Liza Towell Boyd

Liza Towell Boyd is one of the country’s top hunter riders and trainers. As a junior, Boyd was named Overall World Champion Hunter Rider three times, was second at the Washington International Equitation Finals and won the Best Child Rider Award there four times, setting a record that remains untouched. After completing her junior career, she graduated from the College of Charleston and returned to the family business. Since then, Boyd has had an extremely successful career as both a trainer and rider. To date, she has won more than 25 USHJA international and national hunter derbies, and she rode Brunello to victory in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships. She’s the only rider to have won the WCHR Pony, Junior and Professional titles. She also won the WCHR Professional Finals again in 2017 and 2018.

Laura Chapot

Laura Chapot comes from one of the nation’s most prominent equestrian families. Daughter of famed Olympic equestrians Frank and Mary Chapot, she is based out of Chado Farms in New Jersey. Chapot has an extensive list of accomplishments and can often be found high on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking List. She had a spectacular season last year at the Winter Equestrian Festival, particularly with mount Chandon Blue. The pair took six top-three finishes, including the $50,000 Puissance America Grand Prix CSI 2* on Sunday, March 31, to claim the final FEI Grand Prix victory of the 2019 circuit. It was the pair’s fourth win in the final five weeks of WEF. It didn’t take Chapot long to make her mark at this year’s festival, claiming the top two spots in the $6,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Speed Challenge aboard Thornhill Kate and Out of Ireland during the opening week of WEF.

Lorenzo de Luca

Lorenzo de Luca started riding horses when he was 9 years old. He grew up in a little town called Lecce in the south of Italy, where he first started competing. When he was 11 years old, he had his first show jumping competition with a horse called Eponi Constelina. When de Luca was 18 years old, he started riding professionally. He worked for the Neil Jones trading stables in Belgium before joining the highly regarded Stephex Stables, also in Belgium, in 2015. Nowadays, de Luca is a regular on the Italian national team, where he has participated in Nations Cup events and at the World Equestrian Games. Back in Wellington for the 2020 season, de Luca can be seen competing in his Italian Air Force military uniform and hopes to represent his home country at the Olympic Games. started riding horses when he was 9 years old. He grew up in a little town called Lecce in the south of Italy, where he first started competing. When he was 11 years old, he had his first show jumping competition with a horse called Eponi Constelina. When de Luca was 18 years old, he started riding professionally. He worked for the Neil Jones trading stables in Belgium before joining the highly regarded Stephex Stables, also in Belgium, in 2015. Nowadays, de Luca is a regular on the Italian national team, where he has participated in Nations Cup events and at the World Equestrian Games. Back in Wellington for the 2020 season, de Luca can be seen competing in his Italian Air Force military uniform and hopes to represent his home country at the Olympic Games.

Martin Fuchs

After a string of great performances in 2019, Swiss Olympian Martin Fuchs, 27, began 2020 by moving to the top of the Longines rankings for the first time in his career. Fuchs’ first major victory was team gold at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, and he went on to make his senior Olympic debut in 2016 in Rio with his gray gelding Clooney 51. Fuchs has achieved podium finishes at the last three major championships, including individual silver at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018 in Tryon and helping the Swiss team to fourth, earning a team quota place at the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo. Fuchs finished as runner-up at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg last April and was crowned European Champion together with Clooney 51 at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championships in Rotterdam in August

Hunter Holloway

Hunter Holloway is an accomplished rider and trainer with numerous major victories under her belt. She was riding horses with her mother Brandie Holloway before she could walk. Holloway rode to win the coveted 2016 ASPCA Maclay Championship and the 2016 Washington International Equitation Championships after winning all three phases of the competition. Holloway also won the U25 Jumper Championship at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show the same year. She is one of the winningest young riders, earning respect in national and international competitions on both hunters and jumpers. More recent victories include a CSI5* win in Spruce Meadows and numerous victories at WEF, Tryon and Omaha. Now 22 years old, she splits her time between Wellington and her hometown of Topeka, Kansas, where she is deeply involved in her family’s business.

Lillie Keenan

Lillie Keenan rose to prominence as one of the country’s top junior riders, who swept the championships in the 2007 and 2008 USEF Pony Finals. At age 13, she won the 2010 Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals. The next year, Keenan took home the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals, defeating some of the sport’s top professionals. Now 23, she has continued her winning ways. In 2018, Keenan was named to the Short List for the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon before heading to Europe to compete in the Global Champions Tour. In 2019, Keenan earned a string of top placings at the Devon Horse Show, where she rode Chaccolette to third place in the $72,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake and fourth in the $36,000 Devon International Speed Stake. At Hickstead, Keenan and Fasther finished eighth in the Bunn Leisure International Stakes and 12th in the famed Longines BHS King George V Gold Cup.

Darragh Kenny

As the son of two trainers, Darragh Kenny, 32, began competing at the age of 10 in his homeland of Ireland. Kenny’s career quickly flourished as he competed in his first Grand Prix at the age of 14 and was invited to compete at the Dublin Horse Show. He soon began working with North Run Farm under the tutelage of Missy Clark and John Brennan. With the help of Clark, Kenny was able to ride on Obelix, a horse that guided him to the top level of the sport with key wins starting in 2009. He had a show-stopping European tour in 2019. With Balou du Reventon, owned by Ann Thompson, he earned two prestigious 5* Grand Prix wins over the summer and also produced two clear rounds in the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final in Barcelona to earn team gold and the coveted final Olympic qualification slot for the Irish show jumping team. When not in the saddle, he operates Oakland Stables with American show jumper Hardin Towell.

Nayel Nassar

Born in Chicago, Nayel Nassar rides for Egypt, his parents’ homeland. He first tried equestrian sport at age 5 and began jumping at age 10. Nassar qualified for the FEI World Cup Finals in 2013, 2014 and 2017, and the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014. More recently, he competed at the Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Paris aboard Lordan, and regularly competes on the international Grand Prix circuit. He is a regular on the Longines Global Champions Tour. Now 29, Nassar graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics in 2013 and is fluent in Arabic, French and English. He had a great season last year in Wellington, where he rode Lucifer V to the win in the $134,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 12 CSI 5* during the final week of the 2019 WEF.

PBIEC Welcomes Back Top-Level Competition For 2020 Winter Equestrian Festival

Jumping Action

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.

Sponsors Support Growth Of Equestrian Sport And WEF’s Continued Success

WEF Sponsors

The support and commitment to the Winter Equestrian Festival continues to increase each year, welcoming both new and longstanding sponsors to Wellington for the highly anticipated winter circuit. Each season, WEF welcomes riders and fans of various ages, demographics and origins to the village for three consecutive months.

For sponsors of WEF, presence at the competitive venue offers a valuable opportunity to invest in the growth of the sport, while simultaneously reaching a valuable new market of customers. Competitors and spectators travel from around the globe to attend the 12 weeks of competition. The audience base ranges widely in terms of lifestyle, net worth and interests, which is what makes WEF an incredibly unique hub for acquiring prospective consumers for a variety of brands.

Over the years, new and innovative ways to incorporate sponsor messaging and branding have been woven into the overall development of sponsorship packages. These include arena presence with branded and distinctive jumps and obstacles, branded signage, digital marketing campaigns, custom social media and interactive activations, just to name a few.

The equestrian community is a tight-knit family, with many supporters and businesses continuing their involvement for many years. Without committed and dedicated partners, the sport would not be able to succeed the way it has in recent years at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Several WEF sponsors have been partnering with the event for more than 10 years.

“Sponsorship is a crucial component of our business model, and support is essential to the continued expansion and diversification of equestrian sport,” said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner and CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions. “We are honored and grateful to have the unrelenting and established commitment from our loyal partners and are extremely motived to continue introducing equestrian supporters to new markets, as the opportunities within this domain are endless.”

With each new year, the sport and the season at PBIEC attracts more riders, horses and enthusiasts, which is a positive sign for the trajectory of the equestrian industry as a whole. New brands and companies are welcomed each season to join the equestrian community, and personalized campaigns and benefits are developed consistently.

The Winter Equestrian Festival thanks the following major sponsors: Adequan, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Fidelity Investments, Horseware Ireland, Lugano Diamonds, NetJets, Premier Equestrian, Wellington Agricultural Services and Wellington Regional Medical Center.

Additionally, the Winter Equestrian Festival thanks the following corporate sponsors: Alessandro Albanese, Always Faithful Equestrian Club, Animo, Antarès Sellier France, the Bainbridge Companies, the Brazilian Court Hotel, Bruno Delgrange, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, CaptiveOne Advisors, Carol Sollak of Engel & Völkers, Celebrity Cruises, Champion Equine Insurance, Chronicle of the Horse, Corro, CCTV Agent, CP, CWD, Dever Inc., Devoucoux, Discover the Palm Beaches, Dover Saddlery, Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, Equestrian Sotheby’s International Realty, Equifit, Equiline, Equine Tack & Nutritionals, Equinimity LLC, Equitan by IDA Development, Everglades Farm Equipment, Farm Stand, FarmVet, Free x Rein, Gold Coast Feed & Nutrition, Go Rentals, Griffis Residential, Hampton Inn & Suites at Wellington and Lake Worth, Heathman Farm, Hermès, Hunt LTD, Johnson Horse Transportation, JTWG Inc., Karina Brez Jewelry, Keyes Art Gallery, Maria Mendelsohn of Douglas Elliman, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Martha Jolicoeur at Douglas Elliman, Nutrena, Omega Alpha, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Palm Beach Day Academy, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Perfect Products, Platinum Performance, Prestige Italia, ProElite, Puissance America, Restylane, Rosenbaum PLLC, Rushy Marsh Farm, SP Rhodes Equestrian Identity, Sleepy P Ranch, Southern Arches LLC, Sportfot, Spy Coast Farm, Triple Crown Custom by Horseware, Triple Crown Feed, Vestrum, Veuve Clicquot, Vita Flex, Voltaire Design, the Wanderers Club and Wellington Equestrian Realty.

The 2020 WEF season began on Wednesday, Jan. 8 and will continue through Sunday, March 29. The 12-week circuit features 60 days of top international show jumping, hunter and equitation competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The event includes 11 weeks of FEI competition, concluding with the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CIS 5* on Saturday, March 28.

To learn more about sponsorships, visit www.pbiec.com or e-mail Whitney Stahl at wstahl@equestriansport.com.