Wellington, FL – September 16, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), the management company for the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), is pleased to announce that there will be an updated design for the show grounds for the upcoming winter show season. The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the world’s largest and longest running horse show, will begin on January 12 and have 12 weeks of competition, concluding on April 3. The show grounds are part of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), and the update for next year is one that will benefit exhibitors and spectators alike.

The “North Grounds” of the PBIEC, the main show grounds, will now contain all of the competition rings. ESP will be expanding two current show rings and adding two more rings to facilitate all of the competition in one area. These rings will all be updated with the popular footing used in the International Arena and Eugene R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring. The rings will also have coordinating schooling rings.

The “South Grounds” of the PBIEC will now be available for schooling, training, and lungeing for all competitors. There will be private rings available for rent, and more paddocks will be available for rent for the circuit as well.

“We listened to requests from exhibitors to make the show grounds layout easier and more accessible for trainers and riders,” said Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions. “The Wellington Equestrian Partners are also committed to providing good footing in all of the rings, to all levels of competitors. Good footing is our number one priority.”

“We are really pleased to be able to concentrate all of the competition rings in one area,” Bellissimo went on to say. “This will help with logistics, both for exhibitors and spectators, and it will make the horse show more efficient. In addition, opening up the entire South Grounds as exercise areas gives people more options and more room to keep them and their horses fit and comfortable.”

More on the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, including sponsor information, prize list announcements, and other exciting news will be announced throughout the fall.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com for more information!

The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 12 through April 3. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.

WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment.  FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.

Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.