Riders hoping to qualify for the 51st Washington International Horse Show still have time to earn points that will allow them to compete at one of the country’s leading equestrian competitions. Show officials announced the 2009 qualifying periods for hunter, jumper and equitation classes. Entries will close on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. The 51st annual Washington International will be held October 20-25, 2009, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Complete details on qualifying criteria as well as qualifying competitions are available on the WIHS official website, www.wihs.org, www.ryegate.com, or at www.wihs.org/competitors-lounge.

$10,000 WIHS Championships (Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships; Children’s and Adult Jumper Championships)
Qualifying Period: Classes held at shows starting on or after September 1, 2008, through shows starting on or before August 31, 2009. Horse/rider combinations will qualify for the finals based on points accrued during the qualifying period in WIHS-sanctioned classes or classics. Those wishing to compete in the WIHS Championship Finals at Verizon Center must enter on the WIHS entry blank. (There is no nomination fee for the finals.) Entries must be postmarked by the closing date of entries, September 1, 2009. Riders must be WIHS members in order for points to count.

WIHS Equitation and Pony Equitation
Qualifying period: Shows starting on or after September 1, 2008, through shows starting on or before August 31, 2009. The top 30 riders will be invited to compete in the WIHS Equitation Finals and the top 25 riders will be invited to compete in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals at Verizon Center. Invitations will be sent September 8, 2009. Riders must be WIHS members in order for points to count.

Hunter, Junior Hunter and Pony Hunter
Qualifying for Hunter, Junior Hunter and Pony Hunter Divisions will be based on USEF National Horse of the Year points earned by horses/ponies at their best 15 shows starting on or after August 25, 2008, through shows starting on or before August 23, 2009.

Junior Jumper and Amateur-Owner Jumper
Qualifying for the Junior Jumper and Amateur-Owner Jumpers will be based on prize money won at USEF-recognized shows starting on or after August 25, 2008 through shows starting on or before August 23, 2009.

Open Jumper
Open Jumper riders will qualify based on their ranking on the USEF Computer List dated September 4, 2009.

“The Washington International Horse Show is a cornerstone of equestrian competition in the U.S.,” said Tony Hitchcock, WIHS Chief Operating Officer. “For decades, this year-end indoor horse show has been the engine driving horse show competition from coast to coast. Horse trainers and riders work hard each year to qualify to show in this prestigious event, and we are proud to offer riders, trainers, owners and spectators an exciting and memorable event in the heart of the nation’s capital.”

The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The 51st WIHS will be held October 20-25, 2009, at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Learn more at www.wihs.org.