Once a year, the heart of the nation’s capital is transformed when more than 500 horses take to the streets during the Washington International Horse Show. An annual tradition, this year is especially significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of WIHS, taking place this week, October 23–28, 2018, at the Capital One Arena.
Perhaps the biggest draw of all will be Saturday evening’s main event, the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington, presented by Events DC, in which top riders in the sport—including 2018 World Equestrian Games U.S. Team members—will compete.
The World Cup qualifier on Saturday is part of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League, which consists of 14 competitions in which elite riders attempt to qualify for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final Gothenburg in April 2019. This particular qualifier has no shortage of top athletes including McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, Devin Ryan and Leslie Burr Howard, to name a few.
Other Happenings at WIHS
In addition to the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington and two qualifiers, don’t miss out on these highlights:
$40,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake (Thursday, October 25)
$50,000 Speed Final (Friday, October 26)
Watch top riders and horses don costumes in the $35,000 Accumulator Top Score Costume Class (Thursday, October 25)
Barn Night, a fan-favorite, in which kids can enter contests, win prizes and watch the Shetland Pony Steeplechase (Thursday, October 25)
The ever-exciting $25,000 Land Rover Puissance, in which riders attempt to jump a wall (usually starting around 5-foot-7) and raising the height with each successful round until one horse-and-rider pair remains. The North American record to beat is 7-foot-7½-inches, set at Washington in 1983 by Anthony D’Ambrosio and Sweet ‘N Low (Friday, October 26)
Top Juniors battle it out during the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals (Friday October 26 and Saturday, October 27)
Enjoy free admission from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Kids’ Day, a family-friendly event created to share the joy of horses with the local community and teach kids and their families about horses and equestrian sport. Pony rides, face painting and pony brushing lessons are just a few of the activities. (Saturday, October 27)
Need more Shetland ponies? They return to the arena for the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series (Saturday, October 27).
How to Watch/Follow
You can see most of what’s going in the Capital One Arena with the WIHS livestream.
Saturday’s $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington will be broadcast live on the subscription-based FEI TV.
Tickets are still available.
