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Jenny Ross for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT: Jenny Ross of Phelps Media Group, Inc. International at (561) 753-3389 or at info@phelpsmediagroup.com
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Photo Credit: Aaspen’s Black Diamond and Lisa Friel, who will compete in this year’s WIHS Side Saddle Hunter. Photo by: Judy Leonard. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.
$10,000 Ladies’ Side Saddle Hunter Joins Washington International Horse Show Schedule
Washington, D.C. – September 6, 2006 – The 2006 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) returns to the Verizon Center this year on October 24-29 in downtown Washington D.C. to host one of the most exciting and innovative horse show events in the country. This year, the WIHS proudly welcomes Ladies’ Side Saddle as a new division and evening feature.
Eight exhibitors will be chosen from the USEF Horse of the Year standings as of September 18, 2006. The eight invited competitors will participate in the $10,000 Ladies’ Side Saddle Hunter division, sponsored by Monica and Hermen Greenberg, Foxchase Farm, and Maureen Hanley.
“We are thrilled to add side saddle to the Washington International Horse Show,” commented Susie Webb, Executive Director of WIHS. “We are excited to incorporate this new discipline into our program, and I think it will bring an element of elegance to the show. We want to extend our thanks to our sponsors, Monica and Hermen Greenberg, Foxchase Farm, and Maureen Hanley, for their gracious support.”
On the afternoon of Thursday, October 26, the under saddle class will be held, with side saddle exhibitors competing at the walk, trot, and canter in formal hunting attire and with appointments, which include detailed equipment that reflect historical fox hunt requirements and traditions. Seventy-five percent of the class will be judged on performance, manners, style, and the horses’ way of moving. Twenty-five percent of the riders’ score will be based upon appointments, attire, and general overall appearance.
Following the under saddle class will be the Ladies’ Side Saddle Hack, which includes two fences measuring at 2’6’’ in height. After performing at the walk, trot, and canter, horses will be judged on their jumping talent over the fences. After negotiating the two fences, competitors must hand gallop and then bring their horse to a halt. The walk, trot, and canter portion determines 50% of the rider’s score, while their jumping performances make up the other half.
On Thursday evening, riders will return to the Verizon Center arena for their final class, the $10,000 Ladies’ Side Saddle Stake. The class is judged according to the horse’s performance, suitability, manners, jumping form, consistency, and pace over a course of eight fences standing 3 feet in height. At the division’s conclusion, Champion and Reserve Championship awards will be presented to the competitors with the most points overall.
The Washington International Horse Show is pleased to offer an array of classes for a variety of different equestrian disciplines. In addition to side saddle, the WIHS holds classes specifically designed for hunters, show jumpers, equitation riders, ponies, dressage, barrel racing, polo, and the crowd pleasing Puissance high jump. The festivities also include terrier races, barn/group night, a pony pavilion for children, autograph signing, and much, much more.
For more information on the Washington International Horse Show, please visit www.wihs.org.
Washington International Horse Show Fast Facts
What: Now in its 48th year, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the world’s leading equestrian events. It features top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad competing for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. Approximately 600 horses will be on hand for the six-day event. Riders from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Brazil and Ireland are expected to participate at the show in the Olympic sport of show jumping.
When: October 24 – 29, 2006 (Local Weekend: October 20-22 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
Where: Verizon Center at 601 F Street NW (7th and F Streets NW), Washington, D.C., home of the Washington International Horse Show since 2000, as well as professional and college sports teams including the NBA Wizards, the NHL Capitals, the WNBA Mystics and the Georgetown Hoyas, concerts, family shows and sporting events. ***Take Metrorail or Metrobus to Gallery Place-Chinatown for an easy trip to the show.
Highlights:
— $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (Sat., Oct. 28-evening)
— $25,000 Puissance (Fri., Oct. 27-evening)
— Invitational Dressage Championship Grand Prix (Thurs., Oct. 26-evening) and Musical Freestyle (Fri., Oct. 27-evening)
— Washington International Equitation Classic Finals (Sat., Oct. 28-evening)
— $15,000 AHJF Nations Cup Hunter Challenge (Sat., Oct. 28-day)
Website: www.WIHS.org
General Information:
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the nation’s leading championship horse shows since 1958, hosts some of the finest horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic and World Cup medalists. Unique among horse shows, the WIHS takes place in the middle of a city, and not just any city–the nation’s capital! For six days, the WIHS transforms local city streets around the Verizon Center into stabling and exercise areas for hundreds of horses. Show jumping, hunter, equitation and dressage competition is the mainstay of the show, with entertaining exhibitions of racing terriers, a celebrity sports challenge and barrel racing rounding out a very full program. Riders of all ages – from children as young as seven riding ponies to experienced riders well into their 50’s on powerful jumpers and dressage horses – compete throughout the year and throughout the country to qualify to ride at Washington.
New this year is side saddle, with riders evoking the elegance and style of past eras, the AHJF Nations Cup Hunter Challenge, an innovative hunter competition pairing WIHS equitation (junior) riders with international show jumping riders, and a polo exhibition.
Barn/Group Night, Thurs, Oct. 26, is a favorite with local young riders who attend in groups and vie for prizes based on best group spirit, best essay, largest group, etc. All participants get a free tee-shirt and have the unique opportunity to walk the show jumping course with grand prix riders (and get autographs) following the $20,000 Gamblers Choice class. On Saturday afternoon, younger children will enjoy pony rides, face painting and horse-based learning activities at the Pony Pavilion located just outside the Verizon Center.
More than 50 vendors offering equestrian gear, apparel, jewelry and other unique items are conveniently located on the concourse around the competition arena. Spectators also may bid on more than 60 unique and one-of-a-kind items in the Silent Auction.
WIHS Local Weekend offers local amateur riders, who otherwise may not qualify, a chance to ride at the Washington International. Local children and adult amateur hunter riders based within 100 miles of Washington, D.C. may compete in a qualifying event Oct. 20-22 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., with the top finishers eligible to ride in the WIHS Local Hunter Finals at the Verizon Center on Sunday.
The WIHS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization benefitting local and national charities. Current and past donation recipients include the Christopher Reeve Foundation, NBC4’s Camp 4 Kids, ASPCA, Childrens’ Inn at the National Institutes of Health, Community Services for Autistic Adults & Children, National Center for Therapeutic Riding, Newspapers in Education, Starlight Starbright Foundation-Midatlantic, and many more.
Horse Show Office: 16063 Comprint Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, (301) 987-9400, Fax: (301) 987-9461, website: www.wihs.org, Executive Director: Susan Webb, Susie@wihs.org
Management: Austin Kiplinger, Honorary Chairman of the Board; Jorge J. Carnicero, Chairman; Dr. Sheila C. Johnson, President; Susan Webb, Executive Director; Hugh Kincannon, Show Manager
Public Relations: Diana De Rosa, Press Link: (631) 773-6155, Cell: (516) 848-4867, dderosa1@optonline.net, website: www.presslinkpr.com
Media: Phelps Media Group/Mason Phelps, Jr. (561) 753-3389, mpjr@phelpsmediagroup.com. Press releases and photos are available at https://www.phelpsmediagroup.com. For accreditation, visit https://www.wihs.org/news/media.cfm and complete a media accreditation form.
2006 Washington International Horse Show
Tickets and Schedule ***Program subject to change***
Tickets go on sale September 5, 2006
Hours: Two performances daily except Sunday: Day (Tues-Sun): 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Evening: (Tues-Sat): 7:00-10:30 p.m (ending times approx.)
Tickets – www.ticketmaster.com or call 202-397-SEAT
Performance Day Evening Evening VIP**
Tuesday $15 $20 $40
Wednesday $15 $20 $40
Thursday $15 $30* $45*
Friday $15 $35 $60
Saturday $20 $35 $60
Sunday $15 — —
Anytime Package: $85 (a $235 value); good for all 11 performances.
Pony Pavilion: Tickets for the Pony Pavilion sold only at the Pony Pavilion on Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00-4:00 p.m. $5 per person or $10 for families/groups up to five people
*Barn Night/Groups (10 or more) receive $5 off each ticket on Thursday night only.
**VIP seats include premium arena-level seating and a complimentary WIHS program book ($10 value).
Tentative Schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 24: Daytime performance: Regular and Green Conformation Hunters; First/Second Year Green Hunters; Regular Working Hunters; Amateur/Owner Hunters (Riders 35 & Under and Over 35); Evening performance: WIHS Children’s Hunter and Adult Hunter Championships
Wednesday, Oct. 25: Daytime performance: Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunters; Second Year Green and Green Conformation Hunters; A/O Hunter (35 & Under and Over 35); Amateur/Owner Jumpers; Evening performance: WIHS Children’s Jumper Championships and Adult Jumper Championships
Thursday, Oct. 26 (BARN/GROUP NIGHT): Daytime performance: Small Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Large Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Small Junior Hunters (16-17), Large Junior Hunters (16-17); $25,000 President’s Cup Qualifier; Amateur/Owner Jumpers, Junior Jumpers; Evening performance: WIHS Invitational Dressage Championship Grand Prix; $20,000 Gambler’s Choice, Side Saddle, Barrel Racing, Terrier Races
Friday, Oct. 27: Daytime performance: Small Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Large Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Small Junior Hunters (16-17), Large Junior Hunters (16-17); WIHS Equitation; Amateur/Owner Jumpers; Junior. Jumpers TFR (time first round); $25,000 Open Jumpers; Evening performance: Polo, WIHS Invitational Dressage Championship Freestyle; $20,000 Accumulator Class, $25,000 Puissance, Barrel Racing, Terrier Races
Saturday, Oct. 28: Daytime performance: Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunters; $20,000 Hit & Hurry Class; Junior Jumpers; Pony Pavilion; Evening performance: WIHS Equitation Classic (Jumper Phase & Final work-off); $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, Terrier Races, Dressage
Sunday, Oct. 29: Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunters; WIHS Pony Equitation Classic; Local Hunter Finals (Horses); Local Hunter Finals (Ponies)
Photo Credit: Aaspen’s Black Diamond and Lisa Friel, who will compete in this year’s WIHS Side Saddle Hunter. Photo by: Judy Leonard. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.
