64th Annual Washington International Horse Show Comes To Prince George's County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The 64th annual Washington International Horse Show will be held at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro Oct. 24-30. The WIHS returns to the Washington, D.C., area this year following a two-year hiatus when it was held outdoors at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in North Carolina due to coronavirus concerns.

“We are 'Prince George’s Proud' to be able to host the prestigious Washington International Horse Show in Prince George’s County, the Crown Jewel of Maryland,” Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said at a news conference. “Some of the most talented equestrian riders from across the country and world will be gathered here, which will have a significant economic impact on our county and state. We look forward to an amazing competition and being able to showcase all that Prince George’s County has to offer.”

Hosting the WIHS in Upper Marlboro is particularly noteworthy, Upper Marlboro Mayor Sarah Franklin said, because of the town’s historical connection to horses and equestrian events. The region around Upper Marlboro is home to a horse-riding facility and even hosts a residential community that offers horse stabling.

“We are excited to welcome the Washington International Horse Show back to the Metro DC region,” Franklin said. “The town is especially honored to be hosting this event in Upper Marlboro. The Show Place Arena is expanding and continuing its tradition of hosting nationally acclaimed equestrian events such as the WIHS. Welcoming this prestigious show is another step toward achieving our goal of becoming a regional tourist destination.”

Daytime events will be held Oct. 24-Oct. 30 and will include “hunters,” where horses are judged on accuracy, grace and elegance as they jump a course of natural-style obstacles similar to what might be found in foxhunting. The daytime events will also feature junior and amateur jumpers, where young riders will compete over decorated courses where speed and accuracy determine the winner. Evening events will take place Oct. 27-29. These evening events will include international show jumping, entertaining exhibitions and the WIHS equitation final.

“We are very excited that the 64th annual Washington International Horse Show will take place at The Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland,” added Mary Helen Shaughnessy, executive director, WIHS. “Our return to the D.C. area will be particularly exceptional and we’re extremely grateful for the positive reception and hard work put forth by Maryland state and Prince George’s County officials and teams that are dedicated to making this event the best yet. The show’s new FEI five-star designation means this year’s event will attract more of the world’s top riders, from 10 different countries, including Olympic medalists McLain Ward, Jessica Springsteen, Laura Kraut, Kent Farrington, and Rodrigo Pessoa, as well as last year's Grand Prix winner Tiffany Foster of Canada."

Alsobrooks noted that Prince George's County is the perfect host site for the prestigious horse show because the horse industry has a $2.1 billion impact on the state’s economy and thousands of young people are reached by Maryland’s equestrian educational programs each year.

Details about the week’s events can be found at www.wihs.org.