Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2012 – The 2012 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is just around the corner on October 23-28, 2012. For one week each year, Verizon Center and the city of Washington, D.C. welcome some of the world’s best horses and riders to at one of the nation’s only remaining metropolitan indoor horse shows. Buy your tickets today to see all the exciting action!
WIHS features Olympians, national champions, and talented young equitation riders, and top ranking junior, amateur and pony competitors. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show.
Many big names in show jumping are confirmed to compete at this year’s competition. U.S. Team members from the London Olympic Games – Beezie Madden, McLain Ward, Reed Kessler, and Charlie Jayne – will be in attendance. Canadian Olympian (and past President’s Cup Grand Prix winner) Jill Henselwood will be here, as well as top Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, twin brothers Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium, and U.S. show jumper Kirsten Coe are just a few of the competitors to watch for.
Olympian Reed Kessler will be at WIHS!
WIHS highlights include the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix CSI3*-W, by Events DC,on Saturday, October 27. The President’s Cup Grand Prix is a World Cup qualifier. The $25,000 Puissance (high-jump competition),will be held on Friday, October 26, and riders will compete for the Armed Forces Cup, presented by The Boeing Company. For the country’s top junior riders, the WIHS Equitation will be held on Saturday, October 27, while the younger set will compete in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals on Sunday. Riding in qualifiers all year, the nations’ best children’s and adult hunter and jumper riders will contest their WIHS championships. All evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. EST.
For those who cannot attend in person, WIHS offers free, live streaming of the entire event. WIHS launched its live streaming video feed online in 2011, and thousands of horse lovers around the world joined in to watch the competition and special events online. All six days of action in the ring will be streamed live on www.wihs.org beginning Tuesday, October 23, thanks to supporting sponsorship from Pedigree/Mars, Campbell Wealth Management and Platinum Performance.
Exhibitions and Fun For Kids
Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly horse show in the city.
In addition to an encore performance of the popular Mutton Busting competition on Thursday’s Barn Night, the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon military horses will be at the show for Friday’s Military Night. Terrier races and amazing demonstrations from Australian horsemanship master Guy McLean will round out the entertainment featured on Friday and Saturday nights.
Guy McLean and his amazing horses will be back at WIHS for an exhibition
WIHS Third Annual Kids’ Day is a free, family-friendly event scheduled for Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy free pony rides, a grooming station hosted by Meadowbrook Stables, horse shoe painting with the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon, face painting, bling tattoos, drawings to win prizes and more! Kids’ Day is supported by The EQUUS Foundation, and kids under 12 will receive a free Georgetown Cupcake while supplies last.
Barn Night at WIHS is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening. “What’s Your Dream?” will be the theme for this year’s Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery and media partner The Equiery, on Thursday, October 25.Join us at 6:00 p.m. for activities on the concourse, including a Stablemates painting activity hosted by Breyer Animal Creations. The first 100 kids to arrive will receive a special prize, courtesy of Breyer. The evening’s entertainment will include the exciting and hilarious Gambler’s Choice Costume Class, Mutton Busting, a t-shirt toss, an autograph session with top riders, and photo ops with the famous WIHS Puissance wall on the concourse.
Hospitality and Social Events
Several VIP dining packages are available for this year’s event, renowned for its outstanding competition and one-of-a-kind setting. Fidelity Investments® Club and the Washington International Club dining platforms offer spectacular views of the competition and the very best in location and amenities for evening performances Tuesday through Saturday.
The beautiful VIP dining platforms overlook the ring at Verizon Center
The popular Acela Club on the skybox level offers tables for four with buffet dinner and open bar on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, nightly social events, including Thursday’s Barn Night Reception and Buck Breast Cancer event, Friday’s Armed Forces Reception and Saturday’s President’s Cup Reception. Individual tickets to Acela Club are also available. Reservations for all hospitality areas are required on a space available basis. Call 202-525-3679 or email info@wihs.org to secure your reservation.
WIHS would like to thank all of its 2012 sponsors and partners, without whom this wonderful horse show in the city would not exist.
WIHS tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. General admission is $15 Tuesday through Sunday with children 12 and under admitted free for daytime performances before 5 p.m., courtesy of Washington Area Chevrolet Dealers. Reserved and VIP tickets are available for evening performances. Ending times are approximate. For Discounted Group Sales, call 202-661-5061. Tickets also may be purchased in person at the Verizon Center Box Office. For information about Verizon Center accessible seating and services, call 202-661-5065 (TTY). Full ticket information can be found by visiting www.wihs.org/tickets/.
About the Washington International Horse Show (www.wihs.org)
An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is the country’s leading metropolitan indoor horse show and the pinnacle of the equestrian year with top riders, including Olympic medalists and their world-class horses. More than 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show, with many competing all year just to qualify. Highlights include the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (a World Cup qualifier), the Puissance (high jump) and WIHS Equitation Finals featuring the country’s top junior riders. Exciting equestrian exhibitions, boutique shopping and community activities, such as Kids’ Day and Breakfast with the Mounted Police, round out this family-friendly event.
Since its debut, the WIHS has been a Washington, D.C. institution attended by celebrities, business, military, and diplomatic leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
