Washington, D.C. – The nation’s top junior and pony riders will face off in a challenging battle of horsemanship skills in the 2006 Washington International Horse Show Equitation Classic and WIHS Pony Equitation Classic, at the Washington International Horse Show, to be held October 24-29, 2006, at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C.

The Washington International Equitation Classic is sponsored by Tad Coffin Performance Saddles. Tad Coffin said that this class and his saddles are the perfect match. “This class is a terrific format, and it’s one of the best features of the show. It includes so many different challenging phases and the best young riders in the country going head to head for a national title,” he said. “Our saddle is a top performance product, and these riders deserve the top products to support their riding.”

Riders qualify based on points accumulated in WIHS Equitation qualifying classes held at shows starting on or after September 1, 2005, through shows starting on or before August 31, 2006. The horse show accepts the top 30 riders in the WIHS Equitation Classic and the top 25 riders in the WIHS Pony Equitation Classic.

The WIHS Equitation Classic consists of a hunter phase, a jumper phase, and a final work-off. In the final work-off, riders will be required to switch horses and complete the jumper course. All three scores will be added to determine the winners and placings.

The WIHS Pony Equitation Classic consists of a hunter phase and a final work-off.

Last year’s WIHS Equitation Classic winner was Julie Welles of West Simsbury, CT. Welles led the nation in qualifying points coming into the Finals, and she had three solid trips to win the class. The winner of the WIHS Pony Equitation Classic in 2005 was Taylor Brown of Palmyra, VA.

The following riders have been invited to the 2006 Washington International Horse Show for the WIHS Equitation Classic and the WIHS Pony Equitation Classic.

2006 WIHS Equitation Final Qualifying Rider Standings:

1. Haylie Jayne, 7831.00, West Simsbury, CT
2. Nikko Ritter, 6438.00, Geneva, FL
3. Maria Schaub, 5302.00, Holmdel, NJ
4. Megan Massaro, 4857.00, Summerfield, FL
5. Kimberly McCormack, 4851.00, Clermont, NJ
6. Lexy Reed, 4465.50, Ocala, FL
7. Maggie McAlary, 3666.00, Amherst, NH
8. Sloane Coles, 3438.00, The Plains, VA
9. Henry Pfeiffer, 3307.00, Temperance, MI
10. Emma Lipman, 3256.00, Bedford, NY
11. Chelsea Moss, 3052.50, Medford, NJ
12. Heather Dobbs, 3044.00, West Palm Beach, FL
13. Tina Dilandri, 3017.00, LaJolla, CA
14. Amelia McArdle, 2808.00, Barrington Hills, IL
15. Kacey McCann, 2779.00, Palmyra, PA
16. Shelby Wakeman, 2772.00, Westlake Village, CA
17. Kathryn Stenberg, 2605.50, Rehoboth, MA
18. Emily Gardner, 2582.00, Tallahassee, FL
19. Mallory Olson, 2444.00, Newport Beach, CA
20. Elizabeth Morrow, 2421.00, Germantown, TN
21. Jessica Springsteen, 2399.00, Colts Neck, NJ
22. Alexandra Biederman, 2336.00, Dallas, TX
23. Jack Hardin Towell, Jr., 2322.00, Camden, SC
24. Hayden Warmington, 2321.00, Canton, GA
25. Hannah Selleck, 2274.00, Thousand Oaks, CA
26. Mara Kranz, 2224.00, Algonquin, IL
27. Nick Haness, 2210.00, Cote De Caza, CA
28. Elizabeth Lubrano, 2197.00, Glenmoore, PA
29. Victoria Birdsall, 2136.00, Topsfield, MA
30. Alexandra Conforti, 2134.00, La Canada, CA

2006 WIHS Pony Equitation Final Qualifying Rider Standings:

1. Elaina Plott, 1155.50, Tuscaloosa, AL
2. Elizabeth Butterworth, 880.50, Grimesland, NC
3. Marisa Messina, 878.50, McLean, VA
4. Anna Rossi, 745.50, Washington, DC
5. Chase