Top prize for Best Group Spirit: A riding clinic with Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis!
Washington, DC—Sept. 6, 2012—The Washington International Horse Show is pleased to announce “What’s Your Dream?” as the theme for this year’s Barn Night. Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery, will be featured on Thursday, October 25, during the 54th annual Washington International, which takes place October 23-28 at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC.
Barn Night at WIHS is a favorite with local young riders and horse enthusiasts who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win big prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening.
Register Now for Barn Night 2012!
“It is great to see so many young riders coming out to support the Washington International Horse Show and get involved in the sport,” said Dover Saddlery’s Janet Nittmann. “Barn Night is such a fun event and we love seeing the dedication and excitement of all of the barns that come out each year.” Dover Saddlery, a leading retailer of equestrian products in the US, is a returning sponsor of Barn Night.
A regular participant at WIHS Barn Night is Cedar Creek Farm of Sterling, VA,
seen here posing at the famous WIHS Puissance wall. Photo: Rex Reed
Activities begin at 6:00 p.m. on the concourse at Verizon Center with a Stablemates painting activity hosted by Breyer Animal Creations. The first 100 kids to arrive will receive a special prize, also courtesy of Breyer. Groups will have a chance to pose at the famous WIHS Puissance wall, which will be set up on the concourse.
The evening’s entertainment in the ring will include the exciting and hilarious Gambler’s Choice Costume class with top riders dressed in costumes taking on a twisty course of breath-taking jumps, the Mutton Busting exhibition where kids attempt to stay on energetic bucking sheep, a tee-shirt toss, plus an autograph session with top riders.
Top prize for Best Group Spirit: A riding clinic with Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis!
Photo: Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
WIHS is thrilled to announce a very special prize for Best Group Spirit this year. Olympic gold medalist Joe Fargis will teach a riding clinic to the group showing the most spirit. Fargis, winner of both individual and team gold medals in show jumping at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, is one of the most successful and respected trainers in the US. Honorable mentions in the same category will receive gift certificates from Dover Saddlery.
Join the fun and sign up for Barn Night 2012!
Barn Night is a terrific opportunity for the region’s horse lovers to come together and enjoy a night of entertainment and camaraderie.
Each year a large group of kids from Cedar Creek Farm makes the trip into DC from Sterling, VA, to participate in Barn Night and last year they won both the Largest Virginia Barn Contest as well as the Best Barn Video.
Olympic gold medalist Laura Kraut in Barn Night’s Gambler’s Choice Costume class
clearing the world’s first-ever cupcake jump! Photo: Shawn McMillen Photography
“Barn Night is really fun. The costume Gambler’s Choice class is really fun to watch and mutton busting last year was the funniest thing ever,” said Mary Elizabeth Cordia, 14, who has attended as part of the Cedar Creek crew for the last four years.
“It is great because we know some of the other barns, so it is fun seeing them and we are all together. We pick a theme and then we all dress up as the same color and then we all go out to dinner and hang out. We make signs and banners, a movie, and a song for our movie. We usually have 25-30 people. Not just the kids come, but their whole families come too,” she added.
Cordia, from Alexandria, VA, started riding when she was seven and trains with Jenny Graham at Cedar Creek. Cordia’s mother, Liz, also gets involved with Barn Night as a volunteer.
Sign Up Today!
Register your barn now to be eligible to participate in the group contests and for the chance to win great prizes! Join WIHS on Facebook and sign up on the Barn Night Facebook Event Page to enter contests, see who will be attending, and connect with other Barn Night participants!
See Barn Night Contest Rules for details about the 2012 WIHS Barn Night Contests: Largest Group (Overall, MD, VA and DC/Other), Best Group Spirit, Best Group Banner, and Best Group Video.
Largest Group prizes are $1,000 cash, courtesy of Gaithersburg Equipment Company, for the Largest Group Overall and gift certificates from Dover Saddlery for the three individual largest groups (Maryland, Virginia and Other States/DC).
“What’s Your Dream?” is the theme for this year’s Group Banner and Group Video Contests with gift certificates from Dover Saddlery for champion, reserve champion and three honorable mentions for each contest.
Go to www.wihs.org/Barn-Night now to sign up to be eligible for this year’s contests and prizes. Discounted tickets for Barn Night are available at the Verizon Center Group Sales Office. Call (202) 661-5061 now to reserve your seats! The minimum group size is 10 people.
Visit www.wihs.org/tickets/ for more information on purchasing tickets to this year’s event. Download the 2012 Official WIHS Prize List at www.wihs.org/prize-list/.
Learn more about the Washington International and the WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Finals at www.wihs.org, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Winners of the 2011 Barn Night Contests
Largest Overall Barn Contest: Meadowbrook Stables, Chevy Chase, MD
Largest Barn, Maryland: Full Moon Farm, Finksburg, MD
Largest Barn, Virginia: Cedar Creek Farm, Sterling, VA
Largest Barn, DC/Other: Rock Creek Park Horse Center, Washington, DC
Barn Banner Contest: Rock Creek Park Horse Center, Washington, DC
Best Barn Video: Cedar Creek Farm, Sterling, VA
Best Barn Spirit: Meadowbrook Stables, Chevy Chase, MD
