Washington International Horse Show
Experience the 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) coming to Prince George's County, October 24-30.
The 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS Equestrian returns to the Washington, D.C. area October 24-30 with seven days and three nights of thrilling five-star international jumping, elegant hunters, entertaining exhibitions, and special events for the whole family. Join WIHS in their new location at The Show Place Arena, Prince George’s Equestrian Center, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Here's a list of what you can expect this year.
Daytime Events (Monday-Sunday)
The daytime sport includes a variety of hunter and jumper divisions for professional, adult, junior, and child riders.
Hunters: Horses are judged on accuracy, grace, and elegance as they jump a course of natural-style obstacles like what might be found in foxhunting.
Junior & Amateur Jumpers: Riders compete over decorated courses where speed and accuracy determine the winner.
Evening Events (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
International show jumping, entertaining exhibitions, WIHS Equitation Final. See details below.
WIHS Barn Night
Thursday, October 27
Barn Night blends exciting equestrian sport with pre-event contests and prizes for barns and horse-loving groups. The Gallop Green contest theme created in partnership with Green is the New Blue, encourages groups to use their creativity to share eco-friendly ideas in their submissions.
Local students from Frederick Douglass High School will sing the National Anthem to kick off the international jumping competition--the $75,000 Welcome Stake and the $37,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class where riders often go wild with fun and surprising costumes.
WIHS Military Night presented by Boeing
Friday, October 28
Military Night presented by Boeing is about power and speed as WIHS salutes the U.S. Armed Forces with exciting classes and exhibitions. Voices of Service, featuring military veterans, will perform the Star-Spangled Banner. Look for the “Jump for TAPS” American flag in the $75,000 International Jumper FEI Speed Final benefiting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the WIHS Official Military Charity since 2010.
ETHOS Award Champagne Brunch
Saturday, October 29 | 11:00 a.m.
WIHS is honored to host the inaugural ETHOS Award Ceremony to recognize contributions by African Americans to the horse world. This year’s recipients are from families where excellence in equestrian sport has spanned more than one generation. Honoree Donna Cheek will receive a special ETHOS Award for her participation as the first Black member of the United States Equestrian Team.
Mark G. Meadows, an award-winning jazz pianist, singer-songwriter, and music director, will team up with singer, actress, and recent star of Signature Theatre’s “The Color Purple,” Nova Y. Payton, to celebrate black excellence through music at the brunch.
World Cup Night
Saturday, October 29
The marquee event of the week, the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington CSI5*-W presented by Experience Prince George's, will feature top international riders and superstar horses as they take on the biggest jumps and most challenging course for the largest purse in the history of the show.
D.C. Washington, the voice of Washington sports, will start off the evening with the National Anthem, followed by the nation's top junior riders competing in the last phase of the WIHS Equitation Final. The Shetland Ponies and their junior jockeys will be ready to race in the concluding event of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series.
Interested in going? Click here to purchase tickets to the Washington International Horse Show at The Show Place Arena.