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Winter
Equestrian Festival Revs Up for 2007 Show Season
The
Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), the world’s largest and longest running
equestrian competition, begins on January 24, 2007, and continues for 10
straight weeks. The first eight shows are held at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian
Club in
WEF
welcomes the equestrian disciplines of dressage, hunters, equitation, and show
jumping to the event, and over 4,000 horses are expected to grace the show
grounds this season.
The discipline of dressage, which is held for three weeks during the WEF circuit, demonstrates perfect understanding between horse and rider during elegant performances. Often choreographed to music for freestyle and referred to as “dancing on horseback,” dressage combines harmonious grace and accuracy with competitive performance.
The hunter discipline evaluates horses on their form over fences, pace, consistency, conformation, and jumping ability. Pony hunter classes feature the best ponies in the country piloted by adorable and talented children, some who have private academic tutors during the vigorous show schedule.
In the discipline of equitation, the focus is on the rider alone. Exhibitors are scored on how well they control their horse, their position in the saddle, and their accurate execution of different tests, both over fences and on the flat. Equitation was designed to challenge riders to develop and master skills necessary for future competition over grand prix courses in show jumping.
Show jumping involves intense speed in conjunction with mastering a course composed of enormous fences. In the jumper arena, horses race against the clock and receive penalties for knocking fences down. The week’s highlight is the Sunday grand prix class, where amateur riders compete alongside Olympians in the Internationale Arena over fences that stand 5’3’’ in height and 5’6’’ in width. The fastest fault-free horse and rider combination takes home fabulous prize money, gifts from sponsors, and a coveted WEF trophy.
For
grand prix competitors, this WEF season hosts three World Cup qualifying classes
for the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final, held in
Along with preeminent international competition, the 2007 WEF circuit once again offers grand prix exhibitors the $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge, sponsored by FTI Consulting of Annapolis, MD. The FTI Rider Challenge will be a rider bonus pool of $200,000. Riders will accumulate points from their performances in the WEF Challenge Cup Rounds I-VIII, the CN Jumper Classic, and each Sunday Grand Prix event. The rider with the most points on March 17 will be awarded $100,000. Second place will collect $50,000, third place will receive $30,000, and $20,000 will be given to fourth place.
Some of the top international show jumping competitors this season include: Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Rodrigo Pessoa, Margie Engle, Laura Kraut, Jeffery Welles, Schuyler Riley, Chris Kappler, Nick Skelton, Christine McCrea, Georgina Bloomberg, and Kimberly Prince.
For competitors and spectators alike, the Winter Equestrian Festival offers a vast array of enjoyable activities. Luxurious outdoor shopping, ring-side dining, and the pristine presentation of horses add to an exciting atmosphere, and spectators can get a glimpse of the horse show industry and the intricate inner workings of the WEF circuit.
As the best equestrian athletes in the world convene, the Winter Equestrian Festival showcases a world where people work, live, and dream for their love of horses.
2007
Winter Equestrian Festival Fast Facts
EVENT:
Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in
WHAT: Ten-week hunter/jumper and 3-week dressage horse show circuit produced by
Stadium
Jumping, Inc. The last two weeks of competition that are part of WEF are held in
WHERE:
WHEN: Wednesday through Sunday 2007 Show Dates:
Jan 24-28: WEF/Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Inaugural
Jan
31-Feb 4: Nutrena/Western Hay
Feb 7-11: Palm Beach Equine Clinic/Adequan Gold Coast Classic presented by Bluhammock Music, CSI 3*
Feb
8-11: Cosequin
(USEF
HP and NAJYRC Qualifying Competition)
Feb 14-18: Kilkenny Internationale, CSI 3*
Feb 21-25: Bainbridge Florida Classic presented by the Palm Beach Post, CSI-W CSI-CH & WCHR Spectacular
Feb
22-25: Zada Enterprises, LLC
Feb
28-March 4: Zada Enterprises, LLC
March 7-11: CN Wellington Open presented by Cosequin, CSIO 5*
March
14-18: CN Worldwide
(CN
Worldwide Global Champions Tour Event)
March 22-25: Zada Enterprises, LLC WEF Dressage Classic, CDI-W CDIY
(USEF
HP and NAJYRC Qualifying Competition)
HOURS: Wednesday through Sunday, starting daily at 8:00 a.m.
PRIZE MONEY: Over $4 Million in total prize money, including:
· Grand Prix and Challenge Cup Series
· 1.50 M-1.30M Jumper Series
· Low, Medium, and High Amateur-Owner Jumper Series
· USEF ‘AA’ Hunter Section Series, featuring the Golden Horse Jewelry Hunter Challenge
· Low and High Junior Jumper Series
· Young Jumper 5, 6, 7/8 Year Old Series
· 18-35, 36-49, and Over 50 Seniors Adult Amateur Jumper Series
· 13 & Under, 14-17 Children’s Jumper Series, featuring the FEI Children’s International Jumping Competition, CSI-CH
· Pony Jumper Series
· Adult Amateur and Children’s Modified Jumper Series
$200,000
FTI RIDER CHALLENGE: FTI Consulting
of Annapolis, MD, is sponsoring the $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge. The FTI Rider
Challenge will be held during the 2007 WEF, from January 25 to March 17 at the
Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in
HIGHLIGHTS:
· Sunday, Jan 28, 2:00 p.m.: $35,000 WEF Inaugural Cup
· Sunday, Feb 4, 2:00 p.m.: $50,000 Nutrena XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach presented by Western Hay, CSI 2*
· Saturday, Feb 10, 3:00 p.m.: $15,000 Cosequin Dressage/Show Jumping Spectacular
· Sunday, Feb 11, 2:00 p.m.: $60,000 Palm Beach Equine/Adequan Wellington Cup presented by Bluhammock Music, CSI 3*
· Sunday, Feb 18, 2:00 p.m.: $60,000 Kilkenny Internationale Cup, CSI 3*
·
Saturday, Feb 24, 7:00 p.m.: AHJF Hunter Spectacular of
· Sunday, Feb 25, 2:00 p.m.: $75,000 Bainbridge Idle Dice Classic presented by Palm Beach Post, CSI-W
· Friday, March 2, 7:00 p.m.: $20,000 Solaray Team Relay
· Sunday, March 4, 2:00 p.m.: $100,000 Zada Enterprises, LLC Masters Cup, CSI-W
· Friday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.: $75,000 Nations Cup presented by CN, CSIO 5*
·
Sunday, March 11, 2:00 p.m.: $150,000 CN
·
Thursday, March 15, 2:00 p.m.: €25,000
·
Saturday, March 17, 3:00 p.m.: €300,000 CN Worldwide
ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets are available at the gate.
Wednesday: Admission is free. *Children 12 & Under Free Everyday
Thursday and Friday: Adults- $5.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over- $5.00
Saturday: Adults- $10.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over- $5.00
Sunday: Adults- $15.00, Seniors (65)/Children 13 & Over- $5.00
Weekly General Admission Pass- $30.00
Seasonal General Admission Pass- $125.00
VIP SEATING: VIP Tables in The Jockey Club (located at the Internationale Arena) seat six people and include food and beverage service daily. Front Row tables are $25,000 for the season. Second Row tables are $22,500, and Third Row tables are $20,000. Please call Kiki Umla for a table at 561-793-JUMP.
PARKING: Parking is free Wednesday through Sunday
DIRECTIONS:
From the Florida Turnpike, take Exit #93, Lake Worth Blvd., and travel west,
crossing over 441. Travel five miles to
From
Interstate I-95, take Exit 49. Travel west on Forest Hill Blvd. 11 miles to
South Shore Blvd. Turn left on
THE FACILITY: The Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club is the home of the Winter
Equestrian Festival and the site of the first outdoor and only Nations Cup held
in the
FOOD: A diverse menu of food and beverages is available at the vendor courtyard and at vendors around the Internationale Arena, and are open during show hours.
SHOPPING: The vendor courtyard and individual booths around the Internationale Arena both offer equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings.
HOTELS:
*Hampton
Inn and Suites
2155
*Hampton Inn at Emerald Dunes
2025
Vista Parkway,
*
8205
Lake Worth Road,
*PGA National Resort and Spa
400 Avenue of the Champions
877-553-4669
CAR RENTAL:
Use
Enterprise Rent-a-Car for your car rental needs at the Winter Equestrian
Festival! Call 1-800-593-0505 and use the Winter Equestrian Festival reference
number 41W0087 for a discount.
ECONOMIC
IMPACT: The Winter Equestrian Festival, produced by Stadium Jumping, Inc., is
the largest and longest consecutively running sporting event in the world.
It is also the largest equestrian event and major contributor to
To contact us: donna@AtlanticRider.com
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