2005 Washington International Horse Show Begins Junior Hunter Competition; Junior Equitation Riders Prepare for WIHS Equitation Finals

Washington, D.C.- October 27- The 2005 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) serves as one of the country’s most prestigious and competitive indoor equestrian events, with prominent riders, Olympic veterans, and superstar equines competing for top honors and fabulous prize money.

The junior hunters began competition today in four different divisions based on height of the horse and the age of the rider. Small Junior horses must be under 16 hands high, while riders show in divisions based on whether they are under 16 years old or between 16 to 17 years old. All four divisions had two over fences classes today- a regular class and a handy hunter class that tests the horse’s ability to maneuver a course with turns and broken lines. The top junior riders in the country are showing at WIHS, and the competition is fierce.

In the Small Junior 15 & Under division, the front runners are Sienna and Addison Phillips. Owned by Missy Clark and North Run of Warren, Vermont, Sienna was first in the over fences and third in the handy hunter class.

Christy Russo’s High Cotton and rider Jack Hardin Towell Jr. are currently leading the Small Junior 16-17 division with wins in both classes. Close behind are Moulin Rouge and Natalie Johnson of Greenwich, Connecticut with two second place finishes.

Addison Phillips returned in the Large Junior 15 & Under division and dominated with Socrates, who is owned by Double H Farm of Burr Ridge, Illinois. They also won both classes. Phillips rode her own horse, Who’s On First, to second and third place finishes. Another second and third place finisher was Paris Sellon of Los Angeles, California on Whitney Roper’s Saloon.

Jack Hardin Towell Jr. had a busy day today. He is sweeping the Large Junior 16-17 division with two horses, who each had a win today. Bellingham Bay, owned by Laura King Kaplan of Irvington, New York, won the first class. Towell rode his own horse Blink to the win in the handy hunter class.

The junior hunter divisions finish tomorrow with another over fences class and an under saddle class. The high point horse and rider will be honored as the Grand Champion Junior Hunter and Leading Junior Hunter Rider in special ceremonies after their classes.

Some of the junior hunter riders are also preparing for the WIHS Equitation Finals. Riders qualify based on points accumulated in WIHS Equitation qualifying classes held at shows starting on or after September 1, 2004 through shows starting on or before August 31, 2005. The horse show accepts the top 30 riders in the WIHS Equitation Finals.

The WIHS Equitation Finals consists of a hunter phase, a jumper phase, and a Final Work-Off. Riders’ scores will be combined from the hunter and jumper phases, and the top riders will return to compete in the Final Work-Off during the highlight Saturday evening performance. 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.

All three phases of the Finals will be judged under the Open Numerical Scoring system by judges seated in three separate locations. The three separate scores will be averaged to produce a final score for each rider for each phase.

The order of go will be determined by the national standings at the end of the qualifying period. Riders will start in reverse order of merit. The top ten finishers will return to the ring, mounted, for awards at the conclusion of the Hunter Phase.

The order of go for the Jumper Phase will be in reverse order of the Hunter Phase with the winner of the Hunter Phase competing last. An audible tone will be used to start competitors. A Time Allowed based on a speed of 360 yards per minute will be applied.

The average scores from the Hunter & Jumper Phases will be added together to determine the ten riders who will participate in the Final Work-Off. The combined score will determine the order of go, with the highest scoring rider competing last. These ten riders will change horses. The order of change will be drawn by lot and posted before the Jumper Phase. In determining the ten riders for the Final Work-Off in the event of a tie, the higher score in the Jumper Phase will determine the order. Riders in the Final Work-Off will negotiate the Jumper Phase course. There will be neither a starting tone nor a Time Allowed in the Final Work-Off. The average score from the Final Work-Off will be combined with the average scores from the Hunter and Jumper phases to produce the final result.

Once the riders have changed horses and before the first rider in the Final Work-Off has entered the arena to compete, there will be a 3-minute period during which riders may work on the flat.

The Washington International Equitation Classic is sponsored by Tad Coffin Performance Saddles. Tad Coffin, of Tad Coffin Performance Saddles, the sponsor of the event, 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.”

2005 WIHS EQUITATION CLASSIC FINAL QUALIFIERS:

1 Natalie Johnson 6039.00 Greenwich, CT
2 Blythe Marano 5334.00 Bedminster, NJ
3 Haylie Jayne 5300.00 Elgin, IL
4 Nikko Ritter 4604.00 Geneva, FL
5 Sloane Coles 4563.50 The Plains, VA
6 Jane Ehrhart 4341.00 St. Louis, MO
7 Julie Welles 4125.00 West Simsbury, CT
8 Jack Hardin Towell, Jr. 4103.00 Camden, SC
9 Maggie McAlary 3910.00 Amherst, NH
10 Shelby Wakeman 3004.00 Westlake Village, CA
11 Lexy Reed 2838.50 Ocala, FL
12 Megan Massaro 2703.00 Summerfield, FL
13 Sarah Fishback 2681.00 Versailles, KY
14 Bliss Heers 2680.00 Olivenhain, CA
15 Caitlin Chapin 2664.00 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
16 Katie Taylor 2544.00 Tarzana, CA
17 Maria Schaub 2535.00 Holmdel, NJ
18 Mara Kranz 2524.00 Algonquin, IL
19 Jacqueline Attwood-DuPont 2392.00 Annapolis, MD
20 McLean Palmer 2379.00 Eads, TN
21 Hannah Elizabeth Kraus 2260.50 Grosse Pointe Park, MI
22 Lauren Hester 2155.00 Rancho Santa Fe, CA
23 Chris Ewanouski 2107.00 Scituate, MA
24 Michael Delfiandra 2080.00 Delray Beach, FL
25 Elizabeth Morrow 2014.00 Germantown, TN
26 Jessica Speiser 2002.50 Wellington, FL
27 Natalie Rae Medlock 1974.00 Orange Hills, CA
28 Emily Wood Bowron 1948.00 Birmingham, AL
29 Julia Shand 1933.50 Darien, CT
30 Paige Beal-Andros 1783.24 Pebble Beach, CA

Photo Credit: High Cotton and Jack Hardin Towell Jr., two-time winners today in the Small Junior 16-17 Hunters at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show. Photo by Tricia Booker.