The Washington International Horse Show is moving out of its namesake city for the third time since its founding in 1958, heading to Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., for 2022.
The show, formerly 4-star rated, will be a 5-star Oct. 25-30 if the FEI and U.S. Equestrian Federation approve. Show organizers had been looking for several years for an alternative to the Capital One arena in downtown Washington DC, because its lease was expiring.
The Washington International drew a nice crowd in the heart of the city. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Capital One wasn’t the most convenient venue, with many competing horses stabled on the street. But being in the heart of the nation’s capital, mere blocks from the White House, made the show unique. The arena was within walking distance of restaurants, hotels and museums, contributing to a very special experience.
The schooling area at WIHS wasn’t very large, but riders managed. (Photo © by Lawrence J.Nagy)
The Show Place Arena will host the competition next year, while a partnership with the National Harbor waterfront complex in Oxon, Hill, Md., will offer lodging, entertaining, restaurants and shopping, as well as events such as WIHS Kids Day.
The show will be part of Maryland Horse Month, along with the Maryland 5-star at Fair Hill Oct. 13-16 and the Maryland Million horse racing feature at Laurel.
The Washington International was founded in 1958 and ran at the National Guard Armory in the city until 1974. The next year, it moved to Landover, Md., where it ran through 1999. In 2000, it was back in the city at the arena now known as Capital One. It was held there through 2019, but the pandemic prompted the show to head south to Tryon, N.C., for two years.
Replicas of Washington DC landmarks such as the Smithsonian and Washington Monument were part of the ring decor at the Washington International. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Washington is part of the North American Fall Indoor Circuit, once a key goal for hunter, jumper and equitation exhibitors. The Pennsylvania National show remains in Harrisburg, but the National, which follows the Washington International, left its traditional home of Madison Square Garden forever in 2002 and is now held in Kentucky. The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, which has kept its location at the exposition center through the decades, has not been held as the circuit’s finale for the last two years due to Covid restrictions.
The fall circuit has less importance now than in the past because the landscape of horse showing in the U.S. has changed dramatically in the 21st century. Many people head to Florida early, skipping the indoor shows instead of waiting to leave until after the holidays. Some do it for tax reasons to keep their Florida residency; others because there are so many offerings for competition in the Sunshine State during the autumn as well as the winter.
