Wellington International is pleased to announce that an agreement has been finalized with Wellington Equestrian Partners to organize the 2023 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Equestrian Village facility as in previous years. The team at Wellington International, organizers of the Winter Equestrian Festival, will be responsible for the 2023 AGDF and, despite a short timeline, will work diligently to provide an enhanced experience for all participants, guests, and fans.

“We know that dressage competitors and spectators have been eagerly awaiting news of the 2023 AGDF season, and we are happy to report that our team will once again be working hard to put forth an exciting, memorable, and safe event. Our staff is very familiar with the competition, hospitality, and other logistics of AGDF at the Equestrian Village venue, so we expect to be able to continue the tradition of excellence this upcoming winter,” said Michael Stone, President at Wellington International.

“Wellington Equestrian Partners has every confidence in the team at Wellington International to effectively operate the 2023 AGDF, and we are happy to be working with such a well-established partner in the equestrian and events industry. Our organizations will work together to ensure the success of the 2023 show, as well as continue to discuss and plan for long-term enhancements in order to elevate AGDF to an even greater level in the future,” commented Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners.

The 2023 AGDF will operate from January 11th through March 31st, 2023. The horse show will feature eight weeks of international dressage competition and two weeks of international paradressage competition, offering locals plenty of chances to get up close and personal with many of the sport’s World and Olympic medalists. Friday Night Stars is the highlight of the weekly dressage competition at AGDF, offering the ideal chance to experience firsthand the impressive skills of the world’s top dressage participants. Featuring the Grand Prix Freestyle, the event showcases the highest degree of difficulty in the sport, with talented riders and their horses performing technical movements in sync with songs of their choice under the lights. In 2023, there will be eight Friday Night Stars held during AGDF.

“The founder and CEO of the Global Equestrian Group, Andreas Helgstrand, is a household name in the dressage world and has a passion for the discipline, so we are thrilled to finally have an opportunity to explore and promote a world-renowned dressage event. The AGDF is a respected brand with a storied history, and we are pleased to be able to play a role in the development of the event,” noted Anders Bjørnstrup, Commercial Director of Global Equestrian Group, the parent company of Wellington International.

For the second winter season in a row, CDI5* dressage competition will be held for one week down the street at the main jumping grounds of Wellington International. Dressage was welcomed into the famous International Arena during the 2022 AGDF and will return Elleven the facility due to popular demand. The dressage exhibition will take place during Week Ten, which will be held from March 15th to 19th. Spectators will have a chance to experience Friday Night Lights in a new venue, making for a novel opportunity.

Save the date for the 2023 AGDF, which will showcase many of the sport’s best in the heart of Wellington. Weekly dates and competition ratings are noted below, but stay tuned for more detailed information regarding Friday Night Stars and other exciting happenings.

January 11-15
WEEK 1
CDI4* & CDI-W
Lloyd Landkamer Memorial

January 25-29
WEEK 3
CDI4*/CDI3*/CPEDI3*

February 8-12
WEEK 5
CDI4* & CDI-W

February 15-19
WEEK 6
NATIONAL

February 22-26
WEEK 7
CDIO3* & CDI3*

March 1-5
WEEK 8
CDI-W & CDI3*
Palm Beach Derby

March 8-12
WEEK 9
CPEDI3*

March 15-19
WEEK 10
CDI5* & CDI3*

March 22-26
WEEK 11
CDI4* & CDI3*

March 29-31
WEEK 12
NATIONAL