companies in the United States. The firm is dedicated to achieving a greater level of performance and awareness for horse and rider through education, service and design. From observing riders’ performance while training and showing to listening carefully to their feedback, Trilogy Performance Saddlery has successfully fit many Olympic champions, such as Debbie McDonald, as well as amateurs and young riders.

“Our saddle collection fits virtually every body type. Usually, if someone comes in, they’ll always find something that is comfortable for them,” Witty said. “We also work hard at making the saddle user friendly for the horse. Our design features a nice wide flat panel, a wide gullet and they’re all wool flocked so they’re totally adjustable. I always stress to everyone that adjustability is the most important element, no matter what saddle you’re looking at, because as the horse develops in his body, the saddle must change along with him. However, you must have a highly skilled technician adjust the wool flocking correctly to ensure proper fit.”

Trilogy Performance Saddlery offers customers a distinct advantage over other saddle competitors, not only in the quality of its products, but also in providing access to a vast network of specially trained saddle fitters, who have all passed an extensive education program developed by Witty.

Located across the United States, Trilogy Performance Saddlery’s fitters specialize in hand fitting, flocking and providing ongoing client support. Witty requires that every member of the saddle fitting team participate in continual educational sessions, as well as benefit from ongoing training in new techniques and methods of evaluation.

“One of the things I am most proud of is our saddle fitting training for our consultants,” Witty said. “They’re talented, trained technicians. They’re professionals, but they all continue to come back for more education, and many of my training sessions take place in Wellington.”

The equestrian community in Wellington has accepted Witty as one of the top saddle experts in the industry, and she has a packed schedule during the winter season. Being in the center of Wellington allows her to spend time at the horse shows, where she can continue to grow her connections and share her knowledge, while also personally meeting with clients at their barns for fittings.

“I love the atmosphere of Wellington,” Witty said. “It’s beautiful, clean and the sense of community is what sets it apart. I love being a part of something as special as Wellington.”

To learn more about Trilogy Performance Saddlery, visit www.saddlefit.com.

Young Horseman Timmy Dutta  Knows Polo Is His Passion

Young American polo player Timmy Dutta found his passion for polo early in life. Born and raised in Wellington, Dutta has always been around horses, and started his equestrian career at the age of five with a little black pony named Stripey.

At age 12, after a few years in the show jumping world, Dutta picked up a mallet for the first time, and immediately knew polo would be his future.

“One day I had the opportunity to stick-and-ball with my father. From that day on, I was hooked,” Dutta said. “Playing polo is an addiction. I want to play every day. It’s my love, it’s my passion, it’s my life.”

Dutta’s father, Tim Dutta, also a polo player, is the founder of the Dutta Corporation, a world-class international equine transportation company, and his mother is an international Grand Prix dressage rider.

With parents so immersed in the equestrian world, it is no wonder that the young Dutta is excelling on the polo field. At just 16 years old, he is one of the youngest players on the field in the high-goal tournaments in Wellington.

During the 2018 season in Wellington, Dutta has been playing with the Pilot team in the 20-goal tournaments at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, alongside Curtis Pilot and Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, who are widely recognized as some of the best players in the world.

“It’s a great pleasure to play with these guys,” Dutta said. “They are amazing players; they’re the top in the world. It’s a learning experience for me. As a young player coming up in the sport, playing with the top players is something we all dream about.”

He is also playing on his father’s team, Dutta Corp, in the Grand Champions 20-goal events.

Dutta has learned from his parents’ example that success in riding starts in the barn. He has 14 horses in work and is very involved in the daily operations — riding five to 10 singles a day during the season and paying close attention to his horses’ nutrition and exercise regime.

“Every horse is different — some need more, some need less,” Dutta explained when asked about his nutrition program. “We have a base Triple Crown feed that we use, and then we add in supplements. Sometimes the base feed will change depending on their needs.”

Dutta’s inherited commitment to horsemanship and horse care has drawn him attention and support at a very young age. He is sponsored by the leading supplement company, Vita Flex, as well as Triple Crown Nutrition. Both companies admire the young player’s passion not only for the sport, but the horses themselves.

Being a young American player is not easy in a sport that has historically been dominated by Argentina.

“As a young American player, there are a lot of challenges,” Dutta said. “We have great polo here in America, but down in Argentina, you get to play every day. I’m lucky that my dad supports me and allows me to go down there to play.”

Dutta is quick to recognize how vital his father’s support has been to his polo career. “My father has taught me a lot. I respect and admire him, especially his work ethic. He has really taught me to manage my horses,” Dutta said. “He has put me in a place where he has bought me the best horses, and he has been helping me from the start and training me. I couldn’t do it without him.”

Dutta also credits his coach and mentor Piki Diaz Alberdi, and said that he has tried to model himself after both Alberdi and his father. Some of the horses that he is playing in the high goal have come from Alberdi, as well as legendary player and horseman Memo Gracida and Carlitos Gracida. A true horse family, the Duttas know that good horses make the polo player, and they have mounted Dutta as well as possible.

Although a career in polo is Dutta’s main focus, he does intend to pursue a college degree in international business and psychology. However, most likely it will be online so that he can continue to ride and play at the same level.

The future looks bright for this upcoming American player, but the ever-humble Dutta is quick to turn the attention back to his father’s support.

“I wouldn’t be here without my father,” he said. “He’s been here for me and taught me everything.”