Behind-the-Scenes at WEF Horseware Week

The Winter Equestrian Festival is known as one of the premier winter circuit showing locations. Located in Wellington, Florida, the showground spans over 500 acres with 18 rings and over 250 permanent stalls. WEF attracts riders from all over the US and over 30 countries where they make their winter home in Wellington.

This year, as part of the Horseware Ireland partnership with WEF, two team Horseware team members were given the opportunity to attend WEF during Horseware Week. Nina Filette, Sponsorship & Events Executive, and Erin Gregory, US Marketing Coordinator, packed their bags to head to sunny Florida for a week of showing.  Both experiencing WEF for the very first time, they’re back sharing what it was like to be behind the scenes at one of the biggest global horses.

Where did you travel from to get to WEF?

Erin: I’m based out of Asheville, North Carolina so it was a quick trip down flying into West Palm Beach.

Nina: For me, it was a little further, I`m based in the Netherlands.

What did you expect WEF to be like?

Nina: To be honest, I didn`t really know what to expect besides the warms. I knew the venue would be huge and that there`s a different mix of Showjumpers, Hunters, Equitation, amateurs, and professionals.

Erin: I was expecting the top, elite athletes, both horses, and riders. This high level of competition attracts the best of the best in the hunter/jumper world. I also expected to be overwhelmed by the massiveness of the showgrounds and the number of rings.  Mentally, I was prepared for it to be extremely busy and feel somewhat chaotic with the number of classes on the prize list. With the showgrounds being so expansive, I was also prepared to feel lost for the first few days.

Were your expectations fulfilled?

Nina: Absolutely, it was way better than I could have imagined! There was a lot to see and to experience, seeing amateurs and the top class professionals competing in rings next to each other, the younger pony kids, etc. … it was very unique to me and I haven`t seen anything comparable before!

Erin: It was amazing to see such athletic horse and rider combos in the rings performing the jobs they love, whether it was a hunter or a jumper. I also appreciated seeing that, just like me, some of those riders were having stellar days and others were having a day that required more work. My expectation of the “perfect” WEF rider disappeared and realizeed every one of us has our good and not-so-great days in the ring; was a nice reminder that we’re all having similar experiences with our horses.

What was your favorite part about WEF?

Erin: I think my favorite part was being at a horse show and not having to get up at 5 am! But in all honesty, I think it was watching a few rounds of the Adult/Amateur Hunters. I just recently got a project horse that’s turning my former jumper self into a hunter, so it was amazing to watch the fancy hunters at WEF. Seeing these thoughtfully-ridden rounds executed so patiently was beautiful to experience in person.

Nina: Definitely the atmosphere. It was so relaxed for such a busy event and everyone just seemed very calm in and outside the arenas. And the variety of horses and riders you could watch was super interesting. I could have spent there another few weeks because you just don`t get bored!

What’s your most memorable Winter Equestrian Festival moment?

Nina: The Horseware Grand Prix 4* on Saturday night, being the class sponsor makes it just extra special. We had great horses and riders in the very exciting jump-off. The atmosphere and the crowd were amazing and to then see Laura Kraut on Confu winning was for sure a night for the Horseware books!

Erin: There were so many memorable moments at WEF! My younger, teenage self would be beyond excited if she knew about all the moments the older version of her was going to experience. I think one of my most memorable moments was when we went over to the Global Dressage Festival to present awards to the CDI1* FEI Prix St Georges winners. The person who won the class, Leah Tenney, was ecstatic with her win because it was her first CDI event. Her smile from ear to ear reminded me about working towards a goal and accomplishing that goal with your equine partner. It was a really special moment we were able to be a tiny part of.

How were you feeling about traveling to the US for the first time?

Nina: I have been traveling a lot for work lately but going to the US was definitely a different experience. But to be honest, I loved it and can`t wait to be back!

Where there any difference in the setup of this US-based horse show compared to those in Europe?

Nina: In Europe, we rarely have tournaments held over several weeks, but the biggest difference is properly that we don`t have any Hunter and Equitation classes yet.

What are you excited for about WEF in 2023?

Erin: I’m excited to see our partnership with WEF expand and evolve. Being on the showgrounds and in person was inspiring and we’ve already been talking about ideas for 2023.  We hope to engage with the riders at the show while also being more inclusive of anyone following along digitally!

Nina: I can`t wait! WEF is one of Horseware`s biggest sponsorships in the States and we have so many exciting ideas for the next years. We always aim to make the most out of our events and connect globally. As Erin said, we want to share as many of those incredible sporting moments as possible!