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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

The Gold Coast Opener Dressage CDI Revisited

Jim Brandon Equestrian Center: Worth the Wait

Through the years and through the hurricanes, the equestrian community of Palm Beach persevered to see the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center become a reality. And it was worth the time and effort.

This astounding equestrian facility sits on 111 acres in the heart of Florida horse country and surrounded by the beautiful Okeeheelee Park. It cost the taxpayers of Palm Beach County $15 million, but no one is complaining – not the taxpayers who footed the bill and not the competitors making use of the center.

“I’ve not heard one complaint about the place,” said Monica Fitzgerald, show secretary for this weekend’s Gold Coast Opener Dressage CDI, who said that from a show secretary’s perspective the facility is a dream. “It’s wonderful. I’ve got a great office and everything is really close. I can look out the window and see everything going in.”

With two permanent barns holding 128 stalls and plenty of open space, she said it was even easy to organize stabling for this weekend’s show.

“I had to put up one stable tent, but there was plenty of space for that. They’re building two more barns and when those are complete, there will be plenty of room.”

The equestrian center has only been open for a year, but it’s already so popular that it’s booked solid through all of 2007, despite the fact that it has eight available rings.

“We’ve got a day park with two rings. That area is mostly used by local groups – kind of like the sandlot league,” said facilities manager Shelley Van den Neste. “And then there are six more arenas for hosting licensed shows and breed shows.”