After two years of being held outdoors in North Carolina, the Washington International Horse Show is relocating back to an indoor in the Washington, D.C., area—although not downtown—this fall, and show managers have announced an expanded schedule, a higher Fédération Équestre Internationale rating and the return of staple WIHS classes to celebrate its homecoming.

Returning to a one-ring show format, the historically Tuesday-Sunday event will begin Monday, Oct. 24, and run until Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The professional hunter riders will kick things off, with the amateur-owner hunter competitors resuming on Tuesday.

The Saturday night grand prix, formerly a FEI four-star, will now be a five-star FEI World Cup qualifier. In addition, the show’s popular annual costume class, $37,000 Accumulator Costume Class, is back on the schedule after being absent last year, when the show was held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina

The 2022 Washington International moves back indoors to the Show Place Arena at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. Impact Media Photo

While last year the children’s and adult jumper and hunter championships included a welcome class, in 2022, they will only have one class apiece. A medium amateur/junior jumper division  was added to the show in 2021, and it will be offered again in 2022. Continuing another popular addition started last year in Tryon, the show will close with a pony hunt teams Halloween costume class.

Show organizers also announced they will be partnering with the National Harbor waterfront complex in nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland, to create a “WIHS Hotel and Hospitality Campus offering exhibitors, spectators, and sponsors special access to top lodging, entertainment, and community events,” according to a press release about plans for the 64th annual horse show.