Valiente – a unique equestrian property and a Wellington masterpiece
When a collaboration of polo players purchased land south of Wellington on Hwy 441 two years ago their motivation was to build the PLYRS Club, a new polo facility to help ensure the future of the sport reflecting the changed landscape of the Village itself.
Palm Beach Polo and Country Club’s construction in the 1970s was arguably the catalyst for Wellington’s growth to its current accepted status as the ‘Winter Equestrian Capital of the World’. But the burgeoning popularity of Wellington International and the Global Dressage Festival has meant that Wellington is not dominated by polo fields, instead it is largely populated by equestrian facilities catering to Hunter/Jumper and dressage. Polo clubs have also fallen victim to development – Gulfstream polo club, formerly on Lake Worth Road is a case in point, now that polo fields are long gone and replaced by residential development.
Valiente is one of the last bastions of equestrian real estate – unique in size, location and design. “Valiente Farm is hallowed ground, and no matter its future owner or its future use, it will always be hallowed ground in the world of Polo,” said Icon Global’s Founder, Bernard Uechtritz, who has the honor and undertaking to sell this stunning property.
Real estate markets fluctuate and Wellington is no exception but the overall trend, while neither bear nor bullish, is historically on an overall positive trajectory. That said, equestrian properties that compare to Valiente are rare and unattainable. Similar in size to Valiente Farm is the National Polo Center and the Isla Caroll polo estate – both fetching in the region of $150 million when sold in the past few years. Wellington International showgrounds is also comparable in acreage – and a diamond in terms of the Village’s ongoing world-beating equestrian status.
Valiente was the vision of polo patron Robert ‘Bob’ Jornayvaz. He brought in the best architects, planners, designers to match his intention to create an environment that worked beautifully for horses and was aesthetically exceptional in its layout and ambience. Valiente exudes a natural beauty from the Banyan trees in the courtyard of the barn, to the elegantly understated stadium that sits between the two main polo fields and looks out over the peaceful grounds with the paddocks, water elements, exercise track, vast tracts of lawn and the barn itself.
The tide is turning in Wellington from polo to dressage and Hunter/Jumper dominance. Valiente has been home to one of the most successful high goal operations in modern polo history. But now it is set on course for a new chapter, whether for polo or another equestrian discipline, the backdrop of Valiente Farm cannot be recreated today and the new owners will be preserving one of Wellington’s most iconic horse properties.