What the WEF?! Week 4: Pomp, Pageantry & Painted Horses

In the world of show jumping, an owner is a sort of necessary evil.

Their money is needed to purchase the horse and pay for all its bills and then there’s the lifestyle of the rider, which must be supported, and the shows themselves—an endless suck, vacuuming funds in an ever-increasing vortex of expense.

An owner is a sucker, which is kinda ironic since the sucking appears to be all on the other side. But an owner does what an owner does in order to be near the sport that has entranced them.

A world run by the very rich, like this one, is an unstable world, because the rich mainly answer to their whims, which can be irrational and unpredictable. For this reason, only a fool considers making a long-term plan, while the clever attempt an aggressive and rapid sweep of the funds available, ejecting the owner from the sport as soon as she smartens up.

And then they preemptively label her “crazy” or “difficult,” attempting to warn off other riders, lest someone kinder and less exploitative form a more lasting and mutually beneficial connection.

Owners take revenge, or at least comfort, not through lawsuits or any sort of improved regulation of the sport, but by sitting back and deeming every rider to be an uneducated moron and undoubted incel, were “White Pant Syndrome” not a thing.

(“White Pant Syndrome” refers to the phenomena of an objectively, to the world outside of equestrian sports, unattractive and uncharismatic male rider who still manages to get laid abundantly because—horses.)

But there is another outlet available to the owner. When it all gets a bit too much, the owner who is still in sport, managing by hook and crook to hold on, turns to philanthropy as a balm to the soul and also for the chance to hang out with people who have a passion for something other than horses (hard to comprehend).

This group of people find themselves in the nonprofit sector, hoping to improve humanity, strengthen communities, cure diseases, support scientific research, protect the vulnerable, rescue companion animals, etc. Like riders, they too are hoping to hoover up money, but their motivation isn’t for blue ribbons. They long for a better world.

And here we all converge at Week 5 of the Winter Equestrian Festival for one of the most anticipated events of the season—the Great Charity Challenge!

The Great Charity Challenge began in 2009 as a response to the difficulties experienced in local Palm Beach County by the 2008 financial crisis. It then became an entertaining night of family fun during the winter season that has distributed over $24 million to more than 370 local charities since its inception.

The GCC quickly turned from a night of fun and charity to a night of fun and charity and ARTISTRY.

Pomp, pageantry, painted horses, props, posses in costumes both pretty and provocative! It’s enough to make an owner think she’s not just hanging out with a bunch of dumb jocks.

Then she remembers attending an art show celebrating the paintings of a top-50-ranked rider down here in Wellington, an impressive display of unexpected talent.

And she remembers the performances at the annual Kevin Babington Foundation event, which originally began as a drunk drag show, but, unable to accommodate the talent of the equestrian community in that limited format, was forced to expand to a take-all-comers talent show. Some lip sync, but more and more each year dance and sing at what appears to be a nearly professional level.

And she remembers—dammit—that Lillie Keenan, currently ranked 32 in the world, has a degree from Harvard.

“Pfff,” says the owner, longing to cling to her prejudices.

On this Saturday night, we fill the international arena with a relay-style competition, and welcome the athleticism, creativity and exuberance of all and we feel not separate, but together.

And the results? Here you can see the numbers: $100k to Make a Wish Foundation, $90k to Urban League of Palm Beach County, $80k to Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and so on to 36 placings, plus dozens more grants and cash prizes to deserving nonprofits.