The Equiery’s Guide to the Internationals
by Katherine O. Rizzo October in Maryland brings with it two of
the biggest international level competitions on the Eastern Seaboard - the MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill and the Washington Inter- national Horse Show. Both competitions off er national and international divisions as well as plenty of shopping, exhibitions, food, and more - packed together into a truly world-class spec- tator experience. Below are some highlights and tips for attend- ing each of these international events. We hope to see you there and don’t forget to send us a selfi e from the show to
editor@equiery.com!
any Sunday event ticket. Back by popular demand is the
third annual Maryland Corgi Cup on Sunday. T e races will take place on the turf track with preliminary heats tentatively scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. T e fi nal rounds and champion- ship race will take place between the CCI3* and CCI5* show jumping competitions. Also back this year is the Hall of Champions, located at the race barns near the main arena. Spectators can get a close look at several internationally re- nowned horses from the Cecil County area. Photo ops are also available. T e list of this year’s participating horses will be posted on
maryland5star.us later this month. U.S. Pony Racing is sponsor-
MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill T is year marks the fourth annual MARS
Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, presented by Brown Advisory. T e event is one of only seven fi ve-star events in the world, and one of only two here in the U.S. T e competition takes place at the Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Cecil County October 17-20. A CCI5* is the highest level of competition in the sport of Eventing, higher even than the Olympics, and it has three phases of competi- tion: dressage, cross-country and show jump- ing. Each horse and rider combination must complete all three phases. Because the compe- tition is so physically demanding, riders must present their horses to a ground jury for a horse inspection (aka “jog”) at the start of the competi- tion and again between the cross- country and show jumping phases. In addition to the CCI5*, the
event also runs a CCI3*L and hosts the Dutta Corp. U.S Event- ing Association Young Event Horse East Coast Champion- ships. A full competition sched- ule for the week can be found at
maryland5star.us. T is year, the Local Beer, Wine
Shetland Pony races take place at both international events this year with fl at races on the turf course during the Maryland 5 Star and the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase series fi nals taking place during WIHS.
ing two pony races during Sat- urday’s cross-country competi- tion. T e Leadline Trot Race, for children under the age of 7, will be held on the turf track between the CCI3* and CCI5* divisions. Shetland Pony races will take place after the conclusion of the CCI5* division. A Kids’ Corner in the infi eld has been ex- panded this year to include interactive games and other activities from partners Milburn Or- chard, Great Wolf Lodge, the Maryland Horse Industry Board, T e Fluff y Eventer and more. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, children can enjoy barnyard games, explore a straw maze, jump around a bounce house, create their own
Washington International Horse Show T e Washington International Horse Show
is now in its 66th year of hosting world-class competition here in the D.C. area. WIHS, which is presented by MARS Equestrian, re- turns to T e Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marl- boro October 21-27. WIHS is an offi cial U.S. Equestrian Federa-
The third annual Maryland Corgi Cup returns to the Maryland 5 Star on Sunday, October 20.
and Spirits Expo, hosted by Elk River Brewing Company, is back on Saturday, October 19 from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Located near the main en- trance, admission to the Expo is free with any Saturday event ticket purchase. On Sunday, Oc- tober 20 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., spectators can enjoy the Maryland Food Fest, hosted by Cecil County Agriculture. T e festival is also located near the main entrance and is free for those with
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Stick Pony and also see various animals in the petting zoo. A full schedule of Kids’ Corner ac- tivities can be found at
maryland5star.us/kids- corner/. Don’t forget that all ticketing, schedules, and
general information, as well as parking guide can be found at
maryland5star.us! Plan your viewing spots for this year’s cross-country day with course maps in this issue on pages 30-31.
tion Heritage Competition and holds a CSI5*- W rating, which is the highest level rating awarded by the Federation Equestre Interna- tionale (FEI) for Show Jumping. WIHS also holds a U.S. Equestrian rating of 6* Jumpers and Premier Hunters and is recognized by the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, Maryland Horse Show Association, and Virginia Horse Show Association. Day-time competition is free to watch while
tickets are required for all evening shows. We highly recommend purchasing your tickets now, as in recent years the evening shows have sold out every night! Parking at PGEC is free for spectators.
continued... THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | OCTOBER 2024 | 13
Maryland 5 Star Photo
WIHS photo
Maryland 5 Star photo
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