The 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) returns to the Washington, D.C. area October 24-30 with five-star international jumping, elegant hunters, entertaining exhibitions, and special events for the whole family.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md., Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS EquestrianTM returns to the Washington, D.C. area October 24-30 with seven days and three nights of five-star international jumping, elegant hunters, entertaining exhibitions, and special events for the whole family. The thrilling competition will be held at The Show Place Arena, Prince George's Equestrian Center, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Daytime events include a variety of hunter and jumper divisions for professional, adult, junior and child riders. Evening events are comprised of international show jumping, entertaining exhibitions and WIHS Equitation Final, including:
WIHS Barn Night – Thursday, October 27
Barn Night blends exciting equestrian sport with pre-event contests and prizes for barns and horse-loving groups. The Gallop Green contest theme created in partnership with Green is the New Blue, encourages groups to use their creativity to share eco-friendly ideas in their submissions. Contest entry deadline is Oct. 17, and winners will be announced at the show.
Local students from Frederick Douglass High School will sing the National Anthem to kick off the international jumping competition--the $75,000 Welcome Stake and the $37,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class where riders go wild with fun and surprising costumes.
WIHS Military Night presented by Boeing – Friday, October 28
Military Night presented by Boeing is about power and speed as WIHS salutes the U.S. Armed Forces with exciting classes and exhibitions. Voices of Service, featuring military veterans, will perform the Star-Spangled Banner. Look for the "Jump for TAPS" American flag in the $75,000 International Jumper FEI Speed Final benefiting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the WIHS Official Military Charity since 2010.
Horses and riders will jump the great wall to breathtaking heights in the $25,000 International Jumper Puissance until only one combination remains fault free. The North American indoor record to beat is 7' 7-1/2," set at WIHS in 1983.
In his first trip to WIHS, Redha Gharsa and the magnificent Friesian stallion, Battlefield Angel HP "Ezra," will perform an elegant dressage demonstration. Owned by Rhiannon Barreda, a retired career U.S. Army MEDEVAC helicopter pilot, Ezra's performance is a salute to veterans and active military personnel for their service and sacrifice.
Making its welcome return to WIHS, Jack Russell terrier racing will keep the energy going as 12 zippy and lovable terriers race over hurdles for ribbons and prize money.
The WIHS Honor & Service Award presented by EQUUS Foundation recognizes a horse, individual or organization that best demonstrates the values of honor and service as exhibited by it's first recipient, the Caisson Platoon's Klinger, a special horse who has touched the lives of many through his life of service with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).
ETHOS Award Champagne Brunch – Saturday, October 29, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
WIHS is honored to host the inaugural ETHOS Award Ceremony to recognize six African Americans for their contributions to the advancement of equestrian sport. Five of the recipients come from families where excellence in equestrian sport has spanned more than one generation. Honoree Donna Cheek will receive a special ETHOS Award for breaking barriers as the first black member of the U.S. Equestrian Team when she was selected to represent the U.S. at the 1992 American Show Jumping Championships. Click HERE to learn about the six honorees. Click HERE to purchase tickets to the ETHOS Award Champagne Brunch.
World Cup Night – Saturday, October 29
The marquee event of the week, the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington CSI5*-W presented by Experience Prince George's, will feature top international riders and superstar horses as they take on the biggest jumps and most challenging course for the largest purse in the history of the show.
D.C. Washington, the voice of Washington sports, will start off the evening with the National Anthem, followed by the nation's top junior riders competing in the last phase of the WIHS Equitation Final. The Shetland Ponies and their junior jockeys will be ready to race in the concluding event of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series.
WIHS Kids' Day presented by Delta Air Lines
Free, Educational and Fun
A variety of activities are planned for the two WIHS Kids' Day events, including pony rides, a grooming station, face painting, a horseless horse show where kids can jump on foot to win ribbons, a pony kissing booth, carousel rides (National Harbor), plus 'special guest' horses, ponies, and more! Admission is free for both events. These activities will be held Saturday, October 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the National Harbor Carousel Lot and Saturday, October. 29, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prince George's Equestrian Center.
Tickets & Hospitality
Daytime Tickets (General admission, Mon-Sun)
- Daytime admission is free for kids 12 and under
- Adults: Daytime admission is free on Monday, $2 on Tuesday, $5 on Wednesday and Thursday, $10 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Evening Tickets (Thurs, Fri, Sat) - Options with and without dinner
- "Ticket + Dinner" tickets: The best seats in the arena with a dinner buffet and beverages (two servings of wine/beer per ticket for patrons 21+). Patrons will enjoy their dinner and drinks at their reserved arena seats.
- "Paddock Room" tickets: Experience WIHS in an event room overlooking the arena. Unreserved, general admission seating allows patrons to move freely throughout the evening between round tables and chairs in front of the viewing windows. Tickets include dinner buffet and beverages (wine/beer open bar for patrons 21+). (No arena seat with this option.)
- Reserved seats only
VIP Tables
- Platform tables of eight: https://wihs.org/vip-tables/
ETHOS Award Champagne Brunch
- Honoring the contribution of Aftrican Americans to the equestrian sport: https://wihs.org/ethosaward/
The 64th annual Washington International Horse Show will take place Oct. 24-30 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com.
For more information, please visit http://www.wihs.org. Please join on social: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok, and tag #WIHS2022, #FEIWorldCup, #TimeToBeat and #Longines.
About Washington International Horse Show
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America's most prestigious, competitive, and entertaining equestrian events with competition for international, professional, amateur, junior and child riders. Highlights include the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W for the President's Cup, the WIHS Equitation Finals, Children's and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships, top hunters and jumpers, plus popular community and charity events including WIHS Kids' Day and Barn Night. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. For more information, visit wihs.org.
Media Contact
Heather Marohn, Bullseye Communications, 9082683770, [email protected]
SOURCE Washington International Horse Show
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