For many equine professionals, winter in Wellington, Florida, is one of the busiest yet most rewarding times of the year. Every year, December through April, riders migrate to the area to escape the cold, train intensely, and compete internationally. Thousands of riders, horses, and professionals arrive in town for events like the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF). Life there is fast-paced, demanding, and filled with opportunities to make career-defining connections and successes within the industry. Here’s a closer look at what it’s like to be a trainer in Wellington during the winter season.
1. Setting Up for the Season
Preparations for the winter season start well before December, with trainers securing housing and boarding for their horses and staff, arranging schedules with clients, and planning for an intensive competition season. Many trainers work with owners to bring horses to Wellington for the season to continue training, gain international exposure, or sell clients’ horses.
More intense schedules often mean more help. Trainers will hire additional staff, including grooms, exercise riders, and assistants, to help manage the increased workload during the busy season. While working student positions exist with trainers all over the country, there is nothing more exciting for young professionals than working as a working student for a season in Wellington for a respected role model.
2. Daily Schedule
A day in the life during the Wellington season typically begins before dawn. Whether that be riding their own horses, client horses, or teaching lessons, trainers start early before the heat of the day. Some trainers may be at one facility all day, but oftentimes traveling around Wellington to various farms and competitions is common. Unfortunately days off are few and far between for most trainers. With weekends reserved for competition, it is easy and sometimes necessary to work 7 days a week juggling training sessions, client lessons, and everyday barn chores.
3. Client Management and Relationship-Building
Wellington is as much about networking and business development as it is about competition. Many clients are not only athletes but also horse owners and sponsors, making it essential for trainers to build and maintain strong professional relationships. With so many riders and owners in Wellington, trainers have ample opportunity to demonstrate their skills, which can lead to new business and valuable long-term connections. Show results, reputation, and word-of-mouth recommendations play a large role in the success of one’s business, and a season in Wellington helps riders and trainers do just that.
4. Challenges of the Wellington Season
While rewarding, training in Wellington during the winter season comes with its share of difficulties. The intense competition schedule can be physically and mentally demanding, and balancing the needs of clients, horses, and staff requires constant energy and adaptability. Trainers are often on the go from dawn until dusk, with little downtime. Both trainers and staff often experience burnout throughout the season. It is important to prioritize your own well being, balance, and rest when scheduling, taking on additional clients, or registering for shows.
In addition, spending the winter in Wellington comes with a large financial commitment. Between travel, facility rentals, entry fees, stabling, hay prices, etc., trainers must budget carefully when planning the season.
5. Why Trainers Keep Coming Back
Many trainers are drawn to Wellington season after season because of the invaluable experiences and opportunities for growth, learning, and success. From riding, competing, and gaining exposure in the equestrian capital of the world, trainers not only get to share and show off their own expertise, but also watch and learn from the world’s most accomplished competitors. For many trainers, winter in Wellington represents the pinnacle of their career and a season of personal and professional rewards.