Wellington, FL Friesian Buyer's Guide

About half the buyers we host fly in for a viewing, usually from somewhere on the East Coast or the Mountain West. Wellington is set up for it — the village has been the country's largest concentration of horse property for thirty years, and the logistics are easier than most first-time visitors expect.

This is the short, useful version of what to plan for.

Which airport

Two good options, both with direct flights from most major US hubs:

• Palm Beach International (PBI) — 25 minutes' drive from the estate. The closer airport and the one most of our visitors use. Smaller, easier to navigate, less expensive parking.
• Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (FLL) — 50 minutes' drive. More flight options, often cheaper fares than PBI. Worth checking if PBI prices are high.

Miami International is technically reachable but adds 30–45 minutes of traffic each way. Skip it unless you're combining the trip with something in Miami.

Where to stay

The two best matches for a horse-viewing trip:

• The Wanderers Club or Hampton Inn Wellington for the practical visit — both 10–15 minutes from the estate. Comfortable, reasonably priced, parking included, easy in and out.
• The Colony Palm Beach or The Brazilian Court if you'd rather make a weekend of it and stay closer to the coast. Both about 40 minutes from us. The drive to the estate is pleasant; we have buyers who prefer it.

We don't have arrangements with any of these — just genuine recommendations from buyers who've passed through.

How to plan the visit

A complete viewing visit usually breaks into:

1. A morning at the estate — meet the horses, watch them under saddle, ride yourself if you'd like. Plan on 3–4 hours.
2. Lunch on the property or in the village — a chance to talk through the questions that came up. The Tasting Room on State Road 7 is our usual recommendation; it's quiet, the food is good, and they don't rush you out.
3. A second visit the next day — optional but worthwhile if you're seriously interested. The horse you liked yesterday will be a different horse tomorrow — different mood, different energy. Both sessions help you make a decision.

Buyers who fly in for a single morning rarely close the sale on that trip. The pace of a Friesian sale rewards a second look.

Vets we work with

For your pre-purchase exam, three veterinary practices we'd recommend without reservation:

• Palm Beach Equine Clinic — the largest sports-horse practice in the area. Excellent imaging suite. Usually a 2–3 week wait for elective PPE appointments.
• Wellington Equine Sports Medicine — smaller, more personal. Strong on lameness work-ups and pre-purchase evaluations.
• Dr. Cricket Russillo — solo practice; we use her for our own horses. Available on shorter notice.

All three are happy to come to the estate. You arrange and pay for the exam directly with the vet — never through us. We've had buyers ask whether we have a preferred vet they should use; the honest answer is we do not want you to use ours. Use your own. We will be present at the exam only if you want us there.

What an estate visit looks like

When you arrive at the property:

• Park anywhere on the gravel drive. The big black gate is usually open during visiting hours; if it's closed, the buzzer is on the right-hand post.
• Lieke or Hendrik will meet you. Visits are usually one-on-one, sometimes with a single rider/handler. Marieke is no longer doing visits as she manages her health.
• Tour the property first — barn, indoor arena, paddocks. About 30 minutes. You'll see all the horses on the inventory in passing.
• Bring out the horse(s) you're interested in. Cross-tied, then groomed if you'd like to handle them. Most buyers want to see the horse in-hand on a triangle before anything else.
• Watch the horse under saddle. Lieke rides; you watch from the rail. About 20 minutes.
• Ride yourself, if you'd like. We provide a tack box; bring your own helmet and boots. Plan 30–60 minutes in the saddle.
• Coffee on the porch when you're done. This is when the real conversation happens.

The whole arc takes about three hours per horse. Two horses in a morning is comfortable; three is rushing it.

During the closure

We are still hosting visitors as we wind down. A few things have changed:

• Bookings are by appointment only — usually weekday mornings work best. The barn is quieter then, and we have more time per visitor.
• We are doing fewer visits per week than we used to. The family is operating with a reduced team while attending to Marieke's care.
• Reply times to first-contact emails have stretched to a day or two in some cases. Bear with us; every message is read by Lieke personally.
• Prices are no longer listed. Bring your honest offer and an explanation of where the horse would be going. The right home matters more than the highest number.

One thing we wish more buyers knew

You don't have to commit on the visit. Many buyers feel pressure to make an offer the day they fly out. We don't. Take the photos, take the videos, fly home, think about it for a week, then write. We will hold the horse for ten days while a serious buyer makes up their mind — provided you've told us you're seriously considering.

The visit is to see the horse. The decision can wait.

If you'd like to schedule one, the contact page is the fastest way; the email reaches both Lieke and Hendrik directly.