Scott Stewart and Catch Me, owned by David Gochman, was the 2015 Capital Challenge Grand Hunter Champion, Grand Champion First Year Green Hunter, Grand Green Hunter Champion and WCHR Pro Challenge winner. (Shawn McMillen Photography)

Upper Marlboro, Md. – For the 23rd year, the prestigious year-end horse show finals will kick-off at the Capital Challenge Horse Show. The preeminent hunter and equitation competition will return to the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, on October 1-9.

The Capital Challenge Horse Show is proud to again host the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals, as well as the popular Future Hunter divisions and highly competitive equitation finals – all ushering in many of the nation’s best horses and riders.

“The Capital Challenge Horse Show is a special final unlike any other competition in the country,” said Oliver Kennedy, Capital Challenge Horse Show Manager. “We have a phenomenal group of supporters and sponsors that allow the horse show to attract many of the nation’s top horses and riders of all ages. We’re really looking forward to another great year of seeing the best that the country has to offer.”

Throughout the nine days of competition, the Capital Challenge Horse Show will offer WCHR Hunter Challenges for amateurs, juniors, children, ponies, developing professionals, and the highlighted $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge. Spectators will also get to watch the top six hunter riders in the country go head-to-head in the $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals. 

Additional hunter competition highlights include the Future Hunter divisions and the $25,000 Future Hunter North American Championships – something particularly unique and special to the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

“Since initiating the Future Hunters, we’ve seen the divisions continue to grow each year,” said Billy Glass, who serves as show manager alongside Kennedy. “It’s really proven to be a great opportunity for riders to showcase and test their up-and-coming hunters in a special championship environment.”

Equitation riders of all ages will also have the opportunity to compete under the pressure of a championship situation as the horse show opens with two days of equitation finals on Equitation Weekend, presented by Bigeq.com, to be held Saturday, October 1, and Sunday, October 2. Equitation championships wills include the
Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships, the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services National Children’s Medal Finals. The Ariat National Adult Medal Finals will be featured on Friday, October 7.

For more information on the 2016 Capital Challenge Horse Show, please visit www.CapitalChallenge.org or follow the horse show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.