WIHS NEWS – Tuesday Oct. 22 Report: Cannon Creek Adds Accolades

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The 2024 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS Equestrian™ continued on Tuesday, October 22, with the culmination of the professional hunter divisions. Hunt Tosh of Milton, GA, and Cannon Creek, owned by the Wheeler Family, added yet another accolade to their successful partnership with the Grand Champion Hunter award.

Tosh and Cannon Creek are three-time winners of the USHJA International Hunter Derby National Championships and have won plenty of championships at major shows but this is the horse’s first grand championship at WIHS. To achieve this, they won three classes in the High Performance Hunters along with a third place, which gave them the division championship. They were also awarded with the Protocol Trophy for their success in the High Performance Hunter division at the Devon Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and WIHS.

“I’ve been lucky to have great horses in my career, and it’s been fun winning all we have, but every day there is that next class you want to win,” said Tosh. “To be grand champion here is special and especially with this horse because he deserves it. He keeps doing it and keeps giving, so that’s the great thing about him. He was spectacular.

“We don’t have to show him that much so we can pick and choose where we show him each year and tweak his schedule a bit,” continued Tosh of the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Canara) he has ridden for four years. “It’s been four years with him, and he’s such a special horse.” Grand

Grand Hunter Champions Hunt Tosh and Cannon Creek. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Smith and Canard Top WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships

Kenzie Smith of Shoreham, NY, set the bar high for herself during her first WIHS. In the $10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, presented by MARS Equestrian Smith saved the best for last as she piloted Charlotte Rossetter’s 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Mirage to the pinnacle position with a two-round total of 173 points. The victory proved to be an important moment and an impressive feat in Smith’s young career as she transitions from ponies to horses.

“This is my first WIHS on a horse because I’ve only done ponies here, so I’m really happy with how it went,” expressed Smith. “I wasn’t really worried today except for the last jump because I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have a swap or a rail or chip at the last and mess it up!”

The pair procured a high score of 87 in the class’s first round to earn the prime spot in the callback, and after another round worthy of 86 from the judges, Smith bested her own previous leading score to take two out of the top three ribbons. With combined scores of 85.50 and 86 on Charlotte Rossetter’s nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Sundown, Smith also claimed the runner-up position.

Kenzie Smith and Mirage. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Reilly Canard and Carry On. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

Concluding the full day of action, Smith’s barn mate Reilly Canard (Philomont, VA) captured the win in the $10,000 WIHS Adult Amateur Hunter Championship, presented by MARS Equestrian also on a Charlotte Rossetter-owned entry, Carry On. After piloting the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding to a first-round score of 86, Canard one-upped her original score with an 86.50 score in the callback to conclude on a two-round total of 172.50.

“I just started showing him at the end of March, so I’ve only been riding him for a few months,” explained Canard, “but he’s really great and he makes me feel so confident in the ring. He’s a partner that you know will always have your back and knows his job; it’s just a matter of staying out of his way and letting him do that well.”

Canard is one of a close-knit group of riders training under the tutelage of her sister, Mckenzie Canard, and the camaraderie the group has crafted over their shared passion is one she is grateful to be a part of.

Words from Winners

Hunt Tosh talks about his Grand Hunter Champion, Cannon Creek.

Watch the winning interview with Reilly Canard from the $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship.

Kenzie Smith discusses her victory in the$10,000 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship.

Winners Gallery

Shawn McMillen Photography

Green Hunter 3’9”

Champion: Colter, Scott Stewart, Sophie Gochman Reserve Champion: Chime, Mary Lisa Leffler, Mary Lisa Leffler, LLC

Green Hunter 3’6”

Champion: Leisure, Halie Robinson, Stable Assets Reserve Champion: Cerulean Blue, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker

Grand Green Hunter Champion
Green Conformation Hunter

Champion: Styles, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker Reserve Champion: Walk The Tides, Daniel Geitner, Lynn Seithel

High Performance Conformation

Champion: Chime, Mary Lisa Leffler, Mary Lisa Leffler, LLC
Reserve Champion: California Love, Scott Stewart, Dr. Betsee Parker

High Performance Working Hunter

Champion: Cannon Creek, Hunt Tosh, The Wheeler Family
Reserve Champion: Sinmigo Dos, Halie Robinson, Stable Assets

Protocol Trophy

Hunt Tosh, Cannon Creek, The Wheeler Family

Scott Stewart was the Leading Hunter Rider, sponsored by Dr. Betsee Parker and presented by WIHS President Vicki Lowell.

Photo Of The Day

By Shawn McMillen Photography

Scenes From the Show

By Alden Corrigan Media

Coming up! WIHS Barn Night

Read the 2024 WIHS Program online

WIHS tickets are available for purchase at wihs.org/tickets. WIHS daytime sessions are FREE admission, and WIHS Kids’ Day is FREE!

Buy your tickets now for an unforgettable week of equestrian excellence and community spirit at the Washington International Horse Show!

About Washington International Horse Show

Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America’s most prestigious, competitive, and entertaining equestrian events. Highlights include the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI5*-W for the President’s Cup, the WIHS Equitation Finals and Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships, plus popular community and charity events, including WIHS Kids’ Day and Barn Night. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition, and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. For more information, visit wihs.org.
 
 
 
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ABOUT WIHS

WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition, and holds a CSI5*-W rating, the highest awarded by the Fédération Equestre Internationale,the governing body of international equestrian sport, as well as US Equestrian ratings of 6* Jumpers and  Premier Hunters. It is recognized by the US Hunter Jumper Association, Maryland Horse Show Association, and Virginia Horse Show Association. WIHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.