Great Food With Amazing Service At Lewis Prime Grill

By Mike May

If you’re searching for a desirable dinner destination with many delectable dishes, then head to Lewis Prime Grill in the Publix plaza at Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and Orange Blvd.

Lewis Prime Grill is as appropriate for a family dinner as it is for a group of business associates or a couple on a romantic date. The menu provides enough variety to satisfy any potential patron. The doors open daily at 4 p.m. for happy hour or those wanting to eat dinner early. The quality and diversity of the menu selections at Lewis Prime Grill — and the 48 whiskey choices on the bar menu — are the main appeals of this standout local restaurant.

The quality of the food and the generous portions have positioned the restaurant as one of the finest in the western communities and one of Palm Beach County’s best restaurant choices for dinner. At Lewis Prime Grill, you’ll never leave hungry, and the price for your high-quality meal won’t break your budget.

Lewis Prime Grill is a restaurant with a strong pedigree, as it’s owned by Ralph Lewis, who is a co-owner of West Palm Beach’s historic Okeechobee Steakhouse, which has been in the Lewis family since it first opened in 1947.

According to Lewis, if you have enjoyed past visits to the Okeechobee Steakhouse, you’ll also enjoy eating at Lewis Prime Grill, where the price points are a bit lower, yet the quality of the food remains top notch.

“We have the best happy hour in Loxahatchee, and you eat for free on your birthday,” said Lewis, whose favorite steak is a dry-aged, bone-in ribeye served medium rare. “We provide a legendary dining experience, which has superior food and exceptional service.”

Convenient to all of the western communities, the restaurant is located in the heart of the Acreage/Loxahatchee area and only 10 minutes from Wellington.

The atmosphere inside Lewis Prime Grill, which opened in November 2022, is cozy, comfortable and very welcoming. When you walk through the front door, you’ll have three seating options — at the U-shaped bar, at one of the tabletops or in one of the many high-back booths. The restaurant has a seating capacity of 120.

“We have a family-friendly restaurant, and we pride ourselves on making the dining experience special and memorable,” said Ron Streib, the general manager at Lewis Prime Grill. “Our staff is personable, accommodating, well-versed in our menu and understands the importance of hospitality. Many of our regular customers eat here two or three times a week.”

The menu is filled with many delicious options that include 10 starters, eight premium sides, seven house specialties, four salads, four steaks,

four handhelds and six desserts. There’s also a separate menu offering four weekly features, which include items such as Shepherd’s Pie, Crispy Chicken Burrata, Yellowtail Snapper, the Butcher’s Cut, Black Grouper, Filet Mignon Stroganoff and Short Rib Quesadilla, among others. It will be a tough decision sticking to the traditional menu when there are such mouth-watering featured dishes, which change every week. I ordered the Yellowtail Snapper accompanied by pan-seared, roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and a butternut squash puree, accompanied by the broccoli au gratin side dish and finished with the Crème Brûlée dessert. Every bite was better than the previous one.

The two most popular starters are the Bang Bang Shrimp and the Dip Flight. There is enough delicious Bang Bang Shrimp in one order for a quartet of diners to enjoy this tasty seafood appetizer. There’s a three-way tie for the most popular premium sides, with garlic spinach, broccoli au gratin, and the gourmet mac and cheese requested the most by customers.

Of the seven house specialties, the Country Fried Chicken, Linguine Alfredo and the Slow-Braised Short Rib are the most popular choices. After trying the Country Fried Chicken, you may never order fried chicken from anywhere else. It may well be better than your grandmother’s fried chicken.

The Cobb Salad is the top salad option, but the other three salads — Classic Caesar, House Gorgonzola and Iceberg Wedge — are equally as good and are terrific additions to your dining experience. For each salad, you can add either chicken, shrimp or steak as an added protein.

The four signature steak options — the Filet Mignon, Delmonico, Split Bone Cowboy and the Prime Ranch-Cut Sirloin — are terrific cuts of beef. Of those four steaks, the most popular choice is the filet mignon. The four handhelds — the Lewis Prime Burger, Classic Burger, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich and Prime Rib French Dip — are tasty and delicious. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich is the most popular handheld option.

Each of the six dessert options are worthy of being labeled as the best on the menu. As good as each dessert item looks on a plate, when each bite hits your taste buds, it will generate a delightful satisfactory smile.

The Chocolate Mousse is delicious; the Reese’s Pie appeals to lovers of chocolate and peanut butter; the Key Lime Pie is as good as you’ll find; the New York-Style Cheesecake will get “two-thumbs-up” from the harshest critics; the Crème Brûlée gets better with every bite; and the Triple-Layer Chocolate Cake is a perfect choice for chocolate lovers and big enough to share.

Lewis Prime Grill also offers a kids’ menu featuring three entrees — a burger, chicken fingers and mac-and-cheese. For dessert, there’s a weekly ice cream feature.

While Lewis Prime Grill prides itself on the 48 types of whiskey that it serves, other popular alcoholic beverages are a variety of wines and the signature, hand-crafted cocktails.

While the majority of white and red wines come from California, there are also wines from Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Spain. Besides California, other U.S. wines on the list come from Oregon.

The most popular hand-crafted cocktails are the Blackberry Smash and the Classic Old Fashioned.

“We sell three times more Blackberry Smash cocktails than any other drink. We also sell a number of Classic Old Fashioneds,” said Layden Pruitt, who is Ralph Lewis’ grandson, works on marketing Lewis Prime Grill and doubles as a waiter at the restaurant. “Out here, we market to a younger crowd.”

After a great meal, when customers walk out the door, everybody leaves happy, nobody leaves hungry and there are always plans made for another visit to Lewis Prime Grill.

Lewis Prime Grill is located at 7040 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Suite 31, at the corner of Seminole Pratt and Orange Blvd. in the Publix plaza. For more information, call (561) 619-5115 or visit www.lewisprimegrill.com.

Polo Hall Of Fame Honors Newest Members At Emotional Ceremony

Story by Y.A. Teitelbaum  |  Photos by Krystal Zaskey Photography

An emotion-filled night permeated the Valentine’s Day-themed 36th annual Polo Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Awards Dinner on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Museum of Polo.

Jorie Butler Kent, an iconic figure in polo, received three standing ovations as she accepted the Iglehart Award for exceptional lifetime contributions to the sport. She delivered heartfelt remarks while flanked by her daughter, Reute Butler, and nephew, Adam Butler.

“This is an honor beyond all honors,” said Jorie, who managed Oak Brook Polo and was instrumental in the success of several other clubs, including Palm Beach Polo, Greenwich and Windsor in Vero Beach.

Another trailblazer for women in polo, Susan Stovall, received the Iglehart Award posthumously, honoring her tremendous achievements on and off the field, mainly on the west coast at Eldorado. Her sister, Gratia Brown, represented Stovall, along with family friend Fergus Gould.

The newest Polo Hall of Famer was “Smokin” Joe Henderson, who was a 10-goal arena star and reached 8 goals on grass, winning numerous major tournaments.

Henderson said his father wanted him to become a lawyer, but when that didn’t work out, he advised his son to “go to America.” So, Henderson “just showed up” at the Gulfstream Polo Club office without a job or a place to stay. His extensive career took off as he worked for Carlton Beal, Fred Mannix Sr. and the Rooney family.

Jimmy Bachman, who dominated the 1980s and early 1990s, was inducted into the Polo Hall of Fame posthumously. The 7-goaler had considerable success at all levels but was known as “the king of low-goal polo.” His daughter, Candy Gaines, accepted the award, along with Tony Coppola.

Gene Fortugno accepted the Horses to Remember Award in the post-Hartman era for Flash, owned by John T. Oxley. In 1973, Flash earned three Best Playing Pony awards, played by Billy Linfoot, Roy Barry and Corky Linfoot.

Beatrice, the equine honoree of the early pre-Hartman era, was owned by Laddie Sanford and played by Dev Milburn in the 1924 Westchester Cup, and Winston Guest in the 1928 Cup of the Americas and the 1930 Westchester Cup. A statement from Sandford’s nephew Pierre Manigault and read by Marty Cregg acknowledged the award.

The event’s success was due to generous dinner sponsors Melissa and Marc Ganzi of the Grand Champions Polo Club and Aspen Valley Polo Club, as well as major sponsors Olexa Celine and the Robert I. Goldman Foundation, U.S. Polo Assn. and Karlene Beal Garber.

Thanks as well to wine and spirits sponsors Robert S. Lipman, Margaret Lipman Orthwein, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Old Hickory Bourbon & Whiskey, Cielo Tequila, Sachetto 071 Prosecco and Lonely Cow New Zealand Wine. Other sponsors included the Iconica Foundation, Martin and Amanda Cregg, and Melinda Brewer. Alex Pacheco Photography and Krystal Zaskey Photography were also thanked for their hard work and contributions.

Learn more about the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame at www.polomuseum.org.

Show Jumping Hall Of Fame Inducts Laura Kraut And Sandsablaze

Story by Marty Bauman  |  Photos by Kind Media LLC

Four-time U.S. Olympian Laura Kraut and Sandsablaze, Buddy Brown’s 1976 Montreal Olympic mount, were inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame during an induction gala held Sunday, March 2 at the Wellington National Golf Club. The Hall of Fame also presented its International Award to four-time Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers, the youngest rider ever to win the FEI World Cup Final.

Additionally, the Hall of Fame welcomed Francisco “Pancho” Lopez, Katie Prudent’s longtime barn manager, who was inducted last year but was unable to attend, to receive his Hall of Fame blazer and give an acceptance speech. Before Kraut’s induction, she was introduced by Barbara Roux. Hockey Hall of Famer Gerry Cheevers was also in attendance to speak on what it means to be a hall of famer.

The gala also recognized 16 others in attendance who have previously been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including Olympic veterans Mary Chapot, Norman Dello Joio, Margie Engle, Leslie Howard, Anne Kursinski, Beezie Madden, Michael Matz, Melanie Smith Taylor and Katie Prudent, as well as Linda Allen, Jane Forbes Clark, Anthony D’Ambrosio, David Distler, Peter Doubleday, Danny Marks, and former Olympic rider and current U.S. chef d’equipe Robert Ridland.

Others in attendance included Olympic veterans Buddy Brown, who accepted the induction on behalf of his mount Sandsablaze, McLain Ward, Lauren Hough, Will Simpson, Nick Skelton and Mac Cone, and Grand Prix riders Carly Anthony, Molly Ashe Cawley, Heather Caristo-Williams, Lucy Deslauriers, Cathleen Driscoll, Elle Ehman, Lillie Keenan, Marilyn Little, Carlee McCutcheon, Brittni Raflowitz, Schuyler Riley, Callie Schott, Jimmy Torano and JJ Torano.

Dinner sponsors included the Wheeler family, who sponsored the cocktails and open bar; Charlie Jacobs, who sponsored the attendance of all the Hall of Famers; Robin Parsky; Beth Johnson; Double E LLC; the Deslauriers family; Friends of Pancho; and Schuyler Riley. Support was also provided by Jennifer Matts, Susan Garrett, Champion Floral Blankets and Ethel M Chocolates.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame is sponsored by CMJ Sporthorse, the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Kentucky Horse Park, Lauracea, LEG Colorado Horse Shows, Markel, Nilforushan Equisport Events, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, the Washington International Horse Show and Wellington International.

The Hall of Fame also honored last year’s Rider of the Year on the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series, Elle Ehman.

Induction into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame is an honor bestowed annually upon select individuals whose accomplishments and contributions to the sport have set them apart and whose influence has had a significant impact on the sport of show jumping and the equestrian community.

With several decades’ worth of experience and an impressive résumé, Kraut has had an illustrious career representing the U.S. on the international stage. She has competed successfully in four Olympic Games (winning three medals), three World Equestrian Games (winning two medals), the 2023 Pan American Games (winning team gold), and many FEI World Cup and Nations Cup events.

Kraut’s first major team came in 1992 when she was named as alternate for the Barcelona Olympics. She made her Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000 with the all-female American team, then helped the U.S. win team gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. She returned to the podium in Tokyo and Paris, earning team silver medals at both events. Her 2024 podium appearance made her the oldest American to win a medal at the Olympics since 1952.

Kraut’s mother, Carol, encouraged her and her sister, Mary Elizabeth, to take their first riding lesson when Kraut was just three years old. Since then, Kraut has credited much of her success to her relationship with her horses and to Mary Elizabeth’s help with the organization and horse-care side. Based in both Florida and Great Britain, Kraut and her longtime partner Nick Skelton run a successful training business that focuses on developing prospective show jumpers, both riders and horses, to their full potential.

Sandsablaze had a storybook career that was never meant to be and may be unequaled in show jumping history. The chestnut Thoroughbred foaled in 1967 was meant to be a hunter and not a jumper. When he became a jumper, most thought of him as a backup and not a first stringer; but with rider Buddy Brown, he defied the odds and became one of the most dominant horses of the 1970s, going from the hunter and equitation ring to become a Grand Prix champion and a standout on U.S. teams in Nations Cups, two Pan American Games and the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The Show Jumping Hall of Fame was organized to promote the sport of show jumping and to immortalize the legends of the men, women and horses who have made great contributions to the sport. Visit www.showjumpinghalloffame.net to learn more.

Second Generation Continues Schaefer Legacy Serving The Community

By Mike May

The Schaefer family has been taking care of the health of Wellington residents since nearly the birth of the community. Family patriarch, the late Chuck Schaefer, founded Schaefer Drugs, which has been recognized as Wellington’s first retail business.

“The UPS delivery guy always said it was Wellington’s first business,” said current owner Lauren Henley, Chuck’s daughter.

Schaefer Drugs is not your ordinary drug store. Instead, it’s a unique community institution within Wellington’s business sector. At a time when other pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, even supermarkets, were many miles away, Schaefer Drugs was there to take care of Wellington’s early pioneers.

Founded in 1979, Schaefer Drugs remains in operation today by being true to its roots and providing the type of personalized service that people want but can’t easily find.

Interviewed for a 2010 story in Wellington The Magazine, Chuck recalled his memories of starting his landmark business.

“When we opened Schaefer Drugs in 1979, there was no shopping center,” he said. “Wellington didn’t even have any stop lights. We were out here by ourselves. I can say with 100-percent certainty that people were happy to have a drug store nearby. That’s when I knew we had made the right move at the right time.”

Chuck and his wife Susan owned and operated Schaefer Drugs from the outset until Chuck’s death in 2020. At that time, Lauren and her husband Jay Henley took over daily control of the 6,000-square-foot store, the same size as its footprint back in 1979.

“The size of the store has not changed since the store first opened,” said Lauren, 48, a 1994 graduate of Wellington High School and a 1998 graduate of Stetson University.

The personal and professional service at Schaefer Drugs that started with Chuck and Susan Schaefer continues to this day with Jay and Lauren Henley.

“Chuck was a success because he worked hard and always put his customers first,” said Jay, 52, who grew up in Fort Myers and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1996 from Evangel University in Missouri and his master’s degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2000. “He had the foresight to see Wellington before it was Wellington.”

Back then, Susan did the books for the store, and Chuck did the rest.

A special part of Chuck’s unique job description was being willing to personally deliver much-needed emergency prescriptions to a customer’s home at any time of day or night.

Sadly, Chuck’s passing was followed a year later by his beloved wife Susan in 2021.

Now, the present and future of Schaefer Drugs is in the hands of Jay and Lauren. Fortunately, they are willing and able to provide the same customer service as the founding generation.

The generational transition at Schaefer Drugs started years before Chuck passed away.

Both Lauren and Jay started working at Schaefer Drugs in 2009. Lauren was the store’s chief financial officer, and Jay worked as a manager. During the next 11 years, they learned about the ebb and flow of any given day in the life of Schaefer Drugs.

Now, Lauren is the owner. She oversees human resources, inventory, purchasing and in-store compliance. Jay is the chief operating officer. His main job is to build and maintain the store’s strong relationships with its customers. He also meets on a regular basis with dozens of local doctors who write prescriptions for their patients.

“I keep local doctors aware of our inventory and new drugs being introduced,” Jay explained.

According to Jay, the main reason why Schaefer Drugs is still in business is because of the ability of the ownership to make changes and adjustments to the business model as needed. That ability to go with the flow started with Chuck and Susan and remains with Lauren and Jay.

The difference between Schaefer Drugs and the competition — mostly national chain stores — is that the staff at Schaefer Drugs has a strong, personal relationship with the customers. The store’s 18 employees are willing to do whatever it takes to make every customer happy.

“At Schaefer Drugs, we have a strong level of customer service,” Jay said. “We know our customers’ names, the names of their family members and the names of their pets.”

Another great example of customer service started in 2000.

“Chuck started a service known as compounding,” Jay explained. “Compounding means that we can customize and personalize a prescription for humans and pets. We can customize the form of medication, the flavor and the exact dosage. The form of medication can be a capsule, liquid, cream, pellet or a troche. We continue compounding for our patients to this day.”

Another key to success is the word-of-mouth communication that takes place among the business’s roster of customers.

“I appreciate their willingness to go the extra mile to help me find the right solution,” one customer said.

“Their pharmacists know me by name and always go the extra mile to ensure I get the personalized care I need,” added another.

As part of Schaefer Drugs’ ability to remain current, the business has a web site, as well as a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.

While Schaefer Drugs is open six days a week and closed on Sundays and major holidays, Lauren and Jay never forget about the business. “We’re always on call,” Jay said.

While Lauren and Jay Henley are fully committed to continuing the work started by Chuck and Susan Schaefer, the next line of succession for the business could fall to Lauren and Jay’s two daughters, 22-year-old Olivia and 18-year-old Kiersten.

Olivia is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and she works for Edward Jones. Kiersten will graduate from the King’s Academy in May and will then head off to college. While both girls have not expressed that much interest in the family business, Jay still has hope. “You never say never,” he said.

When Lauren and Jay do have some down time, they enjoy attending Family Church on Sundays, spending time at home with Olivia and Kiersten, and playing pickleball.

“We both love to play pickleball,” Lauren said.

Moving forward, Schaefer Drugs is in the same “pole position” within Wellington’s business community as it was when the store first opened in 1979. It was a unique institution back then, and it remains that way today.

Schaefer Drugs is located in the Wellington Plaza at 12797 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite C. For more information, call (561) 793-0151 or visit www.schaeferdrugs.com.

Faces Of Dressage

Photos by Susan J. Stickle

Each winter, the majestic sport of dressage is on display here in Wellington, home of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The Olympic sport of dressage — often compared to “dancing with horses” — showcases the grace, beauty and elegance of a horse and rider pair working together as one. Top riders from around the world have returned to participate in North America’s most prestigious dressage series. AGDF opened in January and continues at Equestrian Village through this month. As part of this year’s series, the festival now boasts four qualifiers for the 2025 FEI Dressage World Cup Final, in addition to its regular roster of evening freestyle performances during Friday Night Stars, as well as a CDIO Nations Cup, a para dressage Nations Cup, a CDI5* event and the ever-popular Palm Beach Derby. From elite dressage riders to the sport’s up-and-coming riders, to the uplifting sport of para-dressage, all levels of this unique discipline are on display here in Wellington. In Faces of Dressage 2025, we highlight just a few of these riders.

 

Benvenuti! Inaugural Galbani Festa Italiana Arrives In Wellington On March 29-30

By Jennifer Sardone-Shiner

The inaugural Galbani Festa Italiana of Wellington will be held at the Wellington Amphitheater on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30.

This unique event will create an experience rich in Italian culture through food, music, art and tradition. There will be food booths serving up all the Italian favorites, such as sausage and peppers, pasta, pizza, Italian ice, zeppoles and more.

There will be stage entertainment all weekend on the Beachside Golf Cars Stage, and the mistress of ceremonies will be Virginia Sinicki of the KVJ Show on 97.9 WRMF. Performing will be Italian American entertainers or tributes to them. There will be performers all day Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night will feature Blonde Ambition, a tribute to Madonna. Sunday will feature a Rat Pack tribute. Other performers include Franco Corso, the voice of romance, Angelo Venuto, and Philippe Harari.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. Special VIP seating is also available for purchase at Eventbrite.com. There will be a stage pod for four people with a table, and VIP villas with a table and seating for eight. Both offer bar service.

Among the special areas to highlight will be the Aperol Spritz Piazza, the place to be seen. Toast to your Italian American heritage with a Birra Moretti Italian beer in the Moretti Beer Garden. In addition, there will be the Schumacher Auto Group Family Picnic Area for festival goers to sit and eat while enjoying the concerts.

Another highlight will be the La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage, which will feature nationally known chefs, including Galbani celebrity chef Marco Sciortino. Known for his dynamic personality and culinary mastery, Chef Marco will be showcasing his signature dishes, blending authentic Italian flavors with his own innovative twists. Festivalgoers are in for a treat, as he brings his passion for Italian cuisine to life, offering mouthwatering creations that highlight the rich heritage and exceptional quality of Galbani products.

Local favorite Anthony Acampa from “Fat’s Where the Flavor’s At” and many others will also be featured. Do not miss a taste of the free Voga Wine seminars by wine connoisseurs throughout the weekend. On Saturday, there will be a pizza-eating contest by the Sicilian Oven, and Galbani will host a celebrity cheese stacking competition for charity.

For the entire family, there will be festival rides and carnival games for all ages. Little Smiles, the official festival charity, will be on site with fun activities for kids. This nonprofit organization works tirelessly to bring smiles to children’s faces by allowing them to be kids during difficult times.

Festival organizers thank inaugural sponsors Galbani, Beachside Golf Cars, the Schumacher Auto Group, Aperol Spritz, American Bath and Shower, Stormtight Windows, Birra Moretti, Voga Italia, Fat’s Where the Flavor’s At, and Tom Cerrito of Cerrito Electric, who spearheaded getting this festival to Wellington.

Admission to the festival is $5, and children 12 and under will be admitted free with an adult. Sponsorships are available, and special VIP seating will be available at Eventbrite.com. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

To learn more about the inaugural Galbani Festa Italiana of Wellington, visit www.wellingtonfestaitaliana.com.

Dressage Festival Back And Better Than Ever In 2025

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) is one of the world’s premier international dressage events and a winter stalwart for top competition with unbeatable weather. Held annually here in Wellington, AGDF attracts top-level riders, trainers and horses from around the globe, including seasoned Olympians and rising stars.

Now in its 14th year at Equestrian Village, AGDF runs for 10 weeks with international, small and large tour, as well as national and para dressage offerings.

“AGDF prides itself on inclusivity and variation where a rider can come up through the ranks of the sport, and where opportunities abound,” AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur explained.

In its 2025 run, AGDF now boasts four qualifiers for the 2025 FEI Dressage World Cup Final, taking place in April in Basel, Switzerland. Additionally, the circuit will include its regular roster of evening freestyle performances during Friday Night Stars, as well as a CDIO Nations Cup, a para dressage Nations Cup, a CDI5* event, and the ever-popular Palm Beach Derby, in which riders are paired with an unfamiliar horse, given five minutes to warm up and then tackle a Prix St. Georges test.

Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks became a crowd favorite in Wellington during the 2024 season. She was crowned queen of the international stadium after winning the FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle, presented by Palm Beach Equine Clinic, during opening week.

“It was huge for me because I did my first senior classes [in Wellington] last year, and I never thought that I would be here in this position today,” beamed Hendricks after her win.

She has been a regular at AGDF since her debut season as a junior in 2015. “I was just happy if we got through the Grand Prix, and now I’ve won — it’s unreal,” she said.

Baur said that Hendricks is a perfect example of what the dressage festival can do.

“She came here in 2015 as a junior and left as No. 1 junior in the world after the season,” he said. “Now she’s back here winning Grand Prix. You cannot compare that to anywhere else in the world, which is what makes it really special here.”

One of the most notable additions to the 2025 AGDF is that the festival has been selected as a host event for the newly launched US Equestrian Open of Dressage. AGDF will be home to seven qualifiers during the event’s inaugural year.

“The Adequan Global Dressage Festival is proud to be a part of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage and contribute to the growth of the sport of dressage in the U.S.,” Baur said. “Our team is excited to see dressage continue to shine in Wellington through elite competition, thrilling Friday Night Stars action, and development opportunities for both horse and rider that further strengthen the future of dressage in North America.”

The series will offer $200,000 in prize money, which will be distributed at the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final held in California in November. The innovative addition to the North American schedule showcases top dressage sport from coast to coast.

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival prides itself on being a hub for international sport during the winter months, most notably for the CDIO3* Nations Cup, in which teams from all corners of the world come together and represent their home nations in a sport that is most often individual. In 2024, Germany extended its unbeaten run at the AGDF Nations Cup to four consecutive victories.

Throughout the season, several opportunities are also presented to embrace the up-and-coming equine talents of the sport in the $10,000 Future Challenge/Young Horse Prix St. Georges series and the $15,000 Lövsta Future Challenge series.

A popular part of the European circuit, the Lövsta Future Challenge, which is open to horses from eight to 11 years old, is intended to provide the opportunity for riders to bring their up-and-coming international quality horses into a championship-type environment without the pressures of a CDI, like having to stable away from home. All qualifying rounds, held throughout AGDF 2024, used the FEI Intermediate II test before the final presents a step up in difficulty with the FEI Young Horse Grand Prix test.

“I felt like this series would be a great way to move up at the end of the season, to try a few I2s, and we were wondering whether he was ready for the Grand Prix,” said Nicholia Clarke, winner of the 2024 Lövsta Future Challenge with Komsi Komsa. “With these young horses, we’re all wondering how they’ll handle the CDI ring, so we gave it a go, and it feels great to come out on top.”

Upcoming “can’t miss” season highlights include:

• AGDF 8, Feb. 26 to March 2, featuring the Palm Beach Derby, CDI-W FEI World Cup Dressage and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.
• AGDF 9, March 6-9, featuring a Para Dressage CPEDI3*.
• AGDF 10, March 12-16, featuring a CDI5* and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.
• AGDF 12, March 26-30, featuring a CDI4* and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.

As one of the longest dressage circuits in the world, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival has created a lasting home in the equestrian landscape of Wellington and North America as a whole. It’s not just a competition; it’s a celebration of the artistry and athleticism of the dressage horse through the attraction of top talent and fostering growth of the sport worldwide.

For more about the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, as well as Friday Night Stars hospitality opportunities, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

US Equestrian Open Of Dressage Making Its Debut In 2025

By Mike May

This year, US Equestrian is staging a series of 24 qualifying events as a build-up to the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Dressage. This year-long competition series started in early January in Thermal, California, before moving here to Wellington, host of seven events through the end of March. The series will conclude where it began, with a finale in Thermal at the Desert Dressage II CDI5* set for Nov. 13-16.

Of the 24 qualifiers, 16 of them are being held in Florida — seven in Wellington, five in Ocala, three in Myakka City and one in West Palm Beach. The other eight qualifiers are being held in Del Mar, California (three qualifiers); Thermal, California; Lexington, Virginia; Sherwood, Oregon; Devon, Pennsylvania; and Mill Spring, North Carolina.

According to Laura Roberts, managing director of dressage at US Equestrian, she is excited about the chance to fully promote the sport of dressage and put dressage athletes and horses on a higher-profile pedestal.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase top dressage sport from coast to coast of the United States, but particularly out west in the buildup to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games,” Roberts said. “The US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series and Final are open to all FEI-registered athletes and horses, both from the U.S. and abroad. Each competition gives the athletes a platform to showcase their talents and compete with their peers across the country. With unprecedented prize money on the line, we look forward to witnessing exceptional performances and crowning the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Dressage champion.”

One of the local dressage riders in this competition is Kevin Kohmann, who is based at Wellington’s Diamante Farms. After the first two weeks of the qualifiers, Kohmann had a strong start and was in first place. At late February, he was in a three-way tie for 21st. One of Kohmann’s competitors in this national dressage competition is his wife, Devon Kane, who is in a three-way tie for 15th. She, too, is based out of Diamante Farms.

Kohmann said that the key to success in high-level dressage is to have a horse that knows and trusts its rider. Likewise, the rider must know and trust his or her horse. “It’s teamwork at this level. It’s a friendship between the rider and the horse,” said Kohmann, who is also trying to qualify for the World Cup of Dressage, which will be held this year in Basel, Switzerland, from April 1-6.

After seven qualifying events for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, the top 25 riders in the standings come from six different countries (Germany, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Spain and Argentina). Seventeen of them are from the United States.

After those seven qualifying events, there’s only a six-point differential between the top eight riders. The leaderboard features a three-way tie for first between Evelyn Eger of Germany, Geñay Vaughn of the United States and Denielle Gallagher of Canada, each with 40 points. There is also a three-way tie for fourth between Felicitas Hendricks of Germany, Adrienne Lyle of the United States and Anna Marek of the United States, each with 37 points. Meanwhile, there’s a two-way tie for seventh between Americans Kristina Harrison-Antell and Eline Eckroth, each with 34 points.

According to local dressage expert Kenneth Braddick of Dressage-News.com, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is off to a strong start, but he expects to see updates in future years, such as the location of the final. This year, the final will be held in California, as a nod to the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“Florida has become the center of dressage in all the Americas, with most U.S. and foreign riders competing in Florida,” he said. “The thought is to stage a Thanksgiving show at Global in Wellington with a real festive atmosphere, plus perhaps with more prize money.”

Again, of all the 24 qualifier events for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage, 16 of them are in Florida with Wellington hosting seven.

Through the middle of February, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage had already hosted eight qualifiers — three of which took place in Wellington.

The dressage series will reward athletes with $200,000 in prize money, which will be distributed at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final in November. An additional $50,000 series incentive will also be awarded for high-point scorers.

Upcoming Wellington events on the calendar of qualifying competitions include the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W & CDI3* Feb. 26 to March 2; the Global Dressage Festival 10 CDI3* & CDI5*, March 11-16; and the Global Dressage Festival 12 CDI3* & CDI4*, March 26-30.

Learn more about the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage series at www.usequestrianopen.org.