March 23, 2026 
A Feb. 7 incident at Wellington International (WI)—home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival—has resulted in a battery allegation after sponsorship director Lenore Brown accused CEO Murray Kessler of grabbing her hair and forcing her head toward his crotch in a VIP area where children were present.
Brown, who reports directly to Kessler, filed an offense report with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 17, detailing the alleged incident.
According to the report, Brown was crouched down speaking with clients in the second row of the VIP Club when Kessler, 66, approached her from behind and “grabbed her hair with both hands and pulled her head backward, positioning her head in his crotch area so she was looking up at him.” Kessler, it continues, held her in this position while issuing instructions regarding an in-arena presentation at the venue.
Brown stated that it was the first time Kessler had physically touched her in this manner.
The alleged battery was witnessed by four adults and two children seated at the VIP table assigned to Wellington International sponsor Cayce Harrison. Two of the witnesses corroborated Brown’s account in the offense report.
In a sworn recorded statement, veterinarian Leah A Patipa said that she was seated at the table when “Kessler walked up without any prompting and grabbed [Brown’s] hair for no apparent reason.” She clarified that “this was not a casual gesture but was forceful.” Patipa said a minor, also seated at the table, “asked aloud why Kessler was holding [Brown’s] hair.” She described the situation as “awkward and uncomfortable for everyone at the table.”
Joanna C Wolffer reiterated the sequence of events in a separate sworn statement, noting that “Brown’s face turned red” before Kessler walked away and that she appeared embarrassed. Wolffer said she asked if Brown was okay and told her that “the behavior was out of line.”
A third witness, Cayce Harrison, independently verified Brown’s account to Horse Network. All three women have agreed to testify in court if necessary.
The fourth witness, Tyler Whitman, did not respond to a request for comment. Whitman is a realtor from the Hamptons, NY and was reportedly discussing sponsorship options with Brown at the time of the incident. According to Patipa’s sworn statement, Whitman commented, “that’s not how we do it in New York,” after Kessler released Brown’s hair and walked away. It’s unclear whether he was making a joke about New York directness or expressing his disapproval.
WI’s Human Resources Department is stated to be handling the incident internally.
“Wellington International (WI) is aware of a complaint involving two of its employees,” read a statement provided by the organization. “WI respects the rights of all individuals; the company takes any allegations very seriously and has initiated a full and thorough investigation. We believe it is important that any review be conducted carefully and completely. We will not be commenting further while the process is ongoing.”
Brown stated in the offense report that she was advised by HR to work from home. In a subsequent statement issued Mar. 23 by her lawyer, Russell Prince of Prince Sport Law, she expressed disappointment in how the alleged battery is being handled by her employer.
“I had never intended to speak publicly about this incident, and I will not be making further statements regarding my assault, as I believe the police report and witness accounts speak for themselves. I remain deeply proud of my work at Wellington International, and I stand by the dedication and integrity I have brought to my role,” read Brown’s statement.
“I am, however, disappointed that in recent weeks, Wellington International has not demonstrated the same level of commitment to employee safety as it has to the excellence of its equestrian events. I continue to hope for a prompt resolution and for meaningful corrective action to be taken.”
According to Florida Statute 784.011, an assault is “an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do violence to another.” Battery (Fla Stat 784.03) is defined as “actually and intentionally touching or striking another person against their will, or intentionally causing bodily harm.”
Kessler denied the allegations against him in a statement provided to Horse Network. His statement did not address the specific witness accounts of the alleged hair-grabbing, nor the presence of child witnesses.
“I take the claim against me very seriously but, I want to be clear—I strongly deny this allegation. It is false and does not reflect who I am, my values, or the way I have lived and worked throughout my life and career. Equestrian sport has meant a great deal to me, and I have always tried to bring character, integrity, and commitment to everything I do. I am proud of the role I have played in supporting this sport and its community. I will respect the process and am confident the truth will come forward.”
Kessler’s lawyer, Tama Beth Kudman, restated that denial in a follow up statement released on Mar 25, alleging inconsistencies, changed accounts, and contradictory witnesses as well as opportunism. Her statement did not provide details to elaborate on those claims:
“The allegations against Mr. Kessler are false. The story being advanced is, on its face, undermined by serious inconsistencies, contradicted by witnesses, and has changed in material ways over time. We are confident that these claims will be exposed for what they are—a false narrative driven by opportunism. Those who know Mr. Kessler, or who have worked with him in the equestrian community and through his philanthropic efforts, understand that these accusations are wholly at odds with the character, integrity, and reputation Mr. Kessler has earned over a lifetime.”
No arrest has been made, and no charges have been brought against Kessler at this time.
Kessler is an American businessman who has held the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at two Fortune 500 companies. He served as the President of the United States Equestrian Federation, the national governing body for equestrian sports, from 2017 through 2020, and on the boards of North American Riders Group and the USET Foundation. He was appointed CEO of Wellington International following its acquisition by former majority owners Mark Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lourie, and Roger Smith (WI FL Acquisition, LLC) in October 2024.
This is a developing story.
If you need help, call or text 9-1-1.
If you have a reasonable suspicion of misconduct, make a report electronically to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or call (720) 531-0340.
This story was updated on March 25, 2026 at 3:29pm to include the statement from Kessler’s lawyer, Tama Beth Kudman.
