Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, announced Wednesday a preliminary plan for a new round of major improvements at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) to be completed by the "Celebration of the Horse" event in early December and well before the start of the 2009 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

The improvements are the initial next stage in the top-to-bottom rebuilding of the PBIEC that began last December when Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) took over management of the show grounds and the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) horse show dates.

ESP will announce in late April or early May a comprehensive preview of the 2009 circuit including facility improvements, planned events, special classes and divisions, improved stabling and work areas for horses, enhanced parking and many other issues that came to light during this year's WEF or brought to the attention of ESP management by exhibitors, sponsors, spectators, vendors and others.

Even before the comprehensive review is completed, ESP said decisions already have been made to undertake the following improvements:

1. FOOTING

a. Replacement of the Mogavero ring and schooling areas, Ring 7 and Ring 8. Mogavero will be re-created with the "Poels" footing, the same surfaces created by Olympic footing expert Bart Poels that are installed in the International Arena and the Bertelan de Nemethy ring. Rings 7 and 8 will have footing identical to the new surfaces installed for WEF this year in Ring 6, the grand hunter ring and the Rost Arena.

b. New footing in the schooling areas for the de Nemethy and grand hunter rings.

c. Improved footing at the South Grounds (formerly Littlewood) rings and schooling areas.

2. STABLING

a. Creation of new stabling and work areas to the east of South Grounds (formerly Littlewood) rings replacing the stabling and work areas on the South Grounds that are currently west of the South Grounds show rings. Stabling will be on higher ground to better manage wet weather and will be closer to both South Grounds and the North Grounds competition rings.

b. Creation of stabling and farmettes on the South Shore polo fields along South Shore Boulevard (fields next to the fire station) to be connected to PBIEC via a canal culvert crossing east of the show grounds and south of Mallet Hill near the new Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green parking lot. The stabling area will include rings and work areas.

3. South Grounds – Major renovation of landscaping and traffic flow (horses, golf carts and pedestrians) on the South Grounds. The show rings will remain but landscaping and footing improvements will be made. Dedicated golf cart paths and paving of the connector road between the North and South grounds. Improved bridle paths connecting the grounds.

4. Communication – Improved communication and connectivity between in-gates and all stabling areas to for better barn calls.

5. Drainage – Major engineered improvements in drainage throughout both areas of the show grounds.

6. Restrooms – Building permanent restroom structures for exhibitors and spectators.

7. Covered Reserved Seating – Increased number of covered private boxes and reserved seating.

8. Vendor Areas – Improved and permanent vendor areas and courtyards with better flow for both pedestrians and golf carts.

9. Landscaping – Improved landscaping and plantings throughout and a consistent theme between the North and South Grounds.

Ken Braddick

ENDS