Washington, D.C.—Oct. 26
It’s sounds like the start of a corny joke, but that’s exactly what happened at Barn Night at the Washington International Horse Show. It’s an evening designed to get the crowd excited with our favorite grand prix riders shed their hunt coats in favor of Halloween costumes.
It’s a chance to see who’s the most creative; who’s horse can best pull off spray paint and glitter; and a chance to raise some money for breast cancer awareness.
Beat Mandli/Dracula swooped through the air on Dibatsja. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
(See pictures of all participants here)
In the Accumulator Class, riders earned points as the jumped each fence on course with the no points earned if they knocked the fence. The final fence—the Joker— had two options, a 10-point or a 20-point fence. But if you knocked it down, that number was subtracted from your total. If you went clear over the last fence, $500 as donated to breast cancer awareness in honor of the evening’s theme “Buck Breast Cancer”.
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Fourteen riders contested the class and and six of them jumped around clean. It was Switzerland’s Beat Mandli and Dibatsja with the fastest time around the course to take home the big check.
But enough chatter, let’s get to the costumes.
Is that Beat Mandli or is that Dracula? It’s both! With the fastest time of the night and 65 points on the board, Beat Mandli rode Dibatsja to the win the in the $35,000 International Jumper Accumulator Costume Class. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Tarioso Manciais came as a very fierce dragon from Game of Thrones. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
First on course, Amanda Derbyshire, um Alice in Wonderland, rode a speedy, clean round on Lady Maria BH to finish third. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
When you give your groom a budget and tell them to go find you a costume, you might find yourself dressed as Rainbow Dash at the Washington International Horse Show. Andrew Ramsay looked quite spiffy on Cocq A Doodle. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Devin Ryan decided to play things up for the home crowd and came as Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper (complete with beard). He threw a baseball to the crowd, and rode his own “baseball” Eddie Blue to fifth. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Keep an eye on your food! Adrienne Sternlicht rode as the Hamburglar and Pembroke went as Ronald McDonald. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Lawrence Fowler rode Tuesday to victory in the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase championship. Photo by Kieran Paulsen.
Brianne Goutal came as Jessie from Toy Story and Wirma was the ever faithful Bullseye. Photo by Kieran Paulsen.
Is that Dorothy and Toto I spot? Hunter Holloway went the extra mile and carried around her faithful companion as she walked the course. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Kama Godek always goes all out for Barn Night and tonight was no different. She rode De Grande dressed as a scarecrow and took home the Best Costume Award. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Do we have any Disney fans? Laura Kraut and Whitney went as Minnie Mouse. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
McLain Ward hit the gym in the few minutes between the Shetland Pony races and the costume class. He came in as the well-muscled Spiderman aboard HH Carlos Z. Photo by Kimberly Loushin.
Shane Sweetnam looked menacing walking the course as Jaws. Photo by Kieran Paulsen.
Catherine Tyree won the speed class on Wednesday night so it was only fitting that she came dressed as a race car driver to pilot Bokai around the course. Photo by Kieran Paulsen.
Would you recognize Aaron Vale? Photo by Kieran Paulsen.
Want more pictures from Barn Night? We’ve got you covered.
IMPORTANT LINKS: All the COTH Washington International coverage | What You Need To Know | live results/order of go | live streaming | show website
2017 Washington International—Barn Night
Kimberly Loushin / October 27, 2017 9:10 am
