PBIEC Welcomes Back Top-Level Competition For 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival
World-class equestrian sport is back at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington for the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival, which opened on Jan. 8 and continues until March 29.
With more than 70 divisions of hunter-jumper competition featuring everything from short-stirrup up to Olympic-level show jumping, WEF is the premier winter equestrian destination for many of the world’s top horses and riders.
Managed by Equestrian Sport Productions, WEF is the largest and longest-running equestrian festival in the world, with more than 7,000 horses competing throughout the winter circuit and welcoming competitors of all ages to the venue to enjoy the ideal South Florida winter weather.
The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center has long been recognized as one of the finest equestrian venues in the world. Each winter, riders from 50 countries and all 50 states travel to Wellington to compete at PBIEC. The venue covers 500 acres with 80 acres of competition rings alone.
In November, the venue completed the installation of a newly engineered riding surface in the International Arena and warm-up ring after assembling a team of five world-class equestrian footing experts. The team consisted of Premier Equestrian Inc., Bart Poels of Poels Equestrian, Bill Hawe of iEquiTek, FEI footing expert Lars Roepstroff and Travis Gould of JTWG Inc. The new arena now boasts an innovative drainage system, the OTTO Sport Base Mat system, and a state-of-the-art footing surface that’s both safer and more durable for horses and riders.
“Horse welfare remains the top priority during our 12-week circuit,” ESP President Michael Stone said. “The popularity of the venue gave rise to accelerated wear and tear over the last few years. Based on our review and feedback from the riders, we were in agreement that the surface needed total replacement to meet the caliber of competition that we are hosting. In addition, with the World Cup Finals taking place in the U.S. next April, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics running in August, we expect the world’s best riders to bring their top-level horses to WEF this season to prepare and organize their international teams.”
The four CSI 5* Grand Prix classes, the highest level of international show jumping in the sport, will take place on Feb. 8 (WEF 5), Feb. 22 (WEF 7), March 7 (WEF 9) and March 28 (WEF 12) in the International Arena. These competitions attract top horse-and-rider combinations and include four FEI World Ranking classes during each week. The final CSI 5* competition of the circuit (WEF 12) hosts the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, the most prestigious international class of the 2020 season. This year, the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* will once again take place on the final Saturday of the season.
The $75,000 Battle of the Sexes, presented by Wellington Regional Medical Center, kicked off the Saturday Night Lights series on Saturday, Jan. 11, pitting males against females in a battle to see which gender reigns supreme. Always a crowd favorite, spectators were encouraged to support their favorite team by wearing either blue or pink outfits.
WEF welcomes Equinimity LLC as a third-year title sponsor of the popular WEF Challenge Cup classes, Thursday’s weekly highlight competition. The Equinimity WEF Challenge classes began Thursday, Jan. 8 and will continue through Thursday, March 26, with distributed prize money ranging from $35,000 up to $132,000.
The CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Jumper Classics will once again take place throughout the circuit at both PBIEC’s main grounds and the Derby Field at Equestrian Village, culminating with a final class on Saturday, March 21 with the $132,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Classic Final, which takes place under the lights in the International Arena and offers a substantial prize for the overall series winner.
The 2020 winter season will also see a return of the prestigious Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series, showcasing the next generation of talent for five editions of competition. Hosted at both the main grounds of PBIEC and at Equestrian Village, the Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series is sure to impress, once again featuring many of the world’s best riders under the age of 25.
The Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, a major philanthropic event hosted annually at PBIEC, is set for the evening of Saturday, Feb. 1. Over the last 10 years, the GCC has raised in excess of $13.5 million for more than 250 well-deserving Palm Beach County charities.
The GCC is a pro-am style relay race between teams of riders in costume. This year’s theme is “Broadway Musicals,” and teams will have the opportunity to represent plays and musicals, along with their traditional customs in costumes and decorations. The winning team will claim more than $150,000 for their paired charity, while all participating charities receive at least $15,000.
The $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Hunter Spectacular during Week 6 of WEF draws eyes to an evening of stunning hunter displays. Riders competing for one of the discipline’s yearly top honors will take to the International Arena for an evening of traditional and classic hunter competition. This week also features a varying group of hunter divisions competing in the International Arena throughout the week, while FEI CSI 3* jumper classes will take place at PBIEC’s Equestrian Village location.
A continual crowd favorite, the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO 4*, featuring a team-format competition between riders representing their home countries, will be part of Saturday Night Lights in 2020 and hosted on Saturday, Feb. 29, during Week 8 of WEF. Last year, the United States team claimed the gold medal after a thrilling jump-off with team members Wilton Porter, Beezie Madden, Adrienne Sternlicht and McLain Ward. This year, the U.S. will look to defend its title. Spectators are encouraged to represent their favorite team and country, as prizes are given to the “most spirited spectators” throughout the evening — so grab your flags and bring the whole family.
WEF concludes on Sunday, March 29, with the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the Derby Field of Equestrian Village to officially close out the 12 weeks of the season. Top hunter riders will set out on a beautiful course in an attempt to capture the final major prize of the winter circuit. Spectators are encouraged to enjoy the final day of WEF from the berm on the Derby Field or on the adjacent grassy knoll.
General admission is free at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center during the WEF circuit, which hosts competitions from Wednesday morning through Sunday afternoon. Numerous vendors and shops are open throughout the season, showcasing products and services that range from horse wear and tack, to art, jewelry, fine clothing and emerging technologies.
The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 3400 Equestrian Club Drive in Wellington. For more information, visit www.pbiec.com or call (561) 793-5867.
