Florida is a mecca for winter equestrian sport in all of the english disciplines. And why not? It’s warm, it’s relatively dry, and you can’t beat that sandy footing.
So when my friend J made her second trip down to Ocala to work and train with Schramm Equestrian, it didn’t take any much convincing to cobble together a plan and visit for the Wellington Eventing Showcase.
Since highlights of the trip include a marked lack of sleep, the introduction of multiple patches of sunburn, and a lot of wine, I’m feeling a bit foggy this morning trying to process everything.
He wanted to come home with me. Oh yes he did.
Wellington specifically though… made me feel poor. Here live the ultimate .001% surely, since nowhere else would you be caught wearing stilettos at a horse show. It was eye-opening to see the practices of the equestrian elite, including pruning their palm trees to the nines, hand grazing their horses in lieu of turn out, and so much more.
I will say, the only obvious commonality I have with the residents of Wellington is a love of horses, and wine. For once, my group was not the only ones to be found carting about coolers filled with arrays of chardonnay and pinot grigio. We made plenty of friends with fellow spectators who in true eventing style, were more than happy to share the shade of a palm tree and pass glasses of wine to and fro.
While I can’t wait to share with you the thousand photos I took, some really exciting portrait sessions (at least to me), more stories will have to be saved for future posts!
Red on the Right 
That last pic. OMG. Belongs in a magazine, that is seriously just too cool!
Aww thanks! Really couldn’t find a much better backdrop 🙂
I am SOOOO jealous! I wanted to go to the showcase since the first time they ran it. I had it on live stream all day Sunday while I was working at a jumper show and everyone else was tuning in with me cheering everyone on!
Oh nice! I definitely recommend going down- it’s quite the experience, and I only hope it grows in the coming years!
Me too! I would love it is able to be aired on TV in the next few years
Yeah, that photo of Boyd is amazing! Can’t wait to see the rest!
So many more coming 😉
I was down there working and now I’m officially spoiled. I mean they had pellegrino in the media area and air conditioned bathrooms. My first real event might be a shock! haha
Oh my gosh- to work down there! I can only imagine- definitely a dream job!
THAT LAST PHOTO!!! wow!!! You nailed that shot, girl! Sounds like a very interesting trip!
Thanks!!! I took soooo many photos, it’s going to take a miracle to get through them all!
Sounds like a great trip – can’t wait to see your pictures!
Lots and lots and LOTS of pictures to come 😀
From your social it looked like a super fun trip!!! Especially love that XC fence through the VIP tent!
That fence ended up being really neat! Despite the fact that many of the men had to duck riding into the tent haha XD
I so enjoyed following your adventure via social media and can’t wait to hear the stories!!!!
Stories coming!!! 😀 😀
I have been to that exact same barn! Rebecca’s boss worked out of there for a year.
No way! That’s crazy. It was a STUNNING barn!
I’ve always wanted to visit Wellington, just once!
Do it!!!
The fact that they can still be cool eventers even in fancy pants Wellington is awesome and makes me love the sport even more. LOVE the pic of Welcome Shadow
It was definitely an experience. And we were cheering for Welcome Shadow the whole time, so glad she won!
Me too! She’s from my hometown of Millbrook NY where I also foxhunted (not on a horse as nice as her lol) so I am so excited to watch her progress!
I want to go to Florida and soak in all the horse stuff and get away from all this rain!!!