Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington

By Nancy Jaffer

“As far as a qualifier for the FEI World Cup™, it’s a great show because it actually is indoors,” says two-time President’s Cup winner Todd Minikus. “When we’re qualifying for the [Longines FEI] World Cup™ Jumping Final, which is basically the world indoor championships, I think it’s absolutely important that we qualify indoors, not outdoors.”

Founded in 1958, the Washington International has been attended by several U.S. presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy and his wife, equestrian enthusiast Jacqueline Kennedy.

It began in the city’s National Guard Armory, then moved to Landover, Maryland, in 1975 before coming back to the nation’s capital in 2000. It is presented in the Verizon Center, the home of basketball and hockey teams, in the trendy Penn Quarter section of the city. Many museums are nearby, along with a variety of restaurants and hotels.

Three quarters of the U.S. silver medal Olympic team will be contesting the competition, including former President’s Cup victors McLain Ward and Beezie Madden and Kent Farrington (the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping New York winner) and Olympic alternate Laura Kraut. Others competing will be two-time President’s Cup winner Todd Minikus and a host of the sport’s big names, among them Jessica Springsteen and Georgina Bloomberg.

The class is part of the Washington International CSI4*–W. Here’s a look at the event:

WHAT: The Washington International Horse Show

WHEN: October 25–30, 2016

WHERE: The Verizon Center, 601 F Street NW, Washington D.C.

TICKETS:

Daytime (7 a.m.–5 p.m.)

October 25–29 (Tuesday through Saturday): $15 general admission. Children ages 3-12 are admitted free to all daytime performances before 5 pm.
October 30 (Sunday): Standard Reserved: $15. Children ages 3-12 are admitted free.

Evening (7–10:30 pm)

October 25–26 (Tuesday/Wednesday): VIP Reserved: Adult $40/Children$20; General Admission: Adult $20/Children $10

October 27 (Thursday): Standard Reserved: Adult $40/Children$20; General Admission: Adult $20/Children $10

October 28–29 (Friday/Saturday): VIP Reserved: Adult $60/Children $50; Standard Reserved: Adult $40/Children $20

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE:

October 27, 3:10 p.m. (EST): $35,000 International Jumper Welcome Stake, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cecZgg4FjLY

October 28, 7:15 p.m. (EST): $50,000 International Jumper Speed Final, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmqGr_ln8ys

October 29, 7 p.m. (EST): $130,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Washington competing for the President’s Cup; catch it at the subscription-based www.feitv.org.

For more information on the Washington International Horse Show CSI4*–W, go to www.wihs.org.