Jump Media – WIHS Regional Horse Show Offers an Enjoyable Fall Showing Experience
and Final Chance to Qualify for the 2016 Washington International Horse Show

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The highly anticipated 2016 WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship presented by The Linden Group at Morgan Stanley will take place Oct. 21-23 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center (PGEC) in Upper Marlboro, Md. The popular fall tradition offers hunter, jumper and equitation classes for all ages from lead line to adult medal, as well as the final chance to qualify for the 58th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events in North America, which will be held Oct. 25-30 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. WIHS Regional entries close Friday, Oct. 14. 

 

Devan Graham and Sandro Sky, winners of the 2015 MHSA Gittings
Horsemanship Finals. © Shawn McMillen Photography

WIHS is pleased to introduce two new equitation classes this year, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association 3’3″ Junior Hunt Seat Medal and the United States Hunter Jumper Association 3’3″ Jumping Seat Medal, to join the Maryland Horse Show Association (MHSA) Gittings Horsemanship Finals, the MHSA Children’s Pony Medal, the MHSA Adult Amateur Hunter Seat Equitation and the Virginia Horse Show Association (VHSA) Children’s Medal and VHSA Adult Amateur Medal.

Social and Fun

Social events include an ice cream social on Friday night and a pizza party on Saturday afternoon, open to all exhibitors. Also on Friday night, following the MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals, attendees will enjoy the qualifier for the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series presented by Charles Owen as the ponies and their junior jockeys race to determine who will earn a spot to compete in the steeplechase races at Verizon Center on Thursday and Saturday nights. 

 

Just one of the many smiles from Lead Line competitors.
© Shawn McMillen Photography

Laura Pickett Award for Excellence in Horsemanship

Judging for the Fifth Annual Laura Pickett Award for Excellence in Horsemanship presented by Vicki Lowell will take place throughout the WIHS Regional weekend. Nominees, designated by pink armbands, will be judged for their performances and conduct both in and out of the ring. 

 

Bailey Austin Doloff and his trainer, Dorna Taintor, were awarded the 2015 Laura Pickett Trophy for Excellence
in Horsemanship by Vicki Lowell, WIHS President and sponsor of the award. © Shawn McMillen Photography

The award will be presented on Barn Night, Thursday, Oct. 27, at Verizon Center. The winner also will receive a pair of custom boots provided by Fabbri Boots. Applications for the Laura Pickett Award are available at www.wihs.org/wihs-regional and in the show office.

Qualify to Ride at Verizon Center

Children’s and adult hunters and jumpers will take center stage on the weekend, as final qualifying spots are up for grabs to compete in the WIHS Championship Finals as well as the Regional Hunter Finals presented by The Linden Group at Morgan Stanley at Verizon Center. 

The WIHS Championship Finals will feature the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship and the $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 25, with the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship presented by The Klein Family & Lance Williamson Stables, and the $10,000 WIHS Adult Jumper Championship presented by The Treacy Family taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Regional hunter combinations, who earn a qualifying spot in the WIHS Regional Hunter Finals, will compete at Verizon Center on Sunday, Oct. 30.

For more information, visit www.wihs.org/wihs-regional.

All the great sport at the regional competition in Upper Marlboro, Md., leads up to the 58th annual Washington International Horse Show, which offers a week of elite equestrian competition showcasing the best in international show jumping, hunter and equitation, Tuesday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Oct. 30, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

WIHS tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Verizon Center Box Office. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more through Verizon Center Group Sales. Call 202-661-5061 for details.

About the Washington International Horse Show, wihs.org

Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events in North America. More than 26,000 spectators attend the six-day show, which includes Olympic-level competition along with community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders come to D.C. from all over the globe to jump for more than a half a million dollars in prize money. Highlights include the $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington for the President’s Cup, presented by Events DC (Saturday night), the Puissance high jump presented by The Boeing Company and $50,000 GE Speed Final on Military Night (Friday) and Kids’ Day (Saturday), a free, fun and educational community event. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and is currently ranked #7 in the Top 25 Horse Shows by the North American Riders Group. WIHS is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports. 

Photographs may be used on time only in relation to the above news item.
For high resolution photographs, please e-mail: lauren@jumpmediallc.com.
 

Contact: Lauren Fisher 
lauren@jumpmediallc