LEESBURG, VA., Oct. 24, 2022 – The 2022 WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty took place at Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg, Virginia, from Thursday, October 20, through Sunday, October 23. The annual event showcased local and regional riders and crowned new champions.
Frankie Falise, of Arnold, Maryland, and Broadwater Farm LLC’s Freedom G won the Maryland Horse Shows Association (MHSA) Gittings Horsemanship Finals, which was the featured event on Saturday at the WIHS Regional Horse Show.
Falise competed in the Gittings Final in 2021, placing fourth, but this year proved meaningful as she previously made the decision it would be her last year competing in the class. “I’m looking forward to getting into the jumpers this upcoming year and continuing to find success in the [3’6”] equitation,” explained Falise. “I was mostly excited to just get in the ring and ride my best. So, to be able to win it this year was really special.
“I felt pretty confident going into the final knowing that I have been working hard all year and my trainers have been preparing me well,” she continued.
Falise, 17, commented that her win at the show and the venue was icing on the cake. “I have always loved Morven Park [International Equestrian Center] and the WIHS Regional Horse Show. The show is run well, and the atmosphere is always good!”
Behind Falise, Annabella Bozzuto took second place riding Bozzuto Equine LLC’s Finally, while Nina Fox rode her own Quattro to third place. Ashley Garrido and her own Cannonball finished in fourth, with Kellsey Stern and her own FF Calcutta rounding out the top five.
Highlighting Children’s Jumper competition, Jasmine Van Heyningen and her own Diva De Baudry were the Children’s Jumper champions, while McKenna A. O’Neil and her own Sharp Numbers took reserve champion. For Adult Jumper riders, it was all in the family with top honors presented to Ellie Williams with Perri Freeman’s Dedwig. Williams’ sister, Emily Clarke, aboard Kim Williams’ Cibellio took home reserve champion.
In the Children’s Hunters, Kylie Martin and her own At Last collected the tricolor in the Children’s Hunter Horse 14 & Under division, while Victoria Roemer and Laura Leroy’s Say What took reserve champion. For the Children’s Hunter Horse 15-17 riders, Emilie M. Beasley and her own Debonaire came out victorious, while Daisy Ballantine and Zachary Parks’ Quax were reserve champion. After capturing the most points across both Children’s Hunter divisions, Beasley and Deobonair earned the Grand Children’s Hunter Championship, presented by Orchard Manor Stables, LLC.
The Glyndon Memorial Trophy, donated by Patti and Bruce Schindler in memory of Ms. Schindler’s successful Adult Amateur hunter, Glyndon, was presented to the WIHS Regional Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion. Rachel Demuro and her own Game Boy were presented with the trophy after capturing championship honors in the 18-35 division. Jessica Van Brocklin Smith and Esther Lander’s Deputy Balou were reserve champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 division while Stacey C. Ingram and her own Rio Ultimo earned champion among the Adult Amateur Hunter 36 and over riders, with Patti Schindler and her own Pinch Hit taking reserve champion.
For their grand champion wins, Beasley and Demuro qualified to compete at the 2022 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) at The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center, along with the high-point jumper riders Van Heyningen and Williams.
Additional grand champions crowned at the WIHS Regional Horse Show included the Grand Green Hunter Champion, presented by Tonka Farm and awarded to Katherine Schmidt Butler and Angelia Goodwin’s Soulful. The Grand Pony Hunter Champion title, presented by Rokeby Farm Stables, went to Beatrice Vansant and Michele Hazel’s Ladybug.
As part of the USHJA Zone 3 Hunter Breeding Championships, sponsored by the Capor Family, Three Bars Farm, and Winterfell Farm, Best Young Horse honors went to Covington, owned and handled by Charlie Brown. Best Young Pony honors went to Valid Point with Drew Taylor handling for owner Alicia Z. Kline.
For the second consecutive year, the WIHS Regional Horse Show hosted the $1,000 MHSA Invitational Thoroughbred Hunter Classic which was won by Emily Gebhart and her own Idol Lion.
The excitement will continue this week at the 64th Washington International Horse Show CSI5*-W presented by MARS Equestrian™ running October 24 through October 30, 2022. WIHS will showcase thrilling equestrian sport, entertaining exhibitions, and special events at two prominent venues: The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center (PGEC) in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and the National Harbor waterfront complex in Oxon Hill, Maryland. WIHS will welcome the best riders from around the world and across the nation, equestrian fans, and the local community to witness and engage in this year’s spectacular event. Riders will compete for coveted titles and the FEI divisions will feature the prestigious $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W for the President’s Cup, presented by Experience Prince George’s, where riders will compete for coveted FEI ranking points. A full live stream of the show is available on USEF Network, with international FEI jumper classes on FEI TV.
