U.S. Equestrian, the national governing body of 29 equestrian breeds and disciplines in the United States, is currently holding its annual membership meeting at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. The event opened Wednesday, Jan. 8 and continues through Saturday, Jan. 12.
“2019 will be the first year in many years that we chose to relocate our annual membership meeting from Lexington, Ky., where our offices are based, to another location,” U.S. Equestrian President Murray Kessler said. “West Palm Beach was an obvious choice for us. The sunshine, cultural attractions, dining and shopping are a bonus for those who will be attending from out of town. In addition, a large number of our members and competitors are already here in the Wellington and Palm Beach area. Our goal was to increase their access and availability to this meeting. We are very excited to be hosting it here.”
U.S. Equestrian estimates that more than 300 people will be attending the annual meeting. Wellington and the Palm Beaches are known throughout the international equestrian community as the “winter equestrian capital of the world.”
According to George Linley, executive director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, the local economy continues to receive ancillary benefits from Wellington’s equestrian industry.
“The U.S. Equestrian annual meeting is another economic benefit the county will enjoy from Wellington’s international equestrian industry, and another reason the sports commission supports the industry financially and otherwise,” Linley said. “The annual meeting translates into booked hotel rooms and local spending following the post-holiday slack period in the tourism industry. We are hoping that U.S. Equestrian and other equestrian organizations will hold future meetings in the Palm Beaches.”
Wellington-based Equestrian Sport Productions produces the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Global Dressage Festival, both of which are under the purview of U.S. Equestrian. More than 6,000 horses from more than 40 countries compete during the competitions that run from January through March.
“The local equestrian community is very pleased and proud that U.S. Equestrian is holding its annual meeting in the Palm Beaches,” Equestrian Sport Productions President Michael Stone said. “Any horse person from around the world can tell you that Wellington is the place to be this time of year for equestrian sport.”
For more info., visit www.usef.org.
