Now that the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has ended in Las Vegas, it’s time to get ready for the new year. The holidays are rapidly approaching, and that means a whole new show season for equestrian sports.

If you’re reading this it is February, and the 2023 WEF, Winter Equestrian Festival season has started. The Winter Equestrian Festival is a 12-16 week long horse show circuit, and it’s my dream to attend one day. This years festival is 12 weeks and some change, but its expected to be as amazing as ever. Each week is a different show, division, etc. This makes it the largest and longest running equine competition in the world. The best riders from all over the world converge on Wellington, Florida like snowbirds during the thawing season.

Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) is the hub for all this horse-y madness. Known for it’s picturesque grounds, villages, competition and the wealth of its participants and spectators. Attending WEF is a sign that you’ve “made it”. Having any WEF related show on your horses USEF record and reflectively your record, people tend to give you a bit more benefit of the doubt. It’s like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show of the shows globally.

That being said, the show grounds are truly remarkable. There are 18 arenas, 256 permanent stalls, 57 miles of trails on the sprawling grounds and all and any streets are horse themed. While this is a temporary scene, the grounds stay pretty perfect through the year aside from the occasional bit of unpredictable Florida weather.

The Grand Prix Village rival the Olympic Villages, but they are the horse shows dormitory and other housing for the circuit. Mostly elite riders stay in the villages, but the show has everyone from 2 year old lead line riders to the top riders who could be 60 plus years old. We also can’t forget their equine counterparts, there are about 6 thousand horses that come into the area for the competition. All of these pairs are split into 70 divisions over the next few months to ease traffic of course. This is one of the few grounds that truly has a consistent mix of children riders, adult ammy’s (amateurs), and professionals crawling around at any given time.

WEF got really hot during the 1970’s at the height of show jumping and other equestrian sports. The International Polo Club called PBIEC home and it truly drew crowds like no other. Today its hard to imagine the general public so invested in any equestrian activity, but that was the case back in the day. Today the draw is the $13 million dollar prize pool over the 12 weeks of showing, and the equine athletes that cost probably around half a billion dollars combined.

As time goes on more money will trickle its way to the competition surely there will be more people and spectators rooting on the circuit. This years show runs from January 4th to April 2nd, 2023. All shows can be seen in person with a valid ticket to the event, or you can stream the shows online with a USEF membership, or through PBIEC provided links at home. Be sure to tune in to the scoreboard, watch the costume charity runs and partake as you can, we will be watching it on the big screen here at home for sure.