The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund will return for a third year as title sponsor of the WIHS Equitation Finals and Equitation Grant, which will take place Oct. 22-17, 2019, at the 61st Annual Washington International Horse Show at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals is a highlight of WIHS, one of the most exciting and entertaining equestrian events in North America. The WIHS Equitation Finals, now in its 28th year, is a prestigious national championship for junior riders that involves a rigorous three-phase competition held over two days. A panel of three judges test and evaluate the riders in hunter, jumper, and work-off rounds where riders switch horses with other competition athletes to determine the best of the best.
Elli Yeager, 16, of Wellington, Fla., is named 2018 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund
WIHS Equitation Finals Champion. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
“Dedicated sponsors who provide unwavering support are the backbone of the Washington International Horse Show, and we are proud to welcome the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund back as a very special partner,” said Vicki Lowell, WIHS President. “The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals has become a celebrated benchmark for junior riders throughout North America and we are pleased to not only have The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund as a title sponsor, but very proud to be able to help deserving riders compete through the WIHS Equitation Grant program.”
The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26.
“The Washington International Horse Show, a time-honored US Equestrian Heritage Competition, and its dedicated staff, amazing team and wonderful competitors, makes us at the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund proud to use our sponsorship to increase its access and inclusion,” said Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund Executive Director Bill Rube. “It has been inspiring to see how this show impacts every person who steps into Capital One Arena, every competitor who rides into the ring, and every promising young rider who participates in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals.”
Former WIHS Equitation Finals champions include Olympic team silver medalist Kent Farrington (1999) and two-time Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward (1993). Other WIHS Equitation Finals alums active in the grand prix ranks include Brianne Goutal-Marteau (2004), Jack Hardin Towell Jr. (2006), Lillie Keenan (2010), Victoria Colvin (2015), Hunter Holloway (2016), and Taylor St. Jacques (2017). The most recent winner was Elli Yeager in 2018.
Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant
Introduced in 2017, the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant gives deserving riders the opportunity to participate in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals in Washington, D.C., without the financial commitment that accompanies the event. Grant recipients receive airfare and accommodations, and are guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime experience at one of the most prestigious equitation events in North America. Previous recipients of the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant include Abigail Brayman (2017), Ava Stearns (2018), and Juliette Joseph (2018).
Lindsay Maxwell presenting the 2017 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals trophy at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, D.C. Photo by Jump Media
“The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund is proud to support the 2019 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals. Qualifying for these finals represents a culmination of years of dedication and countless hours of practice, so I am thrilled to again support access to the finals for deserving young riders through the LMCF WIHS Equitation grant. A key component of the Fund’s mission is to positively impact the lives of young people by providing access to special opportunities. My hope is that today’s young riders will embrace the tradition of paying forward access to the next generation of equestrians.”
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must be WIHS members and in the top 70 of the WIHS Equitation Rankings at the time of application. For more information and to download the application, visit https://www.wihs.org/wihs-equitation/.
Invitations to compete in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals will be sent to the top 40 junior riders based on points earned during the qualifying period in the East Coast and West Coast Leagues with 30 riders invited from the East Coast League and 10 riders from the West Coast League.
Qualifying events for WIHS Equitation are held at more than 650 horse shows throughout North America, where riders can earn points to be eligible to compete in the Equitation Finals as well as the WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships. The qualifying period runs from September 1, 2018, through August 31, 2019.
Each year, WIHS continues a longstanding tradition as one of the world’s most celebrated indoor horse shows. The 2019 edition will again host the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington presented by Events DC, with coveted qualifying points on offer for the 2020 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Final taking place in Las Vegas, Nev., in April. WIHS welcomes qualified hunter, jumper, equitation, and pony riders from across the nation to celebrate year-end titles including the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals.
For more information on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org, join WIHS on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Tag us using #WIHS2019 #HorsesInTheCity, #FEIWorldCup, and #Longines.
The 61st Annual Washington International Horse Show will return to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22-27, 2019. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, email info@wihs.org.
About The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund
The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund is a private, charitable fund. It accepts grant proposals for the benefit of charitable, educational, or scientific purposes, exclusively from tax-exempt, charitable organizations. The issues where the Fund focuses its resources reflect Lindsay’s personal priorities and values: improving the lives of children with special needs; enabling access opportunities to education; and providing care, compassion, and protection to animals.
About Washington International Horse Show
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 $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup presented by Events DC, the $25,000 Puissance high jump, $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.
