Wellington International announced today that the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) will now feature two $500,000 CSI5* grand prix offerings ahead of the season finale $750,000 Rolex Grand Prix. Highlighted by 12 weeks of consecutive FEI competition, WEF continues through March 30 in Wellington, FL.
In addition to the previously announced increase in prize money to $750,000 for the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix, a Rolex Series event, prize money for both the Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix on February 22 and Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix on March 8 have both been increased to $500,000. A group effort between Wellington International, Lugano, Bainbridge Companies and the US Equestrian Open has made the added prize money this season possible and represents nearly a half a million dollars in elevated prize money across the three top sport jumping events.
“We are incredibly grateful to our longstanding partners; Lugano, Bainbridge Companies and the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) for joining us in our efforts to raise the level for WEF 2025,” said Murray S. Kessler, Wellington International CEO. “Our overarching goal for Wellington International is to remain the premier horse sport destination in the world. One of the most effective ways to accomplish that goal is to attract the best riders in the world, and increased prize money is one important way that we can do that.”
Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival is the only horse show series in the United States to host four five-star competitions, the highest international jumping level, where this season eight of the top 10 ranked riders in the world and 35 Paris 2024 Olympic riders will compete.
Kessler concluded “New LED stadium lighting, a new jumbotron, increases in prize money along with the Rolex Series Finale and the world’s best riders are sure to make for an exciting and memorable 2025 season.”
Kicking off with the $500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix, momentum is already building for the second half of the WEF season, which will include six weeks of consecutive four- and five-star action.
WEF 7 | February 19-23
$500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix
WEF 8 | February 26 – March 2
$150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* presented by Florida Coast Equipment & $200,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix, presented by JTWG, Inc.
WEF 9 | March 5-9
$500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix
WEF 10 | March 12-16
$215,000 Horseware Ireland CSI4* Grand Prix
WEF 11 | March 19-23
$200,000 KASK CSI4* Grand Prix
Rolex Finale Week | March 26-30
$750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, a Rolex Series Event
In addition to the previously announced increase in prize money to $750,000 for the Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix, a Rolex Series event, prize money for both the Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix on February 22 and Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix on March 8 have both been increased to $500,000. A group effort between Wellington International, Lugano, Bainbridge Companies and the US Equestrian Open has made the added prize money this season possible and represents nearly a half a million dollars in elevated prize money across the three top sport jumping events.
“We are incredibly grateful to our longstanding partners; Lugano, Bainbridge Companies and the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) for joining us in our efforts to raise the level for WEF 2025,” said Murray S. Kessler, Wellington International CEO. “Our overarching goal for Wellington International is to remain the premier horse sport destination in the world. One of the most effective ways to accomplish that goal is to attract the best riders in the world, and increased prize money is one important way that we can do that.”
Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival is the only horse show series in the United States to host four five-star competitions, the highest international jumping level, where this season eight of the top 10 ranked riders in the world and 35 Paris 2024 Olympic riders will compete.
Kessler concluded “New LED stadium lighting, a new jumbotron, increases in prize money along with the Rolex Series Finale and the world’s best riders are sure to make for an exciting and memorable 2025 season.”
Kicking off with the $500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix, momentum is already building for the second half of the WEF season, which will include six weeks of consecutive four- and five-star action.
WEF 7 | February 19-23
$500,000 Lugano CSI5* Grand Prix
WEF 8 | February 26 – March 2
$150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* presented by Florida Coast Equipment & $200,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix, presented by JTWG, Inc.
WEF 9 | March 5-9
$500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix
WEF 10 | March 12-16
$215,000 Horseware Ireland CSI4* Grand Prix
WEF 11 | March 19-23
$200,000 KASK CSI4* Grand Prix
Rolex Finale Week | March 26-30
$750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, a Rolex Series Event