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Top Riders Compete at Washington International Horse Show (photos)

By Jeff Malet • October 26, 2017 0 799

Catherine Nicole Tyree on Bokai competes in the $10,000 International Jumper. Photo by Jeff Malet.

Many of the world’s top equestrians have gathered for the 59th annual Washington International Horse Show, running from Tuesday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 29, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

This year’s edition will feature more than 500 of the top national and international horses and riders, including Olympic veterans, competing for prize money totaling over half a million dollars. Winning riders earn valuable points to qualify for the World Cup Final next April in Paris, France. There are also entertaining exhibitions.

Two of the highlights of this year’s show are the $25,000 International Jumper Puissance High Jump on Friday night and the $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Washington for the President’s Cup on Saturday night. The world puissance record, incidentally, is 7 feet, 10 1/2 inches.

Thursday is the popular Barn Night and WIHS Kids’ Day activities take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The complete schedule of events is available at wihs.org.

View Jeff Malet’s photos from the first two days of this year’s Washington International Horse Show by clicking on the photo icons below.

: McClain Ward is a four-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time Olympic medalist (2 golds, 1 silver.)

: Christine McCrae on Nektarina B competes in the $10,000 International Jumper (1.45m)

: Megan Winkhaus on Speedy Chicolina

: Catherine Nicole Tyree on Bokai competes in the $10,000 International Jumper. Photo by Jeff Malet.

: Catherine Tyree

: McLain Ward (left) chats with David Distler, the Manager and Interim COO of the 59th Annual Washington International Horse Show. McClain Ward is a four-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) and three-time Olympic medalist (2 golds, 1 silver.) (Photo by Jeff Malet)

: Hunter Holloway on Cassevel

: Andrew Ramsay and California get ready to compete in the $10,000 International Jumper event

: World class hunter rider Scott Stewart of Wellington, Florida prepares for Tuesday’s $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship

: Hunter rider Scott Stewart’s championship ribbons on display

: Courtney Baggett on Highmark in Tuesday’s $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship

: M Christina Payan on Arabella in Tuesday’s $10,000 WIHS Adult Hunter Championship

: Elisse Amundson (age 5) greets Mini Cooper at Breakfast with the Horses event at Hotel Monaco

: The WIHS Junior Committee and Youth Ambassador Program, presented by Signature Academics, engages local teens (ages 14-18) to represent the show’s youth perspective and support WIHS staff while gaining hands-on experience. Kama Godek and her horse Mini Cooper and WIHS Youth Ambassadors

: Kama Godek will be one of the riders attempting to scale the 7 foot wall at Friday’s “puissance” with her horse De Grande

: Kent Farrington on Blue Angel

: Kimberly Beattie on Charmander competes in the $10,000 WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Championship

: Leslie Burr-Howard was a member of the United States Equestrian Team (USET ) squads that won the team Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the team Silver Medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. (Photo by Jeff Malet)