Wellington vs. Ocala: 2025 Florida CDI Dates Reveal Packed Winter Programme

Dressage

U.S.A.

The competition between the two mega showgrounds in Florida - Wellington and Ocala - has become more clear with the release of the CDI dates for the 2025 winter show season.

Wellington has 7 CDI's scheduled in three months, Ocala will have five over four months. The dates are pending FEI approval.

Seven CDI's In Ocala in 2025

The 2025 slate of FEI-rated competitions in Ocala, which run alongside national shows, will include three CDI3* shows and two CDI4* events in winter and spring; and FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifiers in November and December.

The requested CDI dates for the months January through April 2025 are on weekends that Wellington is hosting only national classes. They are:

Jan 29 - Feb 2: CDI 3*
Feb 12-16: CDI 3*
Mar 5-9: CDI 4*
Apr 9-13: CDI 4*
May 21-25: CDI 3*

Seven CDI's in Wellington

There are seven CDI's scheduled for Wellington between January and March 2025. They are:

Jan. 8-12 - CDI-W World Cup
Jan. 22-26 - CDI 4*
Feb. 5-9 - CDI-W World Cup
Feb. 19-23 - CDIO 3* Nations Cup
Feb. 26-Mar. 2 - CDI-W World Cup / Palm Beach Derby
Mar. 12-16 - CDI 5*
Mar. 26-30 - CDI 4*

Where to Winter?

Ocala is now offering riders the same opportunity to winter in Florida and compete for three or even four to five months in a row at a string of CDI's and CDN's without moving place, something Wellington has been famous for for decades. General rates and prices in Ocala (housing, stabling, showing) are much lower in Ocala than in the very expensive Palm Beach area. Ocala is more rural, Wellington offers the affluent Palm Beach lifestyle and is in the vicinity of metropole Miami.

Sources told Eurodressage that the 2025 Global Dressage Festival will be back under Mark Bellissimo's management after Helgstrand's Wellington International (Global Equestrian Group) has pulled out of hosting the hunter/jumper, show jumping and dressage shows. The on-the-ground management team will consist of Thomas Baur and Monica Fitzgerald.

The grapevine has been buzzing that Wellington International is on the verge of being sold to a big sport investment group with strong ties to the Global Champions Tour. There is no confirmation of a signed contract yet.

2026 World Cup Finals

With the 2026 World Cup Finals scheduled to take place in Fort Worth, Texas, Americans will go all-in to compete in the Finals on home turf.

Wellington is hosting three Word Cup qualifiers during the Global Dressage Festival, while Ocala has two at the end of 2025 (12-16 Nov and 10-14 Dec).

A third, larger facility in Florida - TerraNova equestrian center in Myakka City, will be hosting two CDI-W in 2025 for the 2026 Finals: They are scheduled for 3 - 6 April and 1-4 May.