Showgrounds Expansion A Major Investment In Wellington’s Equestrian Future

By Patrick Sherry

The showgrounds that bring in top riders from around the world, legions of equestrian fans and millions of dollars to Wellington’s economy each year is now nearly twice as large. After years of planning, Wellington International has unveiled its multimillion-dollar expansion of competition space aimed at keeping the village the premier winter equestrian capital of the world.

Wellington International and Wellington Lifestyle Partners are preparing for the upcoming equestrian season with a massive investment to deliver world-class facilities and experiences for all. The $60 million expansion is called Wellington International South. The newly developed 98 acres include state-of-the-art facilities, more competition rings, expansive green space and expertly designed grounds to stay functional throughout the season.

“It’s going to elevate us without question. We’re already probably the best,” Wellington International President Michael Stone said. “We’re the best circuit in the United States in terms of the level of competitors who compete here, the size of the crowds who come to watch, and this maintains our position, further enhances it and gives us the opportunity to run more events at different times of the year.”

The southern expansion, which has grown Wellington International’s footprint to a total of 215 acres, is intended to improve the experience for competitors and spectators. The original showgrounds have been in use for decades. Previously, they were incrementally developed and expanded as the sport grew in the village. This growth came with increased demand to hold more competitors and provide more amenities to support equestrian riders.

Paige Nuñez, president of Wellington Lifestyle Partners, explained that horses and the sport were at the center of all the planning for the new expansion. The construction team has built five new 60-stall barns with wash racks; a massive 84,000-square-foot covered arena; new competition arenas and bridle paths; horse shade structures at each ring; a new derby field with a natural grass surface designed to handle high-level performance in South Florida’s weather; and installed world-class GGT textile footing and advanced drainage systems.

“We’re thrilled that after so many years of operating within a very congested facility, we’ll now have a significantly larger footprint and the opportunity to offer an enhanced experience for all of our competitors,” Nuñez said.

Equestrian fans will also get to experience new improvements in the stands. Permanent covered grandstands for 1,500 spectators have been added, along with new food and retail shopping areas and covered seating at all competition rings. Getting to the show grounds is now easier, too. The construction team has installed thousands of parking spaces for vehicles and expanded golf cart shuttle routes for ease of access throughout the properties.

Wellington Lifestyle Partners hired internationally recognized equestrian experts to bring these ambitious plans to life. Wellington International also employs a large team of professionals who work to maintain the showgrounds. For the grass derby field alone, specialists have recently taken more than 60 samples almost daily to test conditions and make sure the surface is ready for high-level competition.

“We’ve had an exceptional team of contractors, professionals and consultants who understand the significance of this project and its benefits to the community,” Nuñez said. “Everyone has gone above and beyond to deliver the highest quality work.”

Wellington International has long been one of the world’s hubs of equestrian sport. Its most well-known competition circuit is the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The 13-week annual event is considered the largest and longest-running equestrian competition in the world. The expansion will also allow the introduction of the Global Dressage Festival, previously held at Equestrian Village, to the main showgrounds.

Each year, from January to April, Wellington welcomes thousands of fans, riders and trainers to WEF. The 2026 festival alone generated $607.3 million in economic impact for Palm Beach County — making it the single largest sports competition in the entire state.

“The Winter Equestrian Festival is an incredibly important economic engine for Palm Beach County and our local community,” Nuñez said. “Equestrian sport draws people here from all over the world, and what’s really exciting is that we’ll be able to better serve participants at every level.”

Over the years, Wellington International has been facing increasing competition from other horse shows. Competition from areas in Ocala and Naples, in particular, has been growing. But this multimillion-dollar investment to expand the local showgrounds is part of a larger effort to keep the village one of the best places for horse shows in the world. Even outside of the WEF, it is hoping to host more competitions for riders of all levels.

“[The expansion] gives us the opportunity to maintain our position at the top — the one that all the other horse shows aspire to be,” Stone said.

The entire expansion is not yet complete, but the key portions, including most of the important horse facilities, are ready. A new VIP facility, some stadium seating, additional paving and parking are currently being worked on. Heavy rain over the last couple of months has impacted construction, but Wellington International and Wellington Lifestyle Partners are still on schedule to have everything ready before WEF begins in January.

Stone said that those who have seen the new showgrounds expansion already are excited for the upcoming season. He added that from riders to spectators, they will feel the difference and have an even better experience.

“Whenever anybody comes to actually see the venue and realizes what has been done and what’s there, they’re always hugely impressed and very positive,” Stone said.

Nuñez explained that the opening of the new expansion is just the beginning. Once opened, officials will evaluate operations and collect feedback to see how they can continue to improve going forward. There may even be possibilities for future projects to continue to expand Wellington International.

“This first year will be an important opportunity to see how everything functions operationally,” Nuñez said. “We’ve also intentionally preserved certain areas for future development as the facility continues to evolve.”

The expansion of the showgrounds is more than an additional 98 acres. It is part of the community’s effort to continue to invest in the future to remain an international leader in equestrian sport. Through the Wellington International South showgrounds, those involved in the project are aiming to further push the village’s equestrian scene.

“We’re hopeful that the expansion will encourage more people to get involved in the sport, with additional opportunities and divisions for newcomers to participate and develop a lifelong passion for equestrian sport,” Nuñez said.

To learn more about Wellington International and the recent expansion, visit www.wellingtoninternational.com.