Anna Niehaus

The Island Club in Wellington, FL is one of Palm Beach Counties best kept secrets. Surrounded by lush tropical landscape, 10 homes make up this private, gated community, located right in the heart of Wellington off Big Blue Trace.

Within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and world class horse shows, the Island Club is all about location. Several A-rated schools are close by. Each home is built on a waterfront home site, granting spectacular views and lots of privacy.

All homes in this community were built by Royal Professional Builders in 2006. Royal Professional Builders is known for their high quality construction and the use of the concrete Royall Wall System. This wall system has won countless awards for hurricane resistance and energy efficiency making it superior and especially in Florida very desirable.

Homes vary in size from 2,400 s.f. of air conditioned space to over 3,600 square feet with 4 to 5 bedrooms. All homes have cement tile roofs.

The Island Club is a very private community with only one access road. The 10 homes are built on a cul-de –sac that is safe and quiet.

Wellington is known as the equestrian capital of the United States with world class jumping, dressage and polo events. Homes in the Island Club are close to the Wellington Equestrian Festival, Global Dressage Festival and the International Polo Club. Large boarding barns as well as small private equestrian estates can be found close to Big Blue Trace, making this community a dream come true for every horse enthusiast.

Equestrian communities in and around Wellington... When it comes to equestrian living, there is no place like Wellington. Often called the horse capital of the US, Wellington offers more equestrian shows than any other area in this country and there are countless equestrian communities.

So, you decided you want to be part of this unique equestrian lifestyle here in Wellington. Where do you to go? There are several equestrian areas in Wellington and around, but first you need to make a couple of decisions.

· Do you want to build a house and barn or are you looking for a resale?

· How many horses will be living on your property?

· Do you need a dressage ring, jump field or just trails for your equestrian activities?

· Is this your permanent residence or a seasonal home?

Following is a list of equestrian neighborhoods in and around Wellington:

Saddle Trails is an area in Wellington close to the Wellington Equestrian Festival. Hack on over to the show grounds or take a golf cart to watch world class jumping! Saddle Trails’ lots are priced according to their proximity to WEF. The closer a lot is located to the show grounds, the higher the lot price. Most lots in Saddle Trails are 2 acres in size which allows for an 8 stall barn. Saddle Trails is every professional riders dream!

Little Ranches is a quiet equestrian area in Wellington, located off Southern Blvd. with world class dressage barns and riding academies. You will have to trailer your horse to the show grounds, but there are renowned trainers right within the community. Little Ranches is about 15 minutes by truck and trailer from the showgrounds at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, The Horse Park at the Equestrian Estates and WEF.

White Fences is an equestrian community, located “off the beaten path” in Loxahatchee, but close to Wellington and with its own world class dressage shows organized by International Horse Sports, it is Palm Beach County’s best kept equestrian secret. White Fences is a secure, gated community with winding roads, mature trees and miles and miles of horse trails along canal banks and equestrian properties.

Deer Run is located close to White Fences, but a little further south and therefore closer towards Wellington. Most lots are 5 acres in size. Here, just like in White Fences miles and miles of beautiful horse trails allow for your dream of an equestrian lifestyle to come true.

Fox Trail just like Deer Run and White Fences is located in Loxahatchee. Many equestrians enjoy the proximity to Wellington as well as the horse trails in this rural community. Large barns offer reasonable leases to the seasonal equestrian.

Palm Beach Pointe is an equestrian area on the south western end of Wellington with large farms on 5 to 10 acre lots. This area caters to dressage riders and jumpers alike. Jumpers appreciate the proximity to the Wellington Equestrian Festival show grounds which is within hacking distance. There are beautiful trails along canal banks and equestrian estates.

Homeland is a guard gated community of mostly 5 acre lots. Lush landscaping, mature oak trees and 5 acre lots make Homeland the perfect place to keep horses of any discipline. Homeland is charming as it is laid back and quiet, away from the hectic of the show grounds. It is located just west of 441 and within a minutes to the Wellington Green Mall.

Rustic Ranches is a rural equestrian area located off Southern Blvd. on the western end of Wellinton. More and more equestrians discover the beauty of this area with large boarding facilities as well as smaller barns. There is a bridge across the canal that separates the Aero Club and Palm Beach Point from Rustic Ranches. Trail riders utilize that bridge to go onto the Wellington Trail system that covers more than 50 miles of bridle paths around Wellington.

Each equestrian community has its pros and cons... come out to Wellington and see for yourself which community fits your individual needs best!

The Preserve at Crestwood is a community of 85 single family homes right in the heart of Royal Palm Beach. Close to schools, shopping and restaurants, the Preserve at Crestwood is conveniently located in the center of town, but it is surrounded by quiet communities. Only one entrance leades in and out of the community, which allows for privacy and security. The Preserve at Crestwood is located off Crestwood Blvd just south of Okeechobee Blvd.

All homes in the Preserve at Crestwood were built by Royal Professional Builders in 2003 and 2004. Royal Professional Builders builds quality homes with solid concrete walls, known as the Royall Wall System. These walls are well-known for their hurricane resistance and energy efficiency. Royal Professional Builders was named Builder of the Year and won countless awards for their energy efficient construction.

Most homes in the Preserve at Crestwood are between 1,800 sf. and 2,200 s.f. in size. Approximately half of them back up to a winding canal that can be utilized for boating. The rest of the lots backs up to a landscape buffer, giving the home owners plenty of privacy.

Currently, the HOA fee in the Preserve at Crestwood is $125 per quarter or $41.66 per month, which takes care of the community entrance feature and common areas.

For more information about homes in the Preserve at Crestwood call Anna Niehaus at Saddle Trail Realty 561-214-3310.

Mark your calendar now and don't miss this dressage high-light! On January 19th thru the 22nd, 2012 Gold Coast Dressage holds their Annual Gold Coast Opener Festival. This event is free for all spectators. Come out and support these athletes as they are attempting to qualify for the Olympics.

* Official Qualifying Competition for the 2012 World Cup, 2012 Olympics and 2012 Paralympics

* USEF High Performance Qualifying Competition for the 2012 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Grand Prix & Intermediaire I Championship

* 2012 FEI N. American Junior & Young Rider's Championship and Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Pony Rider, Junior, Young Rider & Brentina Cup Champs

* 2012 USEF National Developing Horse Championships (Sponsored by Dutta Corp & PSI) Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Program

* USEF Level 5 Competition- USDF Introductory Level & Musical Freestyles;

* USEF First thru Fourth Levels; FEI PSG thru Grand Prix, including FEI Musical Freestyles, JY/YR, FEI Five & Six Yr Old Tests; Wellington Classic 2012 Winter Amateur Championship Qualifier

Whether you are a true dressage enthusiast or just have an appreciation for horses and good riding, you will enjoy this event. There will be riders from all over the world looking to qualify for the most prestigious competitions in the world.

Here in Wellington, the horse capital of the United States, we are blessed to have this kind of competition in our backyard. Come out and enjoy the best that the sport of dressage has to offer.

Location:

Jim Brandon Equestrian Center
7500 West Forest Hill Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL

For more information about

Gold Coast Dressage Association

http://www.gcdafl.org/

There is no place on earth like Wellington! During horse show season which runs from November thru the end of April, there are more shows in Wellington than in any other city of this country. Thousands of horses ship in and stay for at least 3 months.

Right after Thanksgiving, Wellington takes on a new character. It's a transformation from a sleepy village in the Florida summer heat to an equestrian magnet.

So, how can you tell when the season is here? Here are some obvious signs even the

uneducated eye will recognize:

* Dually trucks, capable of hauling more than 12 horses are sticking out of parking spots designed for compact cars.

* Fords and Chevies are out-numbered by Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches.

* Waiting time at the local restaurants more than doubles.

* License plates from every state in the country can be seen on a short stretch of Southern Blvd.

* People with tanned arms walk around in their shorts showing legs that are as white as the snow in their home town up north.

* Increased sales of sugar cubes, carrots, apples and gator aid at your local grocery store are a dead give away that season is here.

* Long lines of customers avoiding to ruin their own washer / dryer, bring countless bulky blankets to the laundry mate to be cleaned and fluffed up for their four-legged companions.

* Girls with pony tails and baseball hats, full of hope to become the next equestrian superstar riding their hearts out.

Yeah, I love this time of the year. The weather starts cooling down and the equestrians are coming. The best jumping, dressage and polo trainers gather in this small village along with competitors of Olympic caliber. No, there really is no place like Wellington!