Palm Beach Riding Academy Appeal to Wellington

This is an exciting time for our sport. With the establishment of the USEF town hall meetings, and the growth and success of the FTI WEF and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, I believe all signs are pointing up for our industry.At The Palm Beach Riding Academy we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of this evolution.  We are members of the Palm Beach County Horseman's Association, United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), we are an affiliate member of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). We operate with a very high moral standard and aim to be the model riding academy in the country.For those that have limited knowledge of who we are and what we do; we are a 3 faceted organization. We have a traditional show barn, a traditional riding lesson barn and a community oriented department given the sole responsibility of providing an avenue for those less privileged to participate in our wonderful sport at a world class facility.The third part is my favorite, as it is something that no other organization is doing on the scale that we intend to.  Through our partnership with FTI – WEF and AGDF, we are able utilize their resources to provide scholarships and sponsorship programs to help children access our sport, that otherwise would not be able to.We have already accomplished some of these goals with our Ride and Learn clinic series and Sidelines Magazine contest. The Ride and Learn clinic series is an affordable education platform to allow riders to train with some of the worlds’ top riders and trainers.  Through sponsorship and our partnership with FTI-WEF, we were able to host these sessions in the show rings at both the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and the AGDF.  All sessions were very well attended, and a majority of the participants were not in a financial position to be able to train with these highly esteemed trainers on a regular basis.The Sidelines Magazine contest offered the opportunity for a 14 year old boy to experience the FTI-WEF with all expenses paid - including showing one of our horses.  He was able to personally meet some of the top trainers and riders in our sport.  The young man described the weekend as a “dream come true”, as he had never had the opportunity to compete at a rated show before.Going forward, we plan to continue and enhance both of these programs, as well as many more like them.We are currently in dialogue with the local schools, to establish an IEA team, which provides an equal opportunity for all children to take part in our sport at an extremely discounted rate.  With the help of all of our partners, we’re able to keep the cost of becoming a member of the riding team equivalent to that of joining a local baseball or soccer league team.  Which is extraordinary considering the norm for our sport.As is commonly known, this wonderful sport plays a significant role in the upbringing of our children.  It teaches them responsibility, and time management skills.  It teaches them to think of something or someone other than themselves.  It teaches them to win with humility and teaches them to lose graciously.In a world where physical education and sportsmanship is threatened by budget cuts within our schools, and extra-curricular activities are limited, we would like to contribute to filling that void.

Unfortunately in Wellington there is a disconnect. There is a debate as to the relevance and significance of the AGDF facility. As inhabitants of this facility, we receive a significant portion of the impact and negative ramifications of this debate.   For the last 5 months we have sat quietly and operated as per usual without resistance or complaint.  “Business as per usual” for us is not typical of most equine operations nation-wide.  We are under constant scrutiny as to our mode of operations.  The restrictions imposed upon our water usage is tedious to say the least.  We continue to exceed all of the guidelines set forth by the village with regards to BMP and waste and manure management.  We are happy to continue to do so indefinitely.Despite receiving our fair share of obstacles as a result of the political environment that has overwhelmed the community as of late, we are growing, thriving in fact!  Continuing to maintain residence at the AGDF facility is vital to our growth.  The positive impact on this community is necessary, as there is no other organization like ours in the region.  If we are given the opportunity to continue our operation over the summer at the AGDF facility, our business hours will be only between dawn and dusk.  There will be no impact on traffic flow.  Noise to neighboring communities will not be a factor.  For the most part, no one will even know that we are there.  Not to mention, that if the facility were left vacant over the summer, it would be difficult to maintain with regards to landscape management.I’m asking anyone involved with the decisions regarding the status of the AGDF facility to please consider the effect it will have on the Palm Beach Riding Academy and all of the initiatives that we have started and hope to continue to grow on in the future. This sport needs us to be successful.  Wellington needs us to be successful.  With community support and the backing of the Village Council, we can be.

Sincerely,

Sean Jones

General Manager Palm Beach Riding Academy.  Equine Canada Certified Coach, USHJA Certified Trainer.www.PalmBeachRidingAcademy.com(561) 758-1664