Magnolia Farm Sponsor of Inaugural Global Dressage Festival

Wellington, FL - February 4, 2012 - For Gaye Scarpa of Magnolia Farm, dreams of a world class dressage facility have come true, right in her own back yard.  As a sponsor of the inaugural 2012 Global Dressage Festival (GDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Scarpa saw an opportunity not only for the accomplished dressage rider to have a home in Wellington but to introduce the sport to spectators.

"I would encourage everybody to come and watch the ballet that goes on with a horse and rider," said Scarpa, "I get goose bumps when I watch the grand prix and especially the freestyles.  It's an art form which dates back centuries to the military.  I can't imagine anyone wouldn't fall in love with the sport."

Magnolia Farm was named after the official tree of her home state of Mississippi and was founded by Gaye and her husband Joseph in 1999 to further Gaye's passion for dressage.   Two years later top dressage rider Ilse Schwarz, who moved to the United States from Australia, became the in-house trainer at Magnolia Farm. The farm, which is located in the south field of Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, is hacking distance from the show. 

Scarpa pioneered a boutique dressage horse breeding program at Magnolia Farm.  She has brood mares in Germany and brings over the young horses here to train in Wellington, some to keep and some to sell. 

"I have access to the bloodlines in Germany and the stallions," explained Scarpa.  "I'm an Oldenburg breeder.  We bring the offspring here when they're ready for some light training and to get used to the Florida heat."

In the Spy Coast Farm Young Horse Show series last year at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, Scarpa's progeny, Don Joseph, won the championship of the five year olds, winning both in Suitability For Dressage and the Five Year Old Class. According to Scarpa he is now showing first level and scoring in the 70s.

Scarpa anticipates a large influx of the top international dressage community here due to the level and quality of shows as well as the ratings.  She noted that there were two Swedish riders as well as riders from the Mid-West and California that were relocating here to Wellington.

"Even though in Europe the countries are fairly small and close you still have to travel distances to get your points for international competition," said Scarpa.  "With the Global Dressage Festival, it's all right here in one spot!"

Magnolia Farm stands as a proud ambassador for the sport of dressage, and Wellington, as the new epicenter of a beautiful global equestrian event. 

 Joseph and Gaye Scarpa with "Tango" a Sculpture of One of Gaye's Horses at Magnolia Farm 

Photo: © 2012 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

About the Global Dressage Festival  

The Global Dressage Festival (GDF) is one of the world's largest international and national dressage circuits featuring five CDIs, including a 5*, the first non-championship CDIO Nations' Cup in the Western Hemisphere, and nine U.S. national events.  

 The GDF is offering more than $275,000 in prize money for the five international competitions making it one of the richest circuits in the world. In addition to the CDIs with national competitions, the GDF will feature four separate national shows to be held at the newly constructed venue that extends the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) show grounds. 

The GDF encompasses almost 60 acres of the former Palm Beach Polo Grounds. The facility includes four outdoor arenas with world class footing. Future planned improvements include a covered arena, permanent covered spectator seating for the central outdoor arena and a permanent Patrons Club and 200 permanent stalls.