Top hunters throughout U.S. to compete at 2006 Washington International Horse Show

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Jennifer Kappler for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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Photo Credit:  Compliment and Sandy Ferrell, winners of two classes in the Green Conformation Hunters on Tuesday at the Washington International Horse Show. Photo © 2006 Diana DeRosa . This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.

Top Hunters From All Over USA To Compete At 2006 Washington International Horse Show

Washington, D.C. – October 24, 2006 – The 48^th  Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) kicked off today with seven different hunter divisions with the morning sessions beginning at 7:00 am and the evening program starting at 7:00 pm.

Some of the top names in professional and amateur hunter riding are competing this week such as adult rider Laura McPherson on Tenerife, and children’s hunter rider Abigail McArdle on Tonpilibee. Both are leading the WIHS Hunter Championship standings in their divisions. Professionals Scott Stewart, three time winner of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF) Championship, and Louise Serio, two time winner, will be here to compete in the professional hunter divisions.

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 from October 24 – 29, 2006 at the Verizon Center at 601 F Street NW (7^th and F Streets NW), Washington, D.C.

There will be a $10,000 WIHS Children’s and a $10,000 Adult Championship on Tuesday evening, October 24, 2006, and the $15,000 AHJF Nations Cup Hunter Challenge, which pairs international Open Jumper riders with American junior hunter riders, will run on Saturday, October 28, 2006.

The competition was fierce in the morning sessions. Compliment, owned by Stephanie Riggio and ridden by Sandy Ferrell, was shown to wins in both the Green Conformation Hunter Model and the Green Conformation Hunter over fences classes. Compliment came straight from being named Champion of the combined Conformation Hunters at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, last week. Ashton, owned by Karen Long Dwight and shown by Scott Stewart, were hot on their tails finishing first in one class, and finishing fourth and fifth in the other two classes in the division. Fiyero, owned by Katherine Press and piloted by Pamela Polk, won the initial class in the First Year Green Working Hunter division.

Popeye K was the Green Conformation Champion 2003 at the WIHS, and held true to his champion reputation by winning both Regular Conformation Hunter jumping classes and the model Class today. Popeye K was ridden to the wins by Tommy Serio and is owned by Elizabeth Spencer.

The 2006 High Point Qualifiers will take center stage tonight in the $10,000 WIHS Children’s and Adult Championships. Approximately 30 riders from each division will compete at the Verizon Center for the winner’s purse of $3,000 .