Popular night for young riders and horse lovers features contests and prizes!
WASHINGTON, September 14, 2016–One of the most popular nights during the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is Barn Night, presented by Dover Saddlery with the generous support of The Peterson Family Foundation and National Harbor, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Barn Night is a favorite with young riders, barn mates and horse lovers who attend in groups and have a chance to enter contests, win great prizes, and enjoy a fun, horse-filled evening of exciting jumping competition.
The WIHS Barn Night 2016 program will include the $35,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class, with a prize for Best Costume, presented by Equestrian Sport Productions, WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Racing, presented by Charles Owen, a tee-shirt toss and more. Activities along the concourse include a scavenger hunt, coloring activity and a model horse jump station. Top riders will sign autographs following the costume class.
All barns, equestrian groups, teams, and horse enthusiasts are invited to take part in Barn Night activities, however, registration is required for participation in the group contests, which include Largest Group (Md., Va., D.C./Other and Overall), Group Spirit, Group Banner Contest and Group Video Contest. This year’s contest theme is “Major For President,” featuring Major, the WIHS Mascot, and his run for office. (Major is non-partisan.)
Exciting new prizes this year include a group riding clinic with top international show jumper Callan Solem, who was shortlisted for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, a custom stable drape set from Dover Saddlery, a customized restored golf cart from United Metro Golf Cart, an Electro-Groom Horse Vacuum and $5,000 in Dover Saddlery Shopping Sprees. Barn Night 2016 is also supported by The Equiery.
Barn Night registration forms are due by Friday, October 14. Barns that register early, by October 1, will be entered automatically in a raffle for a chance to win a $250 Dover Saddlery Shopping Spree. The winner will be announced October 13 on Facebook. Forms and rules are available at www.wihs.org/barn-night/.
WIHS tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Verizon Center Box Office. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more through Verizon Center Group Sales. Call 202-661-5061 for details.
Along with the great competition and contests, the fourth annual Buck Breast Cancer Benefit, presented by GE, will be held during Barn Night in the Acela Club at 7 p.m. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Capital Breast Care Center. Guests are invited to think pink, wear pink and celebrate the lives of survivors, friends and family. Tickets are $150 per person, or $800 for six, and include dinner and an open bar. Tables are also available. Call 202-525-3679 for details.
Bring your best barn spirit and get ready for a night of thrilling competition and lots of fun! For more information on Barn Night, visit https://www.wihs.org/barn-night/.
The 58th Annual Washington International Horse Show will be held Oct. 25-30, 2016, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
About Washington International Horse Show
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events in North America. More than 26,000 spectators attend the six-day show, which includes Olympic-level competition along with community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders come to D.C. 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 (Saturday night), the Puissance high jump presented by The Boeing Company on Military Night (Friday) and Kids’ Day (Saturday), a free, fun and educational community event. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition and is currently ranked #7 in the Top 25 Horse Shows by the North American Riders Group. WIHS is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports.
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