October 23, 2018
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is definitely a family affair for the Bishops. The family from Washington, D.C. has been coming to spectate at WIHS for more than 10 years and all three sisters—Emma, Libby and Daisy—are showing there this year.
“We always came to the show as a family,” said Emma, 16. “I loved watching the show when I was little to watch the ponies go, and we’d come on Barn Night. It’s very much a family event for us. We always shop for Christmas gifts for each other at the merchandise store.”
This is Emma’s third year showing at WIHS, while Libby, 15, and Daisy, 13, made their WIHS debut this year in the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship. “It’s everything to me to be able to show at Washington,” Libby said. “I’ve been looking forward to this for years, so to be able to show here is amazing.”
Sisters Daisy (left) and Libby (right), pictured after finishing 11th and ninth, respectively,in the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championships. Photo by Jump Media
Both Emma and Libby also serve on the WIHS Junior Committee, presented by Signature Academics, helping to support the WIHS staff while gaining hands-on experience in the organizing of the show. “It’s a lot of work and it takes dedication, but it really pays off,” said Emma, who has been on the Junior Committee for three years. “Sometimes I don’t get to see as much as if I was just spectating, but when some of my friends come up and tell me how much they love the show, it really makes me feel good about all the hard work I put in. It’s great to be able to contribute to someone’s great experience at the show.”
“I love being on the committee because we get to help out with one of the most important shows of the year,” said Libby, who has been on the committee for two years. “Last year Ana Bertozzi and I got to give a tour to riders from a therapeutic riding program. We showed them all around the show and met some riders, and they loved it. It was so much fun to see them be so happy to see the show and experience it, and it made me happy.”
The girls’ mother, Judy, also serves on the WIHS Board of Directors. She’s the reason the sisters all got into riding, as she rides. “We owe everything to her. She helps us so much and puts her focus on all of us before herself with the riding,” said Libby.
The sisters all began riding at age four with Carolyn Nordberg, a WIHS Board member. When they started showing seriously, they moved to ride with Alan Lohman at his Lohman Stables in Poolesville, MD. “Most of the time we take lessons together and it’s really fun,” said Libby.
Emma attends her junior year at the Madeira School in McLean, VA, while Libby attends Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, MD, and Daisy is in St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School in D.C. Emma shows Game Day and Stetson in the 3’3″ junior hunter division, while Libby competes her Shimmer in the children’s and Daisy has Royal Ace in the children’s and My Fair Lady who she previously showed in the pony divisions. Judy rides and takes lessons on her Spalding.
Libby and Daisy competed against each other all year in the children’s hunter division, but there’s no sibling rivalry. “We love showing together,” Libby said. “There’s no competitiveness. We cheer each other on and are always helping each other out with the courses and getting ready. It’s so much fun to share this with my sisters.”
