This week, a world-class equestrian event returned to Sarasota County. From January 13 to March 15, Venice’s Fox Lea Farm will play host to the 2026 Venice Equestrian Tour. The nine week United States Equestrian Federation-recognized hunter/jumper tour, presented in partnership with Visit Sarasota County, is expected to draw over 3,500 participants, coaches and officials and over 8,000 spectators throughout the series.
“Fox Lea Farm was founded in 1983 and we are a nationally recognized horse show facility that runs a little over 40 weeks of horse shows per year,” says Laurie Birnbach, director of community and government relations at Fox Lea Farm. “Our show, which runs from Wednesday through Sunday, has classes that range from kids on ponies all the way up to Grand Prix level competition.”
For those unfamiliar with show horse jumping and hunter competitions, both types of competitions test the rider’s connection to the horse, along with the horse’s athleticism, but in slightly different contexts. In a horse jumping competition—which is found in the Olympics—judging is purely objective, based on timing and efficiency of which the rider completes the course. In a hunter competition, the riders are judged not just on the quality of their rounds, but also on their style, movement and overall picture…