35th Winter Equestrian Festival Is “The Place to Be,” Say Top Riders at Press Conference in Wellington, Florida
“This is the place to be,” was a remark reiterated by members of the elite panel of participants in this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival as they met with the media today to provide preview commentary and answer questions on the horse show, which opens tomorrow, Wednesday, January 24, and runs through March 19 in Wellington, Florida.
More than 40 members of the press attended the press conference and luncheon held in the Jockey Club of the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. On the dais to answer questions were: U.S. show jumping Olympic Team Gold Medalists Beezie Madden and Chris Kappler, nine-time Canadian show jumping Olympian Ian Miller, U.S. show jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris, dressage champion Arlene Page, and hunter riders Louise Serio and Holly Orlando. Michael Morrissey, executive director of Stadium Jumping, Inc. and manager of the Winter Equestrian Festival also participated on the panel.
Morrissey noted that 2006 is the 34th year for the Winter Equestrian Festival, which features seven consecutive weeks of show jumping in Wellington. He pointed out that the number of Europeans entered in this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) will make it one of the most exciting and international competitions in the show’s history. Morrissey advised that the premier weeks for show jumping action will be Week 6 (March 1-5) rated by the FEI (Federation Equestre International) as a five-star show, which will showcase top international jumpers, and Week 7 (March 8-12), which features a CSIO Nations’ Cup competition.
Kicking off the riders’ comments, celebrated hunter rider Holly Orlando made the definitive statement of the conference, “This is by far the place to be this time of year.” Orlando explained, “All the top hunter riders are here that we showed with at indoors and other places throughout the year. This is my favorite horse show. I love being here for this amount of time.” Orlando also explained the keys to winning in the hunter ring, “turn-out makes the first impression, and then the horse must be a good mover and a good jumper – high, square, smooth, and quiet. The rider can let the horse show itself off.”
Hunter rider Louise Serio, a founder of the American Hunter Jumper Foundation (AHJF), which launched in 1991, described the organization’s featured WEF class - the Hunter Classic, held at night under lights. “One of our biggest events in the AHJF is the night class, the only time we show under lights, which will be held here on February 18th in this beautiful field,” she said, indicating the Internationale Arena that back-dropped the press conference luncheon. The class was started in 1997 and is now one of the most competitive in the sport, as riders qualify to compete in it during the WEF. The Hunter Classic showcases competition for professionals, amateurs, and juniors. The event begins at 7:00 pm and spectators can reserve tables in the Jockey Club or picnic on the berms.
“This year is going to be huge at the Winter Equestrian Festival for dressage,” stated Arlene Page, pointing out that the 2006 USEF National Grand Prix Freestyle Championship/U.S. League Final on March 17-18, will also serve as the selection of the rider who will represent the U.S. at the FEI Dressage World Cup in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 20-23. “This is a hugely important competition for us,” said Page, noting that it is the showcase of the year for riders. “It’s very exciting for the public, exciting certainly for the riders and will be very competitive.” Page also noted that in the U.S. “dressage is about to be born” – she explained that the sport has been evolving for 20 years at WEF, and that the CDI competitions will lead to a CDIO (equivalent of show jumping’s Nations’ Cups) by 2008.
Prior to introducing show jumping Chef d’Equipe George Morris, the press conference organizer, Mason Phelps of Phelps Media Group, Inc. International, noted some of the upcoming highlights for that sport: the $200,000 FTI Riders Challenge, awarded to the top four riders based on points from the Grand Prix competitions held every Thursday and Sunday at WEF; the Global Championship Tour – a six Grand Prix tour, which begins in Wellington on March 4, with a purse of 150,000 euros awarded to the winner, and then continues on to France, Monaco, Germany, Portugal, and Holland, each awarded 150,000 euros for a total purse of 600,000 euros.
“This is also the place to be for jumpers,” stated Morris, acknowledging Orlando’s remark. He noted that the Europeans had “discovered” the Winter Equestrian Festival and the increasing numbers of international riders competing here is a boon to U.S. show jumpers as it makes the competition better. Morris also pointed out that WEF is only the beginning of a long season for the top show jumpers. “There’s so much so soon, you’ve got to be a very good horseman, especially if you have a horse aimed for the WEG (World Equestrian Games),” he said. “My role here is as an observer. I watch how people manage their horse, how much or how little they’re showing their horses. See how they’re progressing. My interest is the last show – the CSIO and the Nations’ Cup. After the last show here we have the American Invitational, the World Cup Finals, the WEG, and the Super League. This is my preparation for those things.”
The legendary Ian Millar is competing in all seven weeks of show jumping at this year’s WEF and has been in Wellington since mid-December. “It has been very interesting watching this facility ramp up for these events. This facility, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘vision’ – Gene Mische and his team have really seen the direction of the sport globally and positioned this facility to essentially occupy a quarter to a third of this year’s international momentum. This is a very big deal here. Following the vision is the commitment to make it happen. Gene’s team is very clearly about improving the sport and there is tremendous energy of everyone around here to bring it online.
“It’s a great pleasure and honor to be here,” Millar continued. “I think all international riders feel that way. When you get this much quantity of quality in one place at one time it makes it interesting how the horse/rider combinations play off each other and it just makes everybody better. That’s why everybody wants to be here. They leave here better as riders, better trainers, better horseman, and the horses go away better horses.” Millar noted that his top international horses for this year’s WEF are his Athens Olympic mount Promise Me; In Style; and a new horse, Redefin.
Prior to introducing U.S. Olympians Kappler and Madden, press conference organizer Mason Phelps noted that on February 5, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) will hold an official ceremony to present the Athens Olympic Gold Medals to the four show jumpers who competed there (McLain Ward and Peter Wylde were the other two team members.)
Kappler noted that the #1 goal for the international American show jumpers this year is the WEG, which will be held in Aachen, Germany, this summer. “That’s one of the biggest events you can possibly do every four years,” stated Kappler. “It’s a very big and important competition for the Americans because it will be right in the Germans’ homeland and they will be very difficult to beat there. What that has to do with this circuit is that this circuit is fantastic preparation. You’re going to see a lot of the top riders. Some will come out early, some will be waiting. You’re going to see the different strategies of the riders to get their horses prepared.”
Kappler pointed out that the riders will also compete in three World Cup Qualifiers at WEF (February 19, March 5, and March 26) to qualify to represent the U.S. at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kappler additionally named the Super League held in Europe as an important series for show jumpers after WEF. “Those three things are really big after here,” Kappler said. “This is such a great facility to prepare for all those things. To make it even better, there’s a lot of prize money.” Kappler also noted that the WEF presents a wealth of equestrian sport, from ponies to hunters to Grand Prix. “It’s a great family sport.”
Kappler’s international mounts this season will be his new mare VDL Oranta, and a long-time partner Primeur 58.
Madden commented, “I’m excited about this season. I have probably the best string of horses I’ve ever had down here and they’re ready to compete.” She is aiming two of her horses for the World Equestrian Games, and preparing her other mounts for additional international competition including the World Cup Finals. “Anything that happens here really becomes our schedule for the summer. The World Equestrian Games are important and this show determines who is in the running for that.” Madden also complimented Gene Mische and Stadium Jumping for the improvements made to the show grounds. “Every year it seems to improve and keeps us all coming back. Now we’re getting the Europeans to come here too.” Madden pointed out that in addition to the international horses, riders can also bring their young horses, which is very productive and a great advantage in the show world.
Madden’s international horses this year are her Olympic mount Authentic, plus DeSilvio, stallion Judgment, and a new horse Play On.
“Strategy, strategy, strategy is the key to this whole seven-week competition,” summed up Millar, “we’re beginning the first of the year at the very top level of difficulty. It would like any other sport starting with their play-offs.”
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