Mount Up

Winter residents of Wellington, Fla., prefer saddling up horses to soaking up sun. For the Wellington Equestrian Festival, which runs from January 30 to March 23, WWDScoop handicaps the circuit’s best riders.


BRIANNE GOUTAL
Pedigree: Park Avenue
Age: 19
Division: Grand Prix, some of the amateur divisions and the open division.
Number of horses: Seven
Latest triumphs: “I was just third at the Washington International Horse Show, and before that was fourth in the Capital Challenge in Maryland.”
School: Freshman at Brown University.
How she fits riding in: “You just have to be organized and plan ahead.”
Worst riding moment: “In terms of losing, I don’t think that’s so bad. I embrace the losses.”
Clothes: “I’m sponsored by B & B Saddlery, so whatever I’m wearing is through them.”
Home base at Wellington: “We have a house in the Equestrian Club, which is right next door to the horse show. It’s literally a two-minute bike ride.”

GEORGINA BLOOMBERG
Pedigree: Daughter of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Age: 24
Division: Open division including the Grand Prix and the young horse classes with two new horses.
Number of horses: 10
School: Junior at New York University’s Gallatin School for Individualized Study.
Latest triumphs: Competed on the U.S. Developing/Young Rider tour in Europe and Scandinavia, winning Nations’ Cups in Finland and Sweden.
How she fits riding in: “I get very little sleep.”
Best riding moment: “Winning the team and individual gold medals at the North American Young Rider championships [2002 and 2003, respectively].”  
Worst riding moment: “Breaking my back in 2002.”
Clothes: Her sponsor Ariat’s boots and clothing.
Home base at Wellington: “We just finished building our new farm in Mallet Hill, so I’m excited about having our own place.”

HILLARY DOBBS
Pedigree: Daughter of CNN anchor Lou Dobbs.
Age: 19
Division: Open classes, Grand Prix.
Number of horses: Five
School: Sophomore at Harvard.
How she fits riding in: “In high school I was allowed to tutor independently, so those four years taught me to be independent and resourceful. It’s a different ball game at Harvard, but I still have the tools I need to balance work and competing.”
Clothes: Boots by Derdau, riding pants by Pikeur, custom-made jackets by Alessandro Albanese in her barn’s colors: navy blue, dark green and burgundy.  
Home base at Wellington: West Palm Beach.

PAIGE JOHNSON
Pedigree: Daughter of Black Entertainment Television founders Bob and Sheila Johnson.
Age: 22
Division: Grand Prix and the high Amateurs.
Hometown: The Plains, Va.
Number of Horses: Seven
Latest triumphs: “I didn’t show too much this summer. My Grand Prix horse is old, so I’m looking for a new one right now.”
School: Quit the Art Institute at Fort Lauderdale.
How she fits it all in: “I couldn’t balance riding and school. I don’t like to give half of my effort to anything.”
Looking forward to: “I’m used to traveling and living out of suitcases, which comes with riding. So I love having friends over for takeout or cooking dinner.”
Clothes: Tailored Sportsman or Pikeur pants, Vogel boots. “I always shop at Hadfield’s.”
Home base at Wellington: Her barn in Grand Prix village.

JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN
Pedigree: Daughter of Bruce Springsteen.
Age: 15
Division: Younger, small and large junior hunters; equitation, low junior jumpers and high junior jumpers.
Number of horses: Five
School: Tenth grader at Ranney in Tinton Falls, N.J.
How she fits riding in: “The school is really flexible with my riding schedule. When I’m in Florida, I have a tutor. I usually end up missing the second semester of school—I come back the week before it’s over.
Best riding moment: Jumping through an extremely muddy course at the 2007 Devon Horse Show—and taking home second place.
Clothes: Boots by Derdau, riding pants by Tailored Sportsman and Pikeur, riding jackets from Hadfield’s.  
Home base at Wellington: Rental house in the Equestrian Club.
Parental cameos: “They come on the weekends a lot.”


Winter Equestrian Festival 2008
Jan. 30–April 6
Palm Beach Polo
Equestrian Club
14440 Pierson Road
Wellington, Fla., 33414   
palmbeachpolo.com
561.793.5867