Palm Beach is a city where the warm ocean breeze blows from the Atlantic across the lawns of its mansions, through its upscale shopping district, and across the water to West Palm Beach. Follow the Rolls Royces and Dual-Wheel pickup trucks West on Southern Boulevard to Wellington, and you will find an enchanted winter getaway dedicated to the equestrian lifestyle.

Escaping the cold Northeastern winters, horse people flock to Wellington for the Winter Equestrian Festival along with other shows that make up the Florida Circuit. The WEF, held at the grounds of the Wellington Polo Club, is a Disney-like scenario of dressage, hunters and jumpers.

My introduction to Wellington was the Gold Coast Opener, January 19-21. From the entry gate, stabling stretches for over a mile on both sides of the road, with banners and flowers decorating the barns and tents that by the end of the weekend were bedecked with award ribbons. There are lakes and palm trees everywhere, and every blade of grass is as manicured as any fairway at Pebble Beach. With dressage stabling about a mile from the rings, the golf cart rentals did a fine business that weekend.

The competition grounds are centered around the International show jumping arena, which has grass footing and is surrounded by tents for seating and vendors. At the GCO, vendors were set up along a sandy road and a brick walkway where they sold tack and clothing, crepes and cappuccinos.

Dressage, hunters and jumpers ran simultaneously in adjacent sand rings that fan out from the International ring. Though the whole scenario tends toward the chaotic, there is adequate warm-up for everyone, and the layout is fairly convenient for spectators. From my vantage at Ring A, where upper-level dressage took place, I could turn around and watch pony hunters, or look to my right and see the jumpers. Everyone from small children to Olympians take part in this many-ringed circus that will last until April.