Wellington Classic Dressage Wraps Up a Successful Season

With dressage competitors from colder climates loading up and heading north, the Wellington Classic Dressage series is wrapping up with its final show -- the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge III on April 26-27.

After five months of shows, one thing is clear, the Wellington Classic Dressage series has become one of the Florida winter season's most popular series of dressage shows. "I can say, unequivocally, it was a resounding success," said Noreen O'Sullivan, show manager. "We had a great response from competitors and great support from sponsors, including Collecting Gaits Farm, the Title Sponsor for our Challenge Series.  For the first three shows we actually had to turn away a number of people."

Throughout the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Series, Presented by Collecting Gaits Farm, the shows consistently had four competition rings going -- the maximum ring space it had -- and played host to an average of 300 horses at each show. Among competitors was a large contingent of FEI-level riders hailing from all parts of the U.S. and abroad.

"We had a tremendous number of FEI-level riders and we were consistently running two FEI rings," O'Sullivan said. "What was also interesting is that there were so many different horses at each show. It wasn't the same group over and over. And we had a lot of new people this year who hadn't shown at any of our shows in past years. We had riders from the Midwest, from the West and even from Alaska. And we had many riders from outside of the U.S."

One of the highlights of the 2008 Wellington Classic Dressage series was the win by Shawna Harding and Come On III in the inaugural Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge of Champions. Harding earned $5,000 by winning a Prix St. Georges competition at the January, February and March Wellington Classic Dressage shows that were part of the challenge series. Also up for grabs in the Challenge of Champions was a $10,000 Grand Prix prize. Danish rider Lars Petersen was one show away from winning the prize, but missed the third show in the series because his Grand Prix partner, Succes, sustained a minor injury and needed a couple weeks of rest.  O'Sullivan said the Challenge of Champions will also be held during the 2009 season, but it hopefully won't be the only prize money up for grabs next season. "We're developing more relationships with sponsors and are hoping to bring more prize money to the series," she said. "Hopefully, that will provide even more incentive for riders. We do understand that showing is very expensive for them, especially in the upper levels. So, our plan is to offer prize money in several classes."

Another first during the 2008 Wellington Classic Dressage series was the airing of FEI-level rides online through DressageClinic.com.  O'Sullivan was one of the first show managers to embrace the idea. "Being able to have our sport more accessible to people will have many positive repercussions in terms of sponsorship and public interest," O'Sullivan said. "Network television has never been very interested and when it airs dressage, even the Olympics, it's televised at like 3 a.m in the morning. DressageClinic.com is a unique idea that allows dressage fans to access this coverage on demand from their PC.  I think this will be great for the growth of our sport and great for our sponsors."

Clearly, that growth is already occurring as the Wellington Classic Dressage series has shown. This year's series was bursting at the seams with the result that an additional day is being added to most shows next year. The Saturday and Sunday shows will add Friday classes and the three-day CDI shows will expand to four days. And yes, that's CDI show s , with an 's.' This year, the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center played host to one CDI, The Gold Coast Opener CDIW/Y but that is expected to double for the 2009 season.

"The big news is that we have applied for another CDI, which will be the Wellington Classic February show," O'Sullivan said. "It's pending final approval as a CDI***/Y. And, we have applied for a high performance competition for the March show, which also will again be a Brentina Cup and NAJYRC qualifier."

The Jim Brandon Equestrian Center was the venue for the 2008 Wellington Classic Dressage series and will be again for 2009. O'Sullivan said the facility certainly played a role in making the 2008 series both competitor- and spectator-friendly. "It's a beautiful place and you have a good view of the action from most everywhere. In addition, everything is very convenient," she said.

The 2008 Wellington Classic Dressage series may be drawing to a close, but time flies and the new season will be here in the blink of an eye. And no doubt, competitors, spectators and the Wellington Classic Dressage staff are already looking forward to the upcoming year.

"There is a big growth in the sport of dressage, which is wonderful. There are new riders and new horses getting into the sport and the quality of both is increasing. So, every year is more exciting. And next year will be an exciting World Cup season with the World Cup scheduled for Las Vegas. I'm certain 2009 will be just as successful, if not more so, than this year," O'Sullivan said. 

For more show information on Wellington Classic Dressage: www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com