Commentary by the Steering Committee

There was a universal feeling of exhilaration immediately following the Village council’s decision to allow the derby and dressage season and the GDF at the new Equestrian Village venue. And while everyone is excited that we will have a 2013 GDF and derby events, the reality is that our equestrian industry remains tethered to the surreal political dynamics of Wellington.    

Any other city council would be discussing how it could help make an equestrian season a success so that the economic and financial benefits to residents and businesses are maximized. In Wellington, however, we are elated by an action that should not have been needed in the first place.  

Our council discussed conditions and restrictions rather than making Wellington a world-class dressage destination.   

We do not have leadership in Wellington. We do not have a chief executive or legislative body providing a vision and inspiration. Instead, we have a majority of council members who themselves have stated they are concerned with “the process”.  The council behaves more like a code enforcement board than a legislative body. They’ve repeatedly said that their mission is to enforce rules in reference to the equestrian industry. That is not leadership. That is bureaucracy.

So long as the Council majority can punish Wellington Equestrian Partners they seem not to care about the collateral damage to residents and businesses. This has been repeatedly pointed out by council members Howard Coates and Anne Gerwig. Councilman Coates refers to the actions of the majority as a “scorched earth” approach that is political payback that damages Wellington residents and businesses.    

The local media have publicly connected the dots from the campaign contributions in March to the deleterious actions of the council majority. Below is a recent editorial from the Palm Beach Post. It describes the Council’s selective and punitive enforcement of rules.

We thank the council for its actions regarding the 2013 dressage season. The eyes of the international equestrian community were on us. Cancellation of the 2013 season at the new venue would have been devastating to Wellington’s equestrian reputation and costly to its residents and businesses.

We thank the Council for not accepting the unrealistic conditions being demanded by the Jacobs family in exchange for their support of dressage. The Jacobs offer of support was disingenuous. Imposition of their conditions would have meant no derby and dressage season. Their offer of “support” was cynical.

It is frustrating and disappointing, however, to have the Village council majority continue to spend what will be hundreds of thousands of dollars of our tax money to implement the Jacobs’ agenda and to damage us.

A covered arena would be wonderful for us to use now. It’s hot and sunny here in South Florida. A covered arena is something full-time Wellington residents have sought for decades. But the fact is a  majority on the Village Council has denied us the ability to use this facility year round and our money is being spent on lawyers to defend these and other actions that are restricting us and our sport.

The covered arena is named the Van Kampen Arena in memory of the late investor Robert Van Kampen, who established a family legacy of philanthropy and charitable giving. The Van Kampen Arena was to be available 30 days a year for use by charities and non-profit organizations. Kimberly Boyer, one of Robert Van Kampen’s three daughters who is extensively involved in the local equestrian community, was instrumental in spearheading creation of the dressage facility.

Now the Village has made the arena unavailable during the months it is needed most and unavailable for 30 charity events, and the barns cannot be used as a safe-haven during times of emergency such as the current flooding of barns throughout the Equestrian Preserve.

Mayor Bob Margolis helped spearhead creation of the legal wall that prevents us from using the venue year round. We ask: “Mayor Margolis, tear down that wall”.  

It takes only one more vote on the council to provide stability to the equestrian industry. We ask that the Mayor place our interests above special interests. Please put an end to the lawsuits and let’s all work together for the betterment of Wellington.