Official City Release
Will Rogers Memorial Center serves as horse hotel for FEI World Cup
Mentioned Entities
Analysis
Overview
Will Rogers Memorial Center's Sheep and Swine Barn will serve as the stabling facility for 54 elite horses competing in the FEI World Cup Finals 2026 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, April 8-12.
Infrastructure & Facilities
Community Impact
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Journalist
MediumMedium significance — notable action worth trackingThe $40 million Sheep and Swine Barn renovation was co-funded by WRMC and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, a private nonprofit — but the article does not describe how costs were split or what scheduling or usage considerations Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo received in return.
Resident
LowLow significance — routine or procedural itemThe WRMC campus will host 54 international horses beginning April 3, with competition activity at adjacent Dickies Arena running April 8-12. Residents in the Cultural District should expect elevated traffic and parking demand across the full 11-day window.
Source Text
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The FEI World Cup Finals 2026 is coming to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth April 8-12 and will provide a first-class experience for the elite riders and horses who will arrive from around the world.
Jumping and dressage riders won’t be the only ones in Fort Worth’s finest accommodations. Thirty-six jumping equine athletes from 19 countries and 18 dressage equine athletes from 15 countries will be “stalling in style” at Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC).
Arriving at DFW International Airport on April 3, the horses will debark an aircraft that departed Liege, Belgium, early that morning and make their way to Fort Worth, where their home for the next 11 days awaits at WRMC’s Sheep and Swine Barn, which was renovated in 2024 to accommodate a greater variety of four-legged friends.
About the creature comforts
We sat down with WRMC General Manager Allison McNamara to get the details.
Q. What special accommodation is made for the FEI horses?
A. While all our visiting horses are special, there are some unique considerations for this event. Since they’ve traveled internationally, the horses will need to be quarantined for two days and veterinarians on site will be checking their health. FEI is working closely with the USDA regarding quarantine and isolation requirements to ensure a safe experience for all horses and riders.
Also, the FEI horses are largely warmbloods who are generally taller than most western discipline horses. WRMC-owned stalls are 10 by 10 feet, which is a good size for temporary stalling away from home. However, FEI is bringing in 12-by-12-foot stalls for these larger horses.
Q. Are there any other special touches?
A. Comfortable stalls and riding rings will provide the ultimate in safety and utility. An extensive team of FEI stewards and veterinarians will be on hand 24/7 to ensure the horses are safe, secure and fit for the highest level of the competition.
Q. How has the 2024 Sheep and Swine Barn renovation made this kind of accommodation possible?
A. In 2024, WRMC partnered with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo to fund a $40 million complete renovation of the interior of the 1940s-era barn. Before the renovation, the Sheep and Swine Barn had permanent metal pens that were small for pigs, goats and sheep. This made the barns unusable for all horse shows. With the renovation, the flat concrete floor allows us to bring in horse stalls or other equipment to create unique configurations for each event.
Its proximity on the west side of the property makes it convenient for horses to travel over to Dickies Arena for the jumping and dressage competitions and return to their comfortable stalls after performing.
Learn more about FEI World Cup Finals 2026, including onsite shopping and musical entertainment, and get tickets.
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