Washington D.C.—Oct. 22
Barn night is everyone’s favorite evening of the Washington International Horse Show. Stables trooped into the Verizon Center from as far away as Pennsylvania went all out for a chance to win prizes (NFF Stables won a clinic with Brianne Goutal for the barn spirit award.
The crowd cheered on tiny ponies who trucked in for the third annual WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship. Knight’s Taffy, ridden by Mariah Smith won the Shetland Pony Maiden Hurdle handily. And international grand prix riders dressed up for the $20,000 International Jumper Gambler’s Choice, which McLain “Skeleton” Ward won.
See for yourself.
Mariah Smith guided Knight’s Taffy to the top of the Shetland Pony Maiden Hurdle. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
McLain Ward the skeleton tacked up HH Ashley for the $20,000 International Gambler’s Choice class. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Conor Swail looked terrifying as he walked the course before the Gambler’s Choice class. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Kaitlin Campbell always goes all-out for the costume class. This year she went to a racing tack store to get her gear for her “African Pharoah” outfit for Artani 2, and did a trial run at home to make sure they’d look the part. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Silent auction items include a custom-designed equestrian-themed cake. Photo by Katie Allard.
Bassandro jumped straight out of his shoes during the Gambler’s Choice. Photo by Alden Corrigan.
Katie Dinan and Checkpoint U were part of team Gryffindor for the Gambler’s Choice. Photo by Mollie Baliey
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Lightening Bug took third in the Shetland Pony Maiden Hurdle. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Conor O’Regan hoped to get lucky in the Gambler’s Choice with his leprechaun costume. Photo by Mollie Bailey
There’s plenty of strange things to see on the concourse at the Verizon Center. Photo by Katie Allard.
Schuyler Riley rode her unicorn, Navalo de Poheton, in the Gambler’s Choice costume class. Photo by Katie Allard.
Unloading a horse in the street in Downtown D.C. can be somewhat chaotic. Photo by Katie Allard.
Padding protects horse’s feet from the sidewalks. Photo by Katie Allard
Liberty Ridge Stables’ take on the “Keeping up with the Equestrians” themed barn night. Photo by Katie Allard.
There were plenty of fun activities to participate in on the concourse, including painting mini Breyers. Photo by Katie Allard.
Katie Dinan and Amaretto D’Arco enjoyed a stroll outside the Verizon Center. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
All hail Charlie Jayne, who rode Bassandra in the Gambler’s Choice Costume Class. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
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Both Catherine Tyree and her horse Free Style VH Polderhof were minions in the Gambler’s Choice. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Tori Colvin dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast aboard Lumiere in the Gambler’s Choice where the pair took third. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Flappers David Beisel and Rumorosa went all out for the costume class. Photo by Mollie Bailey.
Aaron Vale really got into character when he dressed up as Quidam’s Good Luck’s owner, professional baseball player Troy Glaus, and threw signed baseballs into the crowd. Vale won the $20,000 International Gambler’s Choice class. Photo by Katie Allard.
Fieldstone Farm showed off some serious barn spirit. Photo by Katie Allard.
Count Olivier Phillipparets tacked up H&M Legend of Love for the Gambler’s Choice Costume Class. Photo by Katie Allard.
Officer Laura Kraut double checked the course ahead of Margie Engel. Announcer Oliver Kennedy joked that Engel’s spent so much time in the hospital she’s earned a nursing degree. Photo by Katie Allard.
Kushion and Taylor Willie jumped to second in the Shetland Pony Maiden Hurdle. Photo by Katie Allard.
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