WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2017–The nation’s best horses and riders, along with a lineup of top international show jumpers, will compete at this year’s Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) on October 24-29, 2017, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
One of the most exciting and entertaining events in North America, WIHS welcomes some of the biggest names in the sport, including Olympians and rising young stars. The qualifying lists for all divisions, including the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals and WIHS Championship Finals, are now available online at www.wihs.org/qualifying-lists.
The biggest names in U.S. show jumping are expected to attend, including Olympic gold medalists Leslie Howard, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, number one in the world and Olympic silver medalist Kent Farrington, and Olympian Lauren Hough, who won last year’s $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington CSI4*-W, presented by Events DC, with Ohlala.
Members of the gold medal-winning Irish team from the 2017 Longines FEI European Championships, Shane Sweetnam and Denis Lynch, are also slated to compete, as is Olympian Nicola Philippaerts of Belgium.
“We are excited to host some of the world’s best horses and riders in Washington, D.C. for the 59th annual Washington International Horse Show,” said WIHS President Vicki Lowell. “WIHS has incredibly supportive show jumping fans that attend all week to cheer on their favorite riders, and we enjoy the opportunity to share the traditions, entertainment, and top sport with enthusiastic spectators from the D.C. metropolitan area and beyond.”
Lauren Hough and Ohlala, winners of the 2016 $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington CSI4*-W. © Shawn McMillen Photography
The 2017 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final course designer, Alan Wade of Tipperary, Ireland, will set the tracks for WIHS this year. With a star-studded lineup of riders and their horses, international show jumping competition will be exciting.
Highlights include the $35,000 Accumulator costume class, presented by Equestrian Sport Productions, during Thursday’s Barn Night, the $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final and the $25,000 International Jumper Puissance, presented by The Boeing Company, as part of Friday’s Military Night. Saturday night is the featured event of the week, the $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington CSI4*-W, presented by Events DC.
Riders across the country compete throughout the year to qualify for WIHS in professional, junior, amateur-owner and pony hunter divisions, as well as high and low junior/amateur-owner jumper divisions. WIHS welcomes riders from the West Coast, Texas, the Midwest, and all along the East Coast to host the best head-to-head competition.
Qualifiers will be excited to see their name on the list for the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals, WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, and the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, $10,000 WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship, $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship, and $10,000 WIHS Adult Jumper Championship.
International Riders qualified to compete at the 2017 WIHS
Jens Baackmann (GER)
Georgina Bloomberg (USA)
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR)
Katie Dinan (USA)
Kent Farrington (USA)
Tracy Fenney (USA)
Lauren Hough (USA)
Leslie Howard (USA)
Charlie Jacobs (USA)
Andrew Kocher (USA)
Laura Kraut (USA)
Marilyn Little (USA)
Peter Lutz (USA)
Denis Lynch (IRL)
Beezie Madden (USA)
Beat Mändli (SUI)
Christine McCrea (USA)
Nicola Philippaerts (BEL)
Andrew Ramsay (USA)
Chloe Reid (USA)
Alison Robitaille (USA)
Devin Ryan (USA)
Adrienne Sternlicht (USA)
Shane Sweetnam (IRL)
Lauren Tisbo (USA)
Jimmy Torano (USA)
Mattias Tromp (USA)
Catherine Tyree (USA)
Aaron Vale (USA)
McLain Ward (USA)
The 59th annual Washington International Horse Show will take place Oct. 24-29 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com and at Capital One Arena (formerly Verizon Center) Box Office.
For more information, please visit www.wihs.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Tag us using #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 and $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.
