More than 200 equestrians from the disciplines of show jumping, hunters, dressage, and polo gathered at the Winter Equestrian Festival Welcome Party held on Wednesday evening, January 25, following the first day of competition at the 34th annual Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Gene Mische’s Stadium Jumping, Inc. hosted the party at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Held poolside under balmy skies, the Welcome Party treated guests to cocktails and Polynesian hors d’oeuvres spiked with flavorful Mexican treats, accompanied by a talented soloist whose music added tropical flair to the island-themed environs.
The International Polo Club Palm Beach was the perfect setting for the annual party as the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) is currently hosting the largest representation of international riders in its 34-year history. Among the stellar roster of this year’s competitors from Europe and South America is Brazilian Olympian Rodrigo Pessoa, the #2 ranked rider in the world, who was attending his very first WEF Welcome Party.
Also new to the Wellington social scene, two new Silver Sponsors of the WEF attended their inaugural Welcome Party: Jon and Tammy Williams, owners of Davlyn Farms in California. The couple enjoyed the event along with their trainer Chance Arakalian. Greg Bradshaw attended the occasion, representing another new Silver Sponsor, Fidelity Investments of Massachusetts. As WEF Silver Sponsors, Davlyn Farms is sponsoring the First Year Green Hunter Division, and Fidelity Investments is sponsoring the Children’s Jumper Section A (for riders 13 years of age and under).
Many of the Wellington scene’s movers-and-shakers were also on hand, including real estate investor Mark Bellissimo and his wife Katherine Bellissimo. Bellissimo’s Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC, in collaboration with Stadium Jumping, Inc., recently purchased nearly 300 acres in Wellington, which will allow the WEF show grounds to expand as well as provide land for new equestrian-related residential and commercial establishments.
Also in attendance to welcome visitors and residents to the Winter Equestrian Festival was the Mayor of Wellington, Tom Wenham.
With such an engaging list of invitees, the Welcome Party proved to be a lovely evening that lingered on well past the scheduled two hours as guests remained immersed in conversations and felt truly welcomed to this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival.
Guests included: Dale Connor, Jay Golding, Donna Ursprung, Ron Neal, Carolyn Vincent, Danielle and Jimmy Torano, Laura and Mike Schultz, Richard Schecter, Wendy Powers, Kathy Moore, Eric and Adelaine Negre, Fred and Bev Koch, Caroline and Stewart Johnson, Mason Phelps, Kendra Cecieta, Mary Hilton, Bob Drennan, Anne Millor, Paul Butterworth, Jessica Newman, Michael and Laura Whitlow, Maria Newman, Bob and Alexandra Pozzo, Michael Brown, Tom Wenham, Carol and Cardi Saunders, Toni Goss, Don and Mary Moricoli, and Steve and Debbie Stephens.
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