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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.

On the Venice Equestrian Tour, Fox Lea Farms will host Show Jumping Under the Stars, a $24,999 Grand Prix series that takes place every Friday night. At Show Jumping Under the Stars, spectators will have the opportunity to watch some of the best riders in the sport compete. “The Grand Prix level is a national level competition that will also feature a slew of international riders,” says Birnbach. “We’ll have some of the top riders in the country, Olympic-level riders and riders that have been on the United States equestrian team.”

Show Jumping Under the Stars, Birnbach maintains, is designed to be as accessible to audience members as possible. Set under the lights at Fox Lea Farm, the family friendly event will feature food and drink vendors, bleacher seating and is even dog friendly, as long as your canine pal is on a leash. “The nice thing about our venue is that you can literally stand on the rail of the ring during the competition. They will have horses jump four feet from you, so that you can feel them hitting the ground,” says Birnbach. “We’re also going to offer guided course walks right before the start of the event, so that you can appreciate how big these jumps are.”

Venice Equestrian Tour, January 13 to March 15, Fox Lea Farm, 800 N Auburn Rd., Venice.

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