THE 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Centre in Wellington, Florida, returned this week, with dozens of Irish riders setting up base in the competition epicentre for the worlds most lucrative equestrian tour.

This year’s circuit will offer more than $9 million in prize money throughout the duration of the season and will feature many of the world’s top internationally ranked riders, including world number one Kent Farrington, McLain Ward and Eric Lamaze, who all call Wellington home during the winter months.