WASHINGTON, August 8, 2017–One of the most popular nights at the Washington International Horse Show is Barn Night, which returns Thursday, Oct. 26, to Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Barn Night is a favorite with young riders, barn mates and horse lovers who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win great prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening of exciting jumping competition. Barn Night 2017 is presented by U.S. Equestrian, Enjoy Yums, The Equiery, The Clothes Horse and United Metro Golf Cart.
Riders in the $35,000 International Jumping Accumulator Costume Class wear surprising and entertaining costumes on WIHS Barn Night. ©Jump Media LLC
Get ready for Barn Night 2017!
Loads of fun activities and great sport is planned for Barn Night 2017, including the $35,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class, presented by Equestrian Sport Productions, with a prize for Best Costume, the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series, presented by Charles Owen, a tee-shirt toss and more. Activities along the concourse include a scavenger hunt, coloring activity and a model horse jump station. Top riders will be on hand to sign autographs.
All barns, equestrian groups, teams, and horse enthusiasts are invited to take part in Barn Night activities, which begin on the concourse at 6 p.m., however, registration is required to participate in group contests–Group Spirit, Group Banner Contest, Group Video Contest and Largest Group (Md., Va., D.C./Other and Overall). This year’s contest theme is “Equestrians Around The World.”
Laura Graves, the #2-ranked dressage rider in the world, will teach a riding clinic for the winner of the WIHS Barn Night Group Video Contest. ©Shannon Brinkman Photo/US Equestrian
The list of fabulous prizes includes a group riding clinic with Laura Graves, U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Bronze Medalist and currently #2 on the FEI World Dressage Ranking List, a custom stable drape set from The Clothes Horse, a customized restored golf cart from United Metro Golf Cart, $2,500 in Dover Saddlery gift certificates courtesy of U.S. Equestrian and a year’s supply of Enjoy Yums Treats!
The ponies will be fit, fast and race ready for the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series, presented by Charles Owen. ©Shawn McMillen Photography
Start planning now.
Barn Night registration forms are due Monday, October 16. Barns that register early, by October 2, will be entered automatically in a raffle for a chance to win a $250 Dover Saddlery Gift Certificate thanks to U.S. Equestrian. The winner will be announced October 16 on Facebook. Forms and rules are available at www.wihs.org/barn-night.
WIHS Barn Night concludes with an autograph and selfie session with top riders. ©Alden Corrigan Media
WIHS tickets are available online at www.Ticketmaster.com and at the Verizon Center Box Office. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more through Verizon Center Group Sales at 202-661-5061.
The fourth annual Buck Breast Cancer Benefit will be held Thursday, Oct. 26, during Barn Night with a portion of ticket sales benefiting Capital Breast Care Center. Guests are invited to think pink, wear pink and celebrate the lives of survivors, friends and family at 7 p.m. in the PwC Club at Verizon Center. Tickets are $150 per person, and include dinner, an open bar and arena ticket. Benefit tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com and the Verizon Center Box Office.
Bring your best barn spirit and get ready for a night of thrilling competition and lots of fun! For more information on Barn Night, visit https://www.wihs.org/barn-night/.
The 59th annual Washington International Horse Show will be held October 24-29, 2017, at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.wihs.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Tag us using #WIHSBarnNight, #WIHS2017, and #HorsesInTheCity.
About Washington International Horse Show wihs.org
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America’s most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events attracting more than 26,000 spectators annually to Washington, D.C., for Olympic-level competition plus community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders arrive 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, the $25,000 Puissance high jump, presented by The Boeing Company, the $50,000 Speed Final on Military Night, and Kids’ Day, a free, fun and educational community event. WIHS, an official USEF Heritage Competition, is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization based in Washington, D.C.
