Wellington, Florida, just west of Palm Beach, has grown to be a well-known equestrian destination because of its more comfortable weather and competitions that bring fans from all over the world.
Numerous equestrian-related events and competitions are held in the city each year, including the Winter Equestrian Festival, the Gauntlet of Polo, and the Globe Polo Cup, drawing hundreds of riders and their horses from all over the world. With the National Polo Center moving from Palm Beach to Wellington, horse and polo enthusiasts may now be seeking for a more permanent domicile in the well-known equine destination.
Mallet Hill is a properly titled equestrian residential development and one of Wellington’s most prestigious. The Palm Beach Polo Golf and Country Club, the Winter Equestrian Festival showgrounds, and the Global Dressage Festival are all nearby. Anyone looking for a luxury home to call home (for themselves and their horses) may consider this 4.13-acre estate on Quarter Horse Trail. This 8,538 square foot, $31 million property was finished in 1993 and has a total of 11 bedrooms.
You are greeted by a private circular driveway that is nicely manicured after passing through guarded gates. Additionally, a separate garage for golf carts and the neighboring, finished four-car garage both offer parking. The Mediterranean-style facade and the thick, climbing vines give the house a tropical feel. There is mature vegetation all around you, including the driveway’s flower and tree-lined path and the tall palms on the property.
The interior of the home is light and contemporary, with beautiful furnishings and finishes including wallpaper made of seagrass and drapes by Loro Piana. There are six bedrooms and nine bathrooms in the main home, and the flooring is limestone. Each room appears even bigger thanks to the high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows that pan out onto the backyard.
The great room of the house has the dining area, living room, extra seating area, wet bar with wine fridge, and other facilities. Just off the living room is the modern designer kitchen, which features custom Poggenpohl cabinetry, plenty of counter space, and an eat-in breakfast nook. The chandelier in the kitchen, which has leather strap trimming reminiscent of a saddle, is one of the many items of horse-themed decor that hang around the property. The main house also has a media room, a gym, a TV-equipped leisure area, and an office with a backyard outlook.
As spacious as the main areas are the bedrooms with en suite baths. For instance, the master bedroom boasts walk-in closets, a relaxing area, and a spa-like bathroom with a standalone tub. The arena outdoors may be seen from a covered patio on the second floor. The expansive backyard features a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen, a wood-burning stove, a TV, and numerous covered loggias.
A staff home with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room, and a tack room that is intended for equestrian staff quarters is just next door. The spacious area might also serve as a hotel for out-of-town visitors. The major components of the equestrian facilities are a recently painted baby-blue 16-stall horse barn and an arena constructed by Wordley Martin.
Equipped with Equi Turf, auto waterers, rubber pavers, four sizable paddocks, industrial laundry, and an equine bath, the horse barn is outfitted with everything you could possibly need to ride safely. It’s a dreamy location for horses to wander, ride, and enjoy since the arena is well-kept and surrounded by lovely landscaping, including vibrant flowers and well-trimmed hedges.
There are only 11 homes in Mallet Hill, some of which are located behind this estate and were formerly held by Bill Gates and his family, the founder of Microsoft. According to the South Florida Business Journal, the millionaire sold his Wellington villa for $26 million last year after purchasing a few homes in Mallet Hill in 2016. The eldest daughter of Gates, Jennifer Gates, is an accomplished rider and developed the nearby Evergate Stables, a renowned show jumping facility.
Gates is hardly the only millionaire’s daughter who rides. The daughter of Michael Bloomberg, Georgina Bloomberg is a dedicated rider who has taken part in Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival over the years.