Equiery Survey Results: Has Washington International Lost its Shine?


By Katherine O. Rizzo with photos by Shawn McMillen Te Washington International Horse Show


(WIHS) returned to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro for the third year in a row and while Te Equiery read- ers recognize the convenience of having the show at PGEC, many worry it has lost a bit of the glitz and glamour that having a horse show in downtown Washington, DC, had. Tis year’s show ran October 21-27 with eve- ning performances on October 24-26. Below are more views and opinions of Equiery readers on this year’s WIHS based on our annual survey.


Survey Participants Our survey attracted more participants this


year with an increase of nearly 20 additional people. Of those who took this year’s survey, 52.8% of them attended WIHS in 2023 as well. Te majority of people who took this year’s


survey were spectators; however, the number of spectators taking this year’s survey went down from 2023. More competitors, grooms, and sponsors took the survey this year. We also had


According to survey results, Tursday evening’s WIHS Barn Night is no longer the most popular night to attend with Saturday’s Presidents Cup showing just as many survey attendees. Pictured is Reserve Maryland Largest Group winner Quinn Haven Stables (Friendship).


Te most popular day time performances, ac-


cording to our survey, were Saturday, October 26 (20.5%) followed by Monday, October 21 (17.9%). Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 were tied for third most popular day with 15.4% each.


formances,


For the evening per- the


most


popular date accord- ing to our survey was tied between Tursday, October 24 and Satur- day, October 26. Friday evening attendance was significantly lower than both Tursday and Saturday evening. Te overall impres-


Te first ever Kind Wins Award was presented to Sue Chambers of Quinn Ha- ven Stables and Paige Walkenbach (VA). Although survey participants applaud WIHS for the Kind Wins initiative, many felt the theme was hard to “dress for” in terms of Barn Night festivities.


a trophy presenter and WIHS staff member take our survey.


Te number of people who clicked “did not


attend” this year went up over 2023. Some of those people commented that they watched WIHS online through the USEF live stream. Others said they did not attend because they felt the evening ticket prices were too high. In fact, the number of people who felt ticket


prices this year were too high went up by near- ly 25% over that same question in 2023. Te number of people who felt ticket prices were “just right” went down this year by 12%. One person commented that the free tickets for day performances were appreciated.


Popular Dates Overall, the number of attendees per day


www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580


went down about 10% for day performances and down nearly 20% for evening performanc- es according to our survey.


sion of this year’s show was about the same as 2023 with 39.4% selecting


About 9% more people


this year felt the show “needs improvement.” One survey participant stated, “Te competition


is good. As a potential exhibitor someday, I like that it’s at PGEC for the convenience, but hav- ing competed there many times in the past, it doesn’t have the same allure as going downtown for a night out.” Another survey participant sug-


gested, “I think barn night should be either Friday or Saturday. Te pos- sibility for higher attendance would be better.” Several people comment- ed that Barn Night went on too late for a school night and suggestions were made to start earlier if kept on a school night.


The Venue


Te indoor at PGEC is much smaller than WIHS’s previous lo-


Tere were not as many show “extras” this year however the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase did return with Daniel Edel- stein winning with Mint Meadow Farm’s Dash of Mint.


THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | DECEMBER 2024 | 31 “just right.”


cation of the Verizon Center in Washington, DC, and many peo- ple last year felt their view of the competition was hindered by ban- ners, judges stands and/or screens. WIHS organizers certainly fixed this issue as 74.2% of our survey participants stated they could see the competition well from their seats. Tis is an increase of 30% over 2023. Parking satisfaction went down


this year, however no one wrote in any comments as to why they felt it needed improvement. “Needs im- provement” went up by 15% while “just right” went down by 10%.


Te hospitality of WIHS staff and volun- teers saw an improvement this year with 54.8% clicking “just right” and 12.9% selecting “ex- ceeded expectations.” One person wrote in, “Te volunteers for the WIHS were very help- ful and cordial.” Another person wrote in, “Venue was super


easy for our group of disabled adults. Great parking, great access and friendly staff from PGEC to greet us.”


Show Extras WIHS often adds non-competition demon-


strations and show extras to the evening per- formances. Over the years, these have included things like the WIHS Shetland Steeplechase, dressage demonstrations and Jack Russell races. Tis year, the “extras” were lacking, according to our survey participants, with 20% stating this section needed improvement. Tis number went up by 15% over 2023. One person wrote in, “WIHS has struggled to maintain its previous level of excellence. One of the biggest issues was the lack of entertain- ment between show jumping rounds. It made


continued...


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52