Enter Today! Expanded Schedule, New Classes, More Prize Money
Entries Close September 5
The 65th annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian™ is pleased to welcome riders from across the nation and around the world to The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, on October 23-29, 2023. As one of the sport’s most time-honored, competitive, and entertaining events, WIHS will offer nearly one million dollars in total prize money to the best hunter, jumper, equitation, and pony riders competing for coveted year-end titles throughout the week. The 2023 prize list is available online here.
Competitor Experience
The Show Place Arena will be fully decked out to serve as the backdrop for the exciting week of competition, including several new classes. WIHS continues to expand efforts to ensure an exhibitor- and horse-friendly indoor experience with enhancements throughout the facility including top footing installed to ensure a high-quality surface and multiple warm-up arenas to allow plenty of space for preparation.
This year, there is even more to look forward to for WIHS hunter competitors. In addition to the always impressive professional divisions such as the High Performance and Green Hunters, and the hotly contested Amateur divisions, new classes have been added for Junior, Child, and Adult riders. The $10,000 3’3” Junior Hunter division for Small and Large horses is new this year on Thursday and Friday. The WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships, both presented by MARS Equestrian™, have been expanded to include a $2,500 Welcome Class on Monday and a thrilling $10,000 Final on Tuesday.
Jumper riders will also be riding for increased prize money at WIHS 2023. Highlights include the $25,000 High Junior Amateur Jumper Division featuring the Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) East Coast Final on Saturday, and the WIHS Children’s and Adult Jumper Championships, each of which now includes an increased purse of $12,500 and concludes on Wednesday.
The elite WIHS Equitation Finals caps off the show season for top junior riders, who have worked all year to be one of 40 competitors invited to participate. The hunter phase takes place on Friday, while the jumper phase and final work-off will be featured on Saturday evening in front of a sold-out arena.
Qualification
WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper competitors must be WIHS members in order for points to count for the WIHS Championships, presented by MARS Equestrian™. WIHS Equitation and Pony Equitation competitors must also be WIHS members in order for points to count for the WIHS Equitation Finals and the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals, presented by Huntland.
Riders competing at the WIHS Regional Horse Show & USHJA Zone 3 Championship, presented by TTR Sotheby’s International Realty and the Lowham-Ruzzo Family, in Upperville, VA, on October 19-22, 2023, will also have an opportunity to earn an invitation to WIHS 2023. Winning riders at the WIHS Regional Horse Show can qualify for the WIHS Championships held at WIHS. In addition, after a three-year absence, the WIHS Regional Hunter Finals will once again be held at WIHS on Monday.
Complete entry and qualification requirements for all divisions are detailed in the prize list.
Onsite Amenities
The complimentary WIHS Exhibitor Lounge will offer breakfast and lunch daily and will also be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for viewing.
WIHS VIP Club tables are available for purchase and offer a premium competition viewing experience for your guests, barnmates, family, and friends, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, as well as an open bar during the evening sessions.
Hospitality and Travel
WIHS offers a Hospitality Campus at National Harbor, situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River, just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. National Harbor is home to an MGM Grand Casino, eight hotels, 160 stores, and 40 restaurants.
WIHS has exclusive discounted rates at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center for exhibitors. This discounted rate is limited. Click here to secure rooms by October 2. You may also call +1 301-965-4000 to book your rooms and reference Washington Horse Show.
Delta, the WIHS Official Airline since 2018, will offer discounted travel for WIHS exhibitors and fans to local airports in the Washington, DC, area. Click here to book your flights. You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at +1 800-328-1111 Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (CT) and refer to Meeting Event Code NY372.
For more information about WIHS, visit wihs.org, join WIHS on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Tag using #WIHS2023, #FEIWorldCup, and #Longines.
About Washington International Horse Show, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization Established in 1958
The Washington International Horse Show is one of North America’s most prestigious, competitive, and entertaining equestrian events with competition for international, professional, amateur, junior and child riders. Highlights include the 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, top national hunters and jumpers, plus popular community and charity events. WIHS is an official USEF Heritage Competition. For more information, visit wihs.org.
Contact: Jennifer Wood | Jump Media | jwood@jumpmediallc.com