2010 Fast Facts

What
52nd Annual Washington International Horse Show

When
October 26-31, 2010

Why
Horse-crazy or not, if you like championship sport and fast-paced entertainment and fun, this is the event for you. An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show brings top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic champions, to the nation's capital to compete for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. About 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunters, equitation and dressage events during the six-day show. Special exhibitions, shopping in more than 50 specialty boutiques and Washington's World of the Horse on Sunday afternoon, round out this family-friendly show.

WIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to partner this year with three exceptional military charities: Operation Silver Spurs, TAPS and ThanksUSA.

Since its debut, the Washington International has been a popular Washington D.C. fixture visited by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages.

Where
Verizon Center, 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 Wizards (NBA), the Capitals (NHL), the Mystics (WNBA) and the Georgetown Hoyas, as well as concerts, family shows and sporting events.

How To Get There
Take Metrorail or Metrobus to Gallery Place-Chinatown for an easy trip to the show. 

Highlights (tentative) 

• Tuesday evening: Opening Night Gala
• Thursday evening: $20,000 Gamblers Choice Costume Class  BARN NIGHT!
• Friday evening: $25,000 Puissance (high-jump)
• Saturday evening: $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix
• Friday/Saturday: WIHS Equitation Finals
• Saturday: Kids' Day from 10 am - 2 pm on F Street (free event)
• Sunday afternoon: Washington's World of the Horse, 90 minutes of the best of the best of the horse world with dressage, Saddlebreds, barrel racing, jumping, reining, vaulting, terrier racing and lots more! Great family entertainment!

• The Caisson Platoon exhibition (Sat. evening)
• Freestyle Dressage (Fri. evening)
• Chester Weber Four-in-Hand Driving (Thurs., Fri, Sat. evenings)
• Jack Russell Terrier Races (Thurs., Fri, Sat. evenings)
• Military Polo (Wed. evening)

 Tickets
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com or by calling 202-397-SEAT. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Verizon Center Box Office.

Groups: Organize a group outing to the show with your barn, club, team, school, church, or group of friends. For Group Ticket Sales, contact Verizon Center Group Sales Department at 202-661-5061. Group Sales can assist you with ticket discounts, special seating arrangements and personalized service.

Two performances daily except Sunday

• Day (Tues-Sat): 7:00 AM.-5:00 PM
• Evening: (Tues-Wed): 6:30-10:00 PM.; (Thurs.) 6:00 PM-10:00 PM; (Sat) 6:30-10:00 P.M. (ending times approx.)
• Sunday 7:00 A.M.-4:00 PM (Washington's World of the Horse starts at approx. 2:00 P.M.)

Special Historical Moments
Over the years, notable guests included Alice Roosevelt Longworth, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, President John F. Kennedy, President Gerald R. Ford, General William Westmoreland, Christopher Reeve, John Cleese, Bruce Springsteen, William Shatner, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Arthur Godfrey and many more.

Show memories abound, including in 1970, a carriage marathon with horse-drawn vehicles parading to the White House to give Mrs. Nixon a carriage ride around the South Lawn of the Executive Mansion.

The standing North American indoor Puissance (high jump) record of 7 feet 7 1/2 inches was set at Washington in 1983 by Anthony D'Ambrosio and Sweet N' Low.

Some of the leading horsemen and horsewomen in the country have been inducted into the WIHS Hall of Fame since the award was established in 1997:  George H. Morris (1997), William C. Steinkraus (1998), Mrs. Jane Dillon (1999), Kenneth and Sallie Wheeler (2000), Austin H. Kiplinger (2001), H. Fenwick Kollock (2002), Sheila C. Johnson (2007), Miss Mignon C. Smith (2008), Betty Oare (2009) and Hermen Greenberg (2009).