I agree just meant that potential expansion could fall apart without new big $$$ funding.
They have more than enough funding, there are plenty of bottomless pockets involved
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Happened where I live. Used to be a cul de sac with bush tracks leading to a rail trail. Quiet roads, heaps of people with horses.
Now it’s a close, the end properties have fenced off the easement which the council doesn’t care about, to get to the rail trail is now a 4km hike along the road (and 4km back), everyone drives like bloody maniacs (broken collarbone a testament) and no one riding - all the horses are basically retired. Nowhere safe to ride out greenies or OTTBs anymore. Land is all built out and you can just feel the sniff of developers wanting to break up the traditional 2ha blocks into subdivisions… Another 10, 15 years and it might be “horses in the inner city” as the 'burbs close in.
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Some interesting details here.
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Thanks.
The deal means that Wellington Lifestyle Partners will be able to construct its development on the Equestrian Village land used by the Global Dressage Festival at Wellington North. But there’s a quid pro quo, as was often discussed during the hearings. First, WLP and developer NEXUS need to build the expanded showgrounds on their property at Wellington South, a short distance away, where the Winter Equestrian Festival is held…
This explains who will pay for/do the showground development.
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Oh, if only it were so cut and dried. WEF is for sale and the owner of Nexus, Joe Lewis, has pled guilty to insider training.
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Well, I missed the insider trading thing. I would be shocked if they put an 85 yr old in jail, but who knows. The whole thing to me still seems like it has a lot of uncertainty about what/when, etc. But I do have a better understanding of the parties involved.
I saw a graphic posted somewhere the other day that is apparently the proposed long term plan for the redevelopment in Wellington. I am reposting my original marked up graphic taken from Google Maps, along with this graphic of the proposed changes. It shows the developer’s anticipated vision for the new dressage facility in the lower LH corner.
So maybe the end of massive, multi-month, hugely expensive shows in Florida and a shift back to more sustainable local ones, in less fancy showgrounds but with more opportunities for local, everyday riders?
Land use referendums made illegal in Florida? Oh, that Democratic Experiment…
In one of the various articles or meetings it was said that current Wellington Int’l is in need of upgrade/expansion, improvements if it wants to remain the top winter equestrian location in world. So the plan is to make those changes, along with adding dressage capability to replace the Global property.
So no, not a return to smaller “local” type shows.
It is interesting and I guess not surprising, that with the building of WEC in Ocala, there has been a noticeable reduction in attendance at our “local” shows in central Fla. I find that sad. There are many good things about WEC but it is missing that friendly local feel.
I sure hope not, that would be a tragedy.
Doesn’t WEC have air conditioning? I’ve read that they do…
Their website says they have 5 “climate controlled” indoor arenas. They have “climate controlled” stabling as well.
The climate controlled stabling is not exactly the same as the indoor arenas. Stabling big doors are often open due to horses coming/going, people coming/going, manure cans moved in and out, etc. That said, the whole thing is block, so stays cooler than just a wood type stabling. Each stall has fan and they have those “big ass” fans in the high ceilings as well. Arenas have less outside airflow and some type of temperature control. There have been times I’ve been cold in the barns because its cold outside. And times where I’ve worn jacket or sweatshirt in the indoor show rings. Also worth noting, WEC has a BUNCH of outdoor rings, used mainly now for H/J classes, lunging, etc but will soon open the separate dressage rings/barns and there are both outdoor and indoor in that section also.
It certainly looks fancy in the photos.
Have you been there in the summer heat? Are the indoors comfortable for the horses when it’s hot outside? If the summers keep getting hotter will the shows be able to go on in the indoors?
It seems (from afar) that the Wellington WEF is wanting to compete with the Ocala WEC.
Was there in late May, and late August and Sept. Indoors were, fine for the horses, I was chilly…They haven’t run shows in June/July/early August so dont know.
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I’ve been there in August. It was 95 outside, the barns were pretty comfortable - enough so that we were able to use the Bemer blanket and the horses were fine. The temperature in the indoors was cool enough that I was completely fine to wear my hunt coat and air vest and not get hot or even warm. My horse was fine - the temperature change is not abrupt as the doors are open so as you approach from the green mile it adjusts.
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The indoor rings are super comfortable. I was there in June, and I was shocked how hot it was outdoors when I stepped outside to use my phone at one point during the middle of the day. Lol.
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That could be why the Wellington WEF feels the need to compete with the Ocala WEC. “Climate control” will perhaps be very important in the future, especially for European horses used to a cooler climate, and the hotel and restaurant amenities may attract more international competitors who now winter in Florida for the WEF.
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Helgestrand took a huge financial hit with the video of their training methods, and nobody over there is thinking it’s going to return to old form any time soon, so that can’t be helping matters. As for WEF its had a long history of losing money, that’s how Bellissimo got it from Gene Mische in the first place. At the time a fair amount of people thought different management could help, but he had to pass it off to the equity group. So while I do think there’s a lot to be said for people taking their nickel and not putting capital improvements back into the facility, I think there’s more than a little bit of truth to it being harder to run it a profit than you might imagine.
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