Prince George’s Equestrian Center Welcomes the Washington International Horse Show Local Weekend and USEF Zone 3 Finals

Washington, D.C. – September 27, 2006 – The weekend of October 20-22, 2006, a week before the Washington International Horse Show festivities take place in downtown Washington, D.C., local riders will compete at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This horse show allows riders to qualify for the Local Finals at the Verizon Center that will take place on Sunday, October 29. The WIHS Local Weekend is proudly sponsored by The Tack Box, Inc. from Middleburg, VA.

Along with the qualifying classes, this competition features the USEF Zone 3 Finals and offers Regular “C” rated points for the Maryland and Virginia Horse Show Associations, as well as numerous non-rated classes. Approximately 500 horses will attend this event.

Classes held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center, including qualifying classes for the WIHS Local Finals at the Verizon Center, are open to all horses and ponies, regardless of geographical location. Horses who then qualify for the Local Finals must stable within a 100 mile radius of the nation’s capital.

The Zone Finals on Sunday, October 22, include the following divisions: Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35, Adult Amateur Hunter 36 & Over, Children’s Hunter 14 & Under, Children’s Hunter 15-17, and Children’s Hunter Small/Medium and Large Pony. The top 20 horses in each division, according to United States Equestrian Federation zone points, will receive a letter of invitation in mid-September to attend this event.

Some of last year’s winners at the Verizon Center include Anna Lowery and Woodland’s Berry Hazy, who were the Local Hunter Finals Pony Champions, and Local Hunter Finals Horse Champion Elizabeth Gilaberti and her mount Tenerife, owned by Rebecca Schiffrer.

For driving directions and more information on the WIHS Local Weekend and Zone 3 Finals, please visit their websites at http://www.wihs.org/competitor/local.cfm.

For more information on the Washington International Horse Show, please visit www.wihs.org.