Washington, D.C. – October 30, 2010 – Competition today at the 52nd Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) was full of exciting classes for jumpers and equitation. Tracey Weinberg of Lovettsville, VA, and Larone won the $10,000 Ambassador’s Cup Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, while Reed Kessler of Armonk, NY, and Ligist sped to victory in the $10,000 Senator’s Cup Junior Jumper Classic. Vivian Yowan of Darien, CT, was the winner of the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals.

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 class of the week is tonight’s $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, CSI 3*-W.

The $10,000 Ambassador’s Cup Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic had just nine entries, but two were able to find the clear round for a jump-off. First in was Tracey Weinberg on Larone. They had a quick time of 36.634 seconds, but had a rail for four faults. However, that would be just enough when Navona Gallegos and No Fear also had a fence down for four faults and one time fault. They finished on a slower time of 40.812 seconds.

Larone and Tracey Weinberg

Larone and Weinberg, winners of this class in 2007, were presented with the Ambassador’s Cup Perpetual Trophy donated by Ambassador and Mrs. Marion H. Smoak. Larone and Weinberg were also the division champions and won the Foxbrook Perpetual Trophy donated by Joy Slater in honor of Space Citation. The reserve champion was The Boy Wonder, ridden by Kristin Glover and owned by Stoney Brook Farm LLC.

“I was a little concerned when I had that rail,” Weinberg said about her jump-off. “Sometimes you have to have a little luck. I just was fortunate that the other contestant had a rail and was a little slower. I had to make sure that I hopefully had a better time than she did to put the pressure on.”

Weinberg first showed at the WIHS in 1975 in the pony hunters. “This is one of my favorite shows. There is nothing like riding at Washington – the prestige. There is just a panache to the horse show, so it is always exciting to end the year here,” she said.

Weinberg has ridden Larone, an 18-year-old KWPN stallion by Concorde, for five years and they have had incredible success together. “Larone is a dream come true,” she said with a smile. “Everybody should have a Larone; he is the pony I never had. He taught me how to ride, quite frankly. When you ride Larone he makes you think that you know what you are doing and then you get on another horse and you don’t. He is just one of those horses; he is a special horse.”

Reed Kessler captured the win in the $10,000 Senator’s Cup Junior Jumper Classic sponsored by AAA Equestrian LLC. She piloted Ligist, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding by Levantos II, to the only clear round in the jump-off of five entries in a time of 31.573 seconds. Amber Henter and Olinda, owned by Houlihan Lawrence, were second with four faults in 30.843 seconds. Kessler finished third with her second mount Flight, who had four faults in 31.589 seconds. For their win, Kessler and Ligist were presented with the Swan Lake Perpetual Trophy donated by Beagle Brook Farm, in honor of the 1992 winner Swan Lake ridden by Jennifer F. Miller.

Ligist and Reed Kessler

Kessler made very tight rollbacks in the jump-off for a quick time. “He really saved me in the jump-off,” she acknowledged. “I was cowgirling, almost jumping jumps backwards, and he was so on it. I’m really happy for him.”

She has ridden Ligist for a year and a half and said, “He’s a really great horse; he’s really coming into his own. When we got him he was nine, but he was a green nine. He can jump clear round after clear round, but the going fast took a little bit to get used to. Sometimes he would get bored when it was too smooth. But today, when it’s hard, he’s awake. He loves it and likes it to be difficult.”

For her consistency through the three classes in the Junior Jumper division, Karen Polle of New York, NY, was awarded with the championship on her horse What Ever. She was presented with the Greenberg Challenge Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg. Chase Boggio and Hennessey were reserve champions. Charlotte Jacobs won the Shalanno Style of Riding Award.

Thirteen-year-old Vivian Yowan of Darien, CT, topped the list in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals over the 24 other best pony equitation riders in the country. Yowan and Rockette, owned by Grand Slam Farm LLC, scored an 80 in the over fences round and sat in second place when the top 10 returned for an flat phase. The judges moved Yowan to first place following the flat phase. Meredith Darst on Better Than Good was second, Alexa Effron rode Blu Venture Rainbeau for third place.

“I thought it was very good,” she said about the course. “You had a chance to gallop forward, but you also had to show rollbacks and the trot.”

This was Yowan’s first time in the WIHS Pony Equitation Finals and her last show on Rockette. She said through tears that the win was “a little bittersweet,” and “It means a lot because this my first time doing the Equitation and my last show on Rockette.”

Vivian Yowan and Rockette

The $10,000 International Open Jumpers had a Pair Relay class, and it was the duo of Shane Sweetnam (IRL) on Allison and Hillary Dobbs (USA) with Marengo for victory.

For her great success yesterday in the junior hunters, Hannah Goodson-Cutt of Beverly Hills, CA, was awarded as the Best Child Rider on a Horse. The award is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ingram. Although she was already back in California, her trainer Kate Considine accepted the award on her behalf. She was presented with the DiVecchia Perpetual Trophy donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick DiVecchia.

The Washington International Horse Show concludes tomorrow with the championships for the Small, Medium, and Large Pony Hunters. The Local Pony Hunter Finals and the Local Hunter Finals will also be held and are followed by the World of the Horse exhibition.

Tonight’s evening session begins at 7 p.m. with the WIHS Equitation Finals work-off with the top 10 riders, followed by a Caisson presentation, terrier races, Chester Weber driving exhibition, and the highlight class of the week, the $100,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix presented by Washington Convention and Sports Authority, a World Cup qualifying event.

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

Final Results: $10,000 Ambassador’s Cup Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
1.    Larone, Tracey Weinberg, Tracey Weinberg and The Weinberg Group: 0/4/36.634
2.    No Fear, Navona Gallegos, Bar X Ranch LLC: 0/5/40.812
3.    The Boy Wonder, Kristin Glover, Stoney Brook Farm LLC: 4/62.821
4.    Linda Z, Tracey Weinberg, Tracey Weinberg and The Weinberg Brokerage Group: 5/67.371
5.    Saladin, Mary Antonini, Mary Antonini: 8/62.873
6.    El Grecco, Robert Lee, Robert Lee: 12/65.827
7.    Peaches, Jean Sheptoff, Jean Sheptoff: 17/71.731
8.    Vatricia, Navona Gallegos, Bar X Ranch LLC: 20/64.204
9.    Beatrix Kiddo, Laurel Blakemore, Laurel Blakemore: elim.

Final Results: $10,000 Senator’s Cup Junior Jumper Classic
1.    Ligist, Reed Kessler, Reed Kessler: 0/0/31.573
2.    Olinda, Amber Henter, Houlihan Lawrence: 0/4/30.843
3.    Flight, Reed Kessler, Reed Kessler: 0/4/31.589
4.    Pracht, Michael Hughes, Drumnacross Farm and Christina Fried: 0/4/32.192
5.    Vancouver, Katie Dinan, Katie Dinan LLC: 0/8/30.649
6.    Ultimate VDL, Kalvin Dobbs, Treesdale Farm: 1/67.874
7.    Sinatra IV, Meg O’Mara, Thinks Like a Horse and Norman Peterson: 4/59.641
8.    Hennessey, Chase Boggio, Chase Boggio: 4/61.852
9.    Cicero 75, Eirin Bruheim, Nordic Lights Farm LLC: 4/62.218
10.    Delilah, Hasbrouck Donovan, Hasbrouck Donovan: 4/66.335

Final Results: WIHS Pony Equitation Finals
1.    Vivian Yowan
2.    Meredith Darst
3.    Alexa Effron
4.    Parker Wright
5.    Ashley Foster
6.    Ali Tritschler
7.    Carly Hoft
8.    Ashley Toffolon
9.    Alexandra Crown
10.    Ashton Alexander

Final Results: $10,000 International Open Jumper Pairs Relay
1.    Allison, Shane Sweetnam (IRL), Spy Coast Farm and Marengo, Hillary Dobbs (USA), The Dobbs Group
2.    Cordia de Laubry, Marilyn Little-Meredith (USA), Raylyn Farms Inc. and Udonna, Benjamin Meredith (AUS), Raylyn Farms Inc.
3.    Caretina III, Charlie Jayne (USA), Pony Lane Farm and Lucille, Maggie Jayne (USA), Pony Lane Farm
4.    Platinum, Aaron Vale (USA), ABC 7 Horses and Babaganoush, Andrew Kocher (USA), BSSB1 LLC

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