Washington International Horse Show Hosts Exciting Barn Night for Groups & Gifts Galore!
Submitted by: Jennifer Wood
Phone: (561) 753-3389
Email Address: pmginfo(at)phelpsmediagroup.com
Date Added: 9/18/2006
The 2006 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) returns to the Verizon Center this year on October 24-29 in downtown Washington D.C. to host one of the most exciting and innovative horse show events in the country. Barn/Group Night will be showcased on Thursday, October 26 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Barn Night is an evening of excitement, teamwork, and laughter where different local barns and groups will compete for prizes by dressing up to show their barn spirit. Groups are not limited to barns or stables, as they can consist of members from the Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H, Pony Club, or other associations. College and school groups are welcome as well.
Groups will compete for top honors in categories such as “Best Group Spirit,” where groups show their outstanding enthusiasm for the sport. “Largest Group” is where groups show off their people power. “Best Group Essay” is the perfect chance to name their barn’s mascot. The “Grand Champion” title will be the judges’ choice for the best overall group. Participants also walk the course with grand prix riders after the $20,000 Gambler’s Choice show jumping competition, where they can meet the riders and get autographs.
Barn Night has several generous sponsors that held to make this evening special for all the groups who participate. They include Practical Horseman magazine, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, The Equiery magazine, UlcerGard, Gaithersburg Equipment Company, and The Loft at Meadowbrook.
Any local barn or group is eligible for the fantastic prizes that will be awarded. Barns must fill out an entry form at www.wihs.org and order tickets for WIHS through Group Sales, for which they get a $5 discount. Groups must be at least ten people and in order to win the prize for “Largest Group,” all tickets must be purchased by noon on Thursday, October 26.
The “Grand Champion” barn this year has the opportunity to win a water heater, and all barns and groups can join a drawing for a fantastic Kawasaki Mule, which is sponsored by UlcerGard and provided by Gaithersburg Equipment Company. The covered, four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle is a great prize for any working farm.
Each group that wins one of the four special awards will be given a muck bucket full of fabulous prizes and barn supplies, such as Moss Soaps, Leather Therapy, gift certificates, riding books, grooming brushes, equine bathing supplies, and silver bracelets. There will also be prizes for random individual giveaways, and each Barn Night participant will come home with a WIHS t-shirt.
The Washington International Horse Show welcomes all barns and groups to visit the horse show and participate in Barn Night. It’s sure to be an exciting event again this year, so sign up now!
For more information on the Washington International Horse Show, please visit www.wihs.org .
Washington International Horse Show Fast Facts
What: Now in its 48th year, the Washington International Horse Show is one of the world's leading equestrian events. It features top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad competing for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. Approximately 600 horses will be on hand for the six-day event. Riders from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Brazil and Ireland are expected to participate at the show in the Olympic sport of show jumping.
When: October 24 - 29, 2006 (Local Weekend: October 20-22 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center, Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
Where: Verizon Center at 601 F Street NW (7th and F Streets NW), Washington, D.C., home of the Washington International Horse Show since 2000, as well as professional and college sports teams including the NBA Wizards, the NHL Capitals, the WNBA Mystics and the Georgetown Hoyas, concerts, family shows and sporting events. ***Take Metrorail or Metrobus to Gallery Place-Chinatown for an easy trip to the show.
Highlights:
-- $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix (Sat., Oct. 28-evening)
-- $25,000 Puissance (Fri., Oct. 27-evening)
-- Invitational Dressage Championship Grand Prix (Thurs., Oct. 26-evening) and Musical Freestyle (Fri., Oct. 27-evening)
-- Washington International Equitation Classic Finals (Sat., Oct. 28-evening)
-- $15,000 AHJF Nations Cup Hunter Challenge (Sat., Oct. 28-day)
Website: www.WIHS.org
General Information:
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the nation's leading championship horse shows since 1958, hosts some of the finest horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic and World Cup medalists. Unique among horse shows, the WIHS takes place in the middle of a city, and not just any city--the nation's capital! For six days, the WIHS transforms local city streets around the Verizon Center into stabling and exercise areas for hundreds of horses. Show jumping, hunter, equitation and dressage competition is the mainstay of the show, with entertaining exhibitions of racing terriers, a celebrity sports challenge and barrel racing rounding out a very full program. Riders of all ages – from children as young as seven riding ponies to experienced riders well into their 50’s on powerful jumpers and dressage horses – compete throughout the year and throughout the country to qualify to ride at Washington.
New this year is side saddle, with riders evoking the elegance and style of past eras, the AHJF Nations Cup Hunter Challenge, an innovative hunter competition pairing WIHS equitation (junior) riders with international show jumping riders, and a polo exhibition.
Barn/Group Night, Thurs, Oct. 26, is a favorite with local young riders who attend in groups and vie for prizes based on best group spirit, best essay, largest group, etc. All participants get a free tee-shirt and have the unique opportunity to walk the show jumping course with grand prix riders (and get autographs) following the $20,000 Gamblers Choice class. On Saturday afternoon, younger children will enjoy pony rides, face painting and horse-based learning activities at the Pony Pavilion located just outside the Verizon Center.
More than 50 vendors offering equestrian gear, apparel, jewelry and other unique items are conveniently located on the concourse around the competition arena. Spectators also may bid on more than 60 unique and one-of-a-kind items in the Silent Auction.
WIHS Local Weekend offers local amateur riders, who otherwise may not qualify, a chance to ride at the Washington International. Local children and adult amateur hunter riders based within 100 miles of Washington, D.C. may compete in a qualifying event Oct. 20-22 at Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., with the top finishers eligible to ride in the WIHS Local Hunter Finals at the Verizon Center on Sunday.
The WIHS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization benefitting local and national charities. Current and past donation recipients include the Christopher Reeve Foundation, NBC4's Camp 4 Kids, ASPCA, Childrens' Inn at the National Institutes of Health, Community Services for Autistic Adults & Children, National Center for Therapeutic Riding, Newspapers in Education, Starlight Starbright Foundation-Midatlantic, and many more.
Horse Show Office: 16063 Comprint Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, (301) 987-9400, Fax: (301) 987-9461, website: www.wihs.org, Executive Director: Susan Webb, Susie@wihs.org
Management: Austin Kiplinger, Honorary Chairman of the Board; Jorge J. Carnicero, Chairman; Dr. Sheila C. Johnson, President; Susan Webb, Executive Director; Hugh Kincannon, Show Manager
Public Relations: Diana De Rosa, Press Link: (631) 773-6155, Cell: (516) 848-4867, dderosa1@optonline.net, website: www.presslinkpr.com
Media: Phelps Media Group/Mason Phelps, Jr. (561) 753-3389, mpjr@phelpsmediagroup.com. Press releases and photos are available at http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com. For accreditation, visit http://www.wihs.org/news/media.cfm and complete a media accreditation form.
2006 Washington International Horse Show
Tickets and Schedule ***Program subject to change***
Tickets go on sale September 5, 2006
Hours: Two performances daily except Sunday: Day (Tues-Sun): 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Evening: (Tues-Sat): 7:00-10:30 p.m (ending times approx.)
Tickets - www.ticketmaster.com or call 202-397-SEAT
Performance Day Evening Evening VIP**
Tuesday $15 $20 $40
Wednesday $15 $20 $40
Thursday $15 $30* $45*
Friday $15 $35 $60
Saturday $20 $35 $60
Sunday $15 --- ---
Anytime Package: $85 (a $235 value); good for all 11 performances.
Pony Pavilion: Tickets for the Pony Pavilion sold only at the Pony Pavilion on Sat., Oct. 28, 1:00-4:00 p.m. $5 per person or $10 for families/groups up to five people
*Barn Night/Groups (10 or more) receive $5 off each ticket on Thursday night only.
**VIP seats include premium arena-level seating and a complimentary WIHS program book ($10 value).
Tentative Schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 24: Daytime performance: Regular and Green Conformation Hunters; First/Second Year Green Hunters; Regular Working Hunters; Amateur/Owner Hunters (Riders 35 & Under and Over 35); Evening performance: WIHS Children's Hunter and Adult Hunter Championships
Wednesday, Oct. 25: Daytime performance: Regular Working and Regular Conformation Hunters; Second Year Green and Green Conformation Hunters; A/O Hunter (35 & Under and Over 35); Amateur/Owner Jumpers; Evening performance: WIHS Children's Jumper Championships and Adult Jumper Championships
Thursday, Oct. 26 (BARN/GROUP NIGHT): Daytime performance: Small Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Large Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Small Junior Hunters (16-17), Large Junior Hunters (16-17); $25,000 President's Cup Qualifier; Amateur/Owner Jumpers, Junior Jumpers; Evening performance: WIHS Invitational Dressage Championship Grand Prix; $20,000 Gambler's Choice, Side Saddle, Barrel Racing, Terrier Races
Friday, Oct. 27: Daytime performance: Small Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Large Junior Hunters (15 & Under); Small Junior Hunters (16-17), Large Junior Hunters (16-17); WIHS Equitation; Amateur/Owner Jumpers; Junior. Jumpers TFR (time first round); $25,000 Open Jumpers; Evening performance: Polo, WIHS Invitational Dressage Championship Freestyle; $20,000 Accumulator Class, $25,000 Puissance, Barrel Racing, Terrier Races
Saturday, Oct. 28: Daytime performance: Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunters; $20,000 Hit & Hurry Class; Junior Jumpers; Pony Pavilion; Evening performance: WIHS Equitation Classic (Jumper Phase & Final work-off); $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix, Terrier Races, Dressage
Sunday, Oct. 29: Small, Medium and Large Pony Hunters; WIHS Pony Equitation Classic; Local Hunter Finals (Horses); Local Hunter Finals (Ponies)
Photo Credit: Last year’s winning group at Barn Night at the Washington International Horse Show. Photo © 2005 Jennifer Wood/PhelpsSports.com. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.
|
Click Image to View Larger
|
