Top Horses And Riders To Return For 2027 Winter Equestrian Festival

By Fiona Slusarev

As days get shorter and cooler, it’s almost time for the most iconic of equestrian events: the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International. The 2027 season marks the festival’s semicentennial anniversary of bringing the top horses and riders together from across the country and around the globe.

Under the leadership of Wellington International President Michael Stone, the 2027 WEF season will welcome more classes, an increase in prize money and the debut of the new Wellington International South showgrounds, which house the new Derby Field. In honor of WEF’s 50th anniversary, there will be special events and limited-edition merchandise available.

This season also marks North America’s inaugural CHIO, a French acronym for Concours Hippique International Officiel, which are team competitions that include a four-star show jumping event (CSIO4*), a junior show jumping competition (CSIOJ) and a children’s show jumping competition (CSIOCH), as well as a three-star dressage competition (CDIO3*), held as part of the Global Dressage Festival.

Saturday Night Lights will return again this year, offering a high-energy environment for spectators to watch the best riders compete under the bright stadium lights of the International Arena. The atmosphere is truly like no other with the packed seats, an array of foods to sample, the best equestrian shopping and other entertainment for all ages.

Whether you’re watching from the stadium seats, the Wellington Club bar, sitting under the pavilion of the Blue Ribbon Club, dining at the NetJets Landing, relaxing atop the Tiki Bar or keeping the energy up after the competition ends in the Gallery, Saturday Night Lights are always memorable.

“You get the chance to see the Olympic champions, world champions — Pan Am, European — the highest level of any sport,” Stone said. “And it’s an incredible experience when you can actually sit at the ring, and you’re right up close to see the guys and girls competing every week at the highest level.”

Spectators will no longer have to park at Equestrian Village and take a bus to get to Saturday Night Lights when on-site parking is full. More parking spaces are now offered across the Wellington International grounds, and visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the expanded golf cart and shuttle options to easily move around the property.

The Great Charity Challenge returns for its 18th year on Saturday, Feb. 6. Sponsored by Fidelity Investments, the event continues to support meaningful causes across Palm Beach County. Last year’s event spread $2.3 million over more than 80 nonprofits. This year, riders and horses will again turn out in elaborate dress, donning masks in honor of the “Once Upon a Masquerade” theme while supporting the larger community.

Along with the showgrounds expansion, footing has been upgraded in rings 6, 8, 9 and 10, as well as the Rost, Grand Hunter, Mogavero and DeNemethy rings — something that is appreciated by riders and horses alike.

A new high performance ring, located on the original grounds, has been created and will hold high levels of competition outside the International Arena, a request that Stone has heard from competitors for years.

“The riders are going to be really happy with it because there is a demand for horses that are coming up to the international level, but maybe aren’t quite there yet, to have somewhere they can compete. So, now they’ll have that opportunity,” Stone explained.

Expanded class offerings will join the WEF schedule this season, including weekly 1.45m National classes, cross rails, pony and the Itty Bitty Jumpers. More opportunities to join these lower divisions are sure to please riders just getting into, or back into, show jumping. Young horses will get to have some fun on the grass with the 1.30m Young Jumpers, now competing on the new Derby Field during select weeks.

Much beloved classes, including BrainJuice U25, the Team Hunter Challenge, Masters Mania, the Lövsta Future Challenge Final and the 1.20m Young Jumper Final presented by North Star Sport Horses, return to the schedule this year. This season also adds an additional CSI5*, for a total of five five-star competitions with fence heights ranging between 1.40 to 1.60 meters.

The season begins with Premiere Week, set for Jan. 6-10, with five packed days of competition from lead line through the professional level. Competitors and spectators can look forward to the fan-favorite Battle of the Sexes on Saturday night, when riders will vie for a $75,000 prize, presented by LeMieux.

Week 1 already ups the stakes with both CSI5* and CSI3* classes offered. The CSI5* Modon Grand Prix on Saturday boasts a hefty $500,000 prize, and the CSI3* Frank & Eileen Grand Prix on Sunday grants a pot of $120,000.

Another CSI3* is in store for Week 2, this time on the new Derby Field. This $140,000 CSI3* joins a thrilling line up of 1.45-meter classes and other Grand Prix events. Week 3 closes out the month of January with CSI4* and CSI2* competitions scheduled. You can find both classes every day except Sunday in the International Arena.

Week 4 follows suit with more CSI4* and CSI2* competition across multiple days, as well as the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $25,000 BrainJuice Under 25 (U25) Grand Prix. The excitement keeps up in Week 5, featuring the CSI5* and CSI2* events.

The middle of the competition season falls in Week 6, which brings the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) and CSI3* classes. Equestrians don’t have to fret that the season is approaching its close yet, with CSI5* and CSI2* competitions set for Week 7; the new CSIO4* scheduled on Week 8; CSI5* and CSI2* classes set for Week 9; CSI4* competition during Week 10; and CSI4* and CSI2* events during Week 11. This leads up to the CS15*, CSI2* and WCHR classes during Rolex Finale Week.

The competition closes with the unparalleled $1,000,000 Rolex Grand Prix, but the effect of the season is felt even after the ground grows quiet. With 13 weeks of unrivaled competition offerings, the hub of winter equestrian life leaves an impact on the greater Palm Beach County area. Last season alone generated a $607.3 million impact to the county’s GDP through visitor and equestrian spending, according to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. That equates to a 13 percent increase from 2025, and if previous years can be any indicator, WEF 2027 will be another impressive year.

Wellington International is located at 3400 Equestrian Club Drive. For additional information about WEF, including events and class offerings, visit www.wellingtoninternational.com.