Compete and Qualify for Verizon Center, Nominate Riders for The Laura Pickett Trophy for Excellence in Horsemanship
Washington, DC – August 14, 2015 – The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) is pleased to announce the 2015 WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Finals will be held Oct. 16-18 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD. The is now available online at www.wihs.org/wihs-regional/.
A popular stop on the local horse show circuit, the WIHS Regional competition offers riders a chance to qualify to compete at Verizon Center in the WIHS Regional Hunter Finals for horses and ponies on Sunday, Oct. 25, as well as the WIHS Championship Finals for Children’s and Adult Hunters and Jumpers on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Wednesday, Oct. 21, respectively.
The WIHS Regional is also proud to host the USHJA Zone 3 Finals this year on Sunday, Oct. 18. Approximately the top 20 horses in each division, based on total USHJA points, will be invited. If invitations are not accepted, additional horses will be invited.
The MHSA Gittings Horsemanship Finals will be the featured class during the Regional competition on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:00 p.m., and grand championships will be awarded for Children’s and Adult Hunter and Children’s Hunter Ponies. Entries will be accepted electronically through www.HorseShowing.com.
New this year, the WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Finals will be hosting a Shetland Pony Steeplechase Race and Ice Cream Social. The event will be held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center on Friday, October 16, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in the indoor arena. Fans can cheer on mini jockeys and their Shetland ponies in an exciting qualifying event for the 2015 WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series. The top finishers will compete in the finals at WIHS at Verizon Center on Thursday, Oct. 22 (Barn Night) and Saturday, Oct. 24 (Grand Prix Night). There will also be a pizza party on Saturday, open to all exhibitors.
WIHS looks forward to presenting the Fourth Annual Laura Pickett Award for Excellence in Horsemanship during its 2015 competition. Introduced in 2012 in memory of a very special local equestrian and trainer, the award will be presented to an up-and-coming adult or child rider and their trainer competing at the WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Finals, who best exhibit the enthusiasm, dedication, style and commitment to excellence in horsemanship that brings out the best in horse and rider. The Laura Pickett Excellence in Horsemanship Award is presented by WIHS President Vicki Lowell. The winner will receive a pair of custom boots courtesy of Fabbri Boots.
Nominees will be designated by wearing a pink armband and will be judged both in and out of the show ring. The winner will be chosen by committee and will be notified Monday, Oct. 19. The winner and their family will be invited to Verizon Center on Thursday, Oct. 22, where the presentation will take place center ring during Barn Night at the 57th Annual Washington International Horse Show.
The Washington International Horse Show returns to Verizon Center in downtown Washington, DC, October 20-25, 2015. For more information on the 2015 WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Finals, please visit www.wihs.org/wihs-regional.
About WIHS www.wihs.org
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian sporting events in the U.S. 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. Event highlights include $125,000 Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Washington, the President’s Cup Grand Prix, presented by Events DC, (Saturday night), The Boeing Company Puissance high jump competition 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 recognized as a Top 25 Horse Show by the North American Riders Group. WIHS is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports.