Wellington: Horse Shows, Polo and Preserves
The winter horse capital of the country, just south of Westlake.
See top-rated activities »About Wellington
Wellington is a village of about 60,000 people south of Royal Palm Beach, about 20 minutes from Westlake, and from January to spring it becomes the center of the horse world. Riders, trainers and grooms arrive from across the country and overseas for the Winter Equestrian Festival at Wellington International, a long series of show-jumping and hunter competitions that runs for most of the winter. Spectators can watch many classes for free, and Saturday Night Lights evenings bring the biggest crowds to the grandstand.
Polo is the other winter sport. The USPA National Polo Center in Wellington calls itself the perpetual home of polo in the United States, and its season runs from late December to early May, building to the Gauntlet of Polo series and the U.S. Open. Weekend matches are social occasions as much as sporting ones, and tickets for the 2027 season go on sale in November.
Away from the arenas, Wellington has two of the best birding spots in the western communities. The Wellington Environmental Preserve at the Marjory, on Flying Cow Ranch Road, is a reclaimed wetland of several hundred acres with paved paths, boardwalks, an equestrian trail and an observation tower that looks out toward the Everglades. Peaceful Waters Sanctuary, a smaller wetland near Village Park, has a short boardwalk where spoonbills, wood storks and wading birds feed close to the rail.
Even outside the season, Wellington is a pleasant place to see horse country. Large farms with board fences, barns and private riding rings line the roads south of Forest Hill Boulevard, and bridle paths run beside many streets. Admire them from the road: the farms are private, and horses spook easily, so slow down and give riders plenty of room when you pass.
For an evening, the Wellington Town Center along Forest Hill Boulevard has a lakeside amphitheater with free concerts and movie nights, and restaurants nearby; the Mall at Wellington Green on State Road 7 covers shopping. Wellington also hosts a Fourth of July celebration, a fall festival and a long-running holiday parade, all listed on our events page.
Don’t Miss
Home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and other horse shows, with Saturday Night Lights evenings in season.
The USPA’s polo center, with a winter season from late December to early May and the Gauntlet of Polo.
Paved trails, boardwalks, an equestrian trail and an observation tower over a large reclaimed wetland.
A small wetland with a boardwalk that is one of the area’s easiest places to see wading birds up close.
The western communities’ regional mall, with department stores and restaurants.
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Get free trip quotes »Wellington — FAQ
When is the Winter Equestrian Festival?
It usually runs from January into spring at Wellington International. The showgrounds’ website posts the schedule and which events need tickets.
When is polo season in Wellington?
The National Polo Center’s season usually runs from late December through the first weekend of May.
How far is Wellington from Westlake?
About 20 minutes by car, south through Royal Palm Beach on State Road 7 or by Southern Boulevard and Forest Hill Boulevard.
