Washington International Horse Show October 25-30, 2016 • Verizon Center • Washington, DC
by Katherine O. Rizzo
Over 500 qualifi ed horses and ponies will descend on the Verizon Center in Washington, DC later
this month to vie for more than $500,000 in prize money in front of over 26,000 spectators. T e Washington International Horse Show is celebrating its 58th year, with the fi rst day of competition being Tuesday, October 25. T e show is ranked seventh on the North
American Riders’ Group’s best horse shows in North America list. WIHS is also an important qualifi er leading up to the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final held in March for the fi rst time in Omaha, Nebraska. T is year’s show posts an increase in prize money as well as more opportunities to earn FEI ranking points. Each year, WIHS attracts top riders from
around the world and this year is no exception, with three members of the U.S. Olympic Silver Medal winning team expected to compete: McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Kent Farrington. Harrie Smolders from the Netherlands is also expected to return to defend his 2015 President’s Cup title.
Schedule Highlights
Tuesday, October 25 is devoted to the hunter horse with top professional, amateur-owned and young riders competing in the various hunter classes during the day. T at evening will showcase the High Performance Working Hunters, sponsored by Jacqueline B. Mars, and the WIHS Adult Hunter Championships. Bright and early on Wednesday morning (October 26), spectators can meet the Mounted Police outside the Hotel Monaco for breakfast with the offi cers and their mounts. T e day’s competition continues with hunter divisions and starts the jumper championships. T e WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship will conclude
Can Harrie Smolders defend his President’s Cup title?
Meet the Mounted Police outside the Hotel Monaco for breakfast on October 26.
www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580
the daytime competition with the WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Championships kicking off the evening competition. Wednesday evening also starts the international competition with the $10,000 International Jumper class. Junior riders take center stage on T ursday, October 27 with a variety of Junior Hunter and Jumper classes during the day. T e $35,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake also takes place on T ursday. T at evening is WIHS’ annual Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery, which also includes the fi rst night of Shetland steeplechase racing (see more information on Barn Night later in this article). Friday, October 28 continues with junior riders during the day as well as the WIHS Equitation Finals, Hunter Phase, which will be judged this year by none other than equitation and show jumping great George Morris. Morris will also be presenting the new George H. Morris Style of Riding Award to an international jumper rider who best exemplifi es the American style of equitation and jumping as well as the respectful, dignifi ed and workmanlike manner of a true sportsman. T at evening is WIHS’ Military Night, presented by T e Boeing Company. T e highlight of the night is the $25,000 International Jumper Puissance as well as the $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final. Saturday, October 29 is for the ponies in the arena and the kids outside the arena. A variety of pony hunter classes takes place during the day while WIHS Kids’ Day, presented by Animal Planet and EQUUS Foundation, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Verizon
Center concourse and outside the Hotel Monaco (see more information on Kids’ Day activities later in this article). T e WIHS Equitation Finals, Jumper Phase also takes place on Saturday with the WIHS Equitation Finals Work Off and Championships presentation taking place that evening. More pony steeplechase racing on Saturday evening as well as the $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Washington for the President’s Cup, presented by Events DC.
Competition concludes Sunday, October 30 with more pony competition as well as the WIHS
Regional Pony Hunter Finals and WIHS Regional Hunter Finals, both presented by T e Linden Group at Morgan Stanley.
Barn Night! T is year’s annual WIHS Barn Night on
T ursday, October 27, presented by Dover Saddlery with the support of T e Peterson Family Foundation and National Harbor, will showcase
Show your barn spirit at Barn Night on October 27 for a chance to win great prizes!
the ever-popular $35,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class (formerly known as Gambler’s Choice). T e class has nearly doubled its prize money this year and now off ers FEI ranking points. In addition, sponsor Equestrian Sport Products will present a new Best Costume Award this year. T e evening’s competition will begin with the High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper class and will also feature the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship series, presented by Charles Owen. T e evening will also include an autograph session with top U.S. and international riders. For those barns participating in Barn Night,
prizes this year include a riding clinic with top show jumper Callen Solem, who was shortlisted for the 2016 Olympic Games. Other prizes include a set of custom stable drapes from Dover Saddlery, a Custom Golf Cart from United Metro Golf Cart and
continued... OCTOBER 2016 | THE EQUIERY | 19
Alden Corrigan
906018-161016
Shawan McMillen
Katherine O. Rizzo
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