A horse show in the middle of New York City might sound far-fetched, or rather impossible, but if you find yourself strolling through Central Park today, that's just what you'll find.
Now in its second year, the Central Park Horse Show is a magical way to kick off fall with a bang. The park's Wollman Rink (also known as Trump Rink) - an ice skater's paradise come October - is transformed into a world class show jumping ring, drawing elite equestrians to the five-day competition. A luxurious VIP tent and tree house viewing platform offer fans of the sport elegant accommodations from which the events can be observed.
The ticketed event lasts from September 23 through the 28, and if its any indication of its popularity, last year's completely sold out. Katherine Bellissimo, whose family company Equestrian Sports Productions is responsible for bringing the show to Manhattan, says it's a site not to be missed - even if you're not a show jumping expert.
Getty ImagesEugene Gologursky
It wasn't until moving to Florida and getting involved with revamping the equestrian scene in Wellington that Bellissimo and her family began to think about how they could broaden the reach of the sport. Now, the Floridian destination is home to one of the country's most prominent equine events, the Winter Equestrian Festival, which draws upwards of 6,000 horses, and a well-to-do crowd of international riders and fans alike.
But for Bellissimo and her husband, this was just one small success in their vision. Working with riders across all 50 states, and over 40 different countries, the Bellissimos realized that in order to grow the sport, "we needed to come to them."
Getty ImagesEugene Gologursky
After trying to plan a New York City event for a few years, the opportunity to use Wollman Rink as a venue presented itself, and the creation of the Central Park Horse Show began - with just days to transform the rink into a state-of-the-art show ring.
While the sport may not have the same notoriety as horse racing, and may never bring in an audience as big as the Kentucky Derby's, it pulls in a notable crowd of its own - last year's Central Park Horse Show was attended by Ivanka Trump, Bruce Springstein, and Georgina Bloomberg.
"What we're trying to do is expand the [fan] base," Bellissimo tells Veranda.com, revealing that Wellington and New York City is just the beginning. When asked if there are plans to bring horse shows to other major U.S. cities, Bellissimo remarked "not just American cities," but urban hubs around the world.
