Washington, D.C. – October 27, 2010 – Jumpers were the main attraction this evening at the 52nd annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS). The last class of the afternoon session was the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship, and 11-year-old Katherine Strauss of Southampton, NY, led the victory gallop on Caretino. The evening session highlight, the $10,000 Adult Jumper Championship, saw Rebecca Smith of Stuarts Draft, VA, with the blue ribbon on Kick the Clouds.

The WIHS continues through Sunday, October 31 with the best hunter, jumper, and equitation riders in the nation competing for top prizes at Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C. The highlight classes of the week are the $25,000 Puissance sponsored by The Boeing Company on Friday, October 29, and the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, CSI 3*-W on Saturday, October 30. This week’s jumper course designer is Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC.

The $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship had 32 entries, and 10 of those were clear to advance to the jump-off. Strauss and Caretino put down a clear round in a time of 32.120 seconds to take the win over Thunderbay and Alexa Boggio, who finished in 32.468 seconds. Rose Borzillo piloted The Flying Dutchman to third place in 32.789 seconds.

For their win today, Strauss and Caretino were presented with the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen.

Katherine Strauss and Caretino, joined by ringmaster John Franzreb,
Board of Directors member Mrs. Robin Wilder, and
WIHS CEO Eric L. Straus in the Qatar Airways Winners Circle

Strauss decided her jump-off plan in the ring. She explained, “Going into the jump-off, I went to the end of the ring to see if I could make the inside turn and I figured, ‘I’m already here so I might as well go for it,’ and it paid off. I was hoping my time would hold up. At the end there was a really fast time, but they didn’t quite make it.”

Caretino and Katherine Strauss

Strauss has been riding Caretino, a 12-year-old gelding, for almost two years. “Tino was really great. We have been working hard all year and it feels great to finally pull it together. He was reserve circuit champion at WEF, but this is the first really big win and this is my first time at Washington. It is really fun; it is cool that it is in the city. It is really exciting to be here.”

Rebecca Smith and her horse, Kick the Clouds, a 19-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, have a solid relationship of five years. They have placed multiple times at the WIHS in the Adult Jumper Championship, but this is their first win. “It feels really nice to win!” Smith said.



Smith went into the jump-off on her first horse Kartousch. When they had four faults, she learned what she could do on Kick the Clouds to stay clear. “I just wanted to ride good and hopefully not
have the same rail down that I did with the mare that I went on first. He is typically fast across the ground, and luckily I just kept kicking him to leave in the five (strides) down the last line,” she said.

Kick the Clouds and Rebecca Smith

Smith was able to stay clear and was quick in 33.048 seconds for the win. Ahmed Alali and Palermo Park finished second with a time of 33.340 seconds, and Emily Winburn Bowron was third on Cahaba Heights in 36.765 seconds.

Smith and Kick the Clouds were presented with the Dorothy Foote “Goodie” Taylor Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashton Hill and Miss Linden Joan Hall.

The Washington International Horse Show continues tomorrow with the opening classes for the junior hunter divisions as well as the first classes for the amateur-owner, junior, and open jumper divisions.  The evening session begins with the always exciting Barn Night at 6 p.m., followed bya costume and banner parade, the conclusion of the first Open Jumper class at 7:15 p.m., terrier races, a driving exhibition by World Equestrian Games silver medalist Chester Weber, and the Open Jumper Gambler’s Choice.

For full results and more information, please visit www.wihs.org.

Final Results: $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship
1.    Caretino, Katherine Strauss, Katherine Strauss: 0/0/32.120
2.    Thunderbay, Alexa Boggio, Alexa Boggio: 0/0/32.468
3.    The Flying Dutchman, Rose Borzillo, Virginia McNeil: 0/0/32.789
4.    Jordy, Ashley Foster, Fox Meadow Farm: 0/0/35.765
5.    K.E.C. Bombay, Julia Page Imperato, J&J Imperatore: 0/4/31.271
6.    Superieur, Chloe Reid, Kirstin Pollin: 0/4/34.867
7.    Fardela, Katherine Strauss, Katherine Strauss: 0/8/34.961
8.    Golden Boy, Anne Gardner, Leigh Hartrampf: 0/8/39.769
9.    Azteca, Lucas Porter, Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/22/51.949
10.    O’Hara, Riley Newsome, Molly Newsome: 0/23/48.002
11.    Quatro, Claudia Styslinger, Claudia Styslinger: 4/64.699
12.    Chalvino Z, Kady Abrahamson, Sloane Coles: 4/65.600

Final Results: $10,000 Adult Jumper Championship
1.    Kick the Clouds, Rebecca Smith, Rebecca Smith: 0/0/33.048
2.    Palermo Park, Ahmed Alali, AAA Equestrian LLC: 0/0/33.340
3.    Cahaba Heights, Emily Winborn Bowron, Emily Winburn Bowron: 0/0/36.765
4.    Grisset, Alissa Kinsey, Alissa Kinsey: 0/4/30.423
5.    Nikon’s Prima Donna, Kenzie Donovan, Kenzie Donovan: 0/4/32.020
6.    Kartousch, Rebecca Smith, Rolling Acres Farm: 0/4/33.120
7.    Kentucky Glenn, Kristin Elysse Stolp, Julia Butcher: 0/8/34.194
8.    Land Cruiser, Bari Friedman, Bari Friedman: 0/12/34.810
9.    Tippitoo, Vicki Lowell, Vicki Lowell: 4/68.445
10.    Deltry Regality, Tracy Mathews, Tracy Mathews: 4/69.423
11.    Saluut D99, Taylor Cowles, Taylor Cowles: 4/70.096
12.    Rodrigo, Leah Bergman, Leah Bergman: 4/71.479

About the Washington International Horse Show

An equestrian tradition since 1958, the Washington International Horse Show brings top horses and riders from the U.S. and abroad, including Olympic champions, to the nation’s capital to compete for more than $400,000 in prize money and championship titles. About 500 horses participate in show jumping, hunter and equitation events during the six-day show. Special exhibitions, Kids Day, Barn Night, WIHS World of the Horse, boutique shopping and educational and community events round out this family-friendly show. Since its debut, the Washington International has been a popular Washington, DC, fixture visited by presidents, first ladies, celebrities, business and military leaders, as well as countless horse enthusiasts of all ages. WIHS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, is headquartered in Washington, DC. Learn more at www.wihs.org.

Photo Credit: All photos © Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.