Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund Named Title Sponsor of WIHS Equitation Finals and Grant for Third Year

The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) will welcome back the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund as title sponsor of the WIHS Equitation Finals and Equitation Grant for the third year during the 2019 event running October 22 through 27 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals is an annual highlight of WIHS, one of the most exciting and entertaining equestrian events in North America. Now in its 28th year, the WIHS Equitation Finals is a prestigious national championship for junior riders that involves a rigorous three-phase competition held over two days. A panel of three judges test and evaluate the riders in hunter, jumper, and work-off rounds where riders switch horses with other competition athletes to determine the best of the best.

“Dedicated sponsors who provide unwavering support are the backbone of the Washington International Horse Show, and we are proud to welcome the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund back as a very special partner,” said Vicki Lowell, President of WIHS. “The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals has become a celebrated benchmark for junior riders throughout North America and we are pleased to not only have The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund as a title sponsor, but very proud to be able to help deserving riders compete through the WIHS Equitation Grant program.”

The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals will take place Friday, October 25, and Saturday, October 26, during WIHS.

"The Washington International Horse Show, a time-honored US Equestrian Heritage Competition, is celebrating its 61st year, and because of the show's dedicated, amazing team and wonderful competitors, we at the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund are proud to use our sponsorship to increase its access and inclusion," said Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund Executive Director Bill Rube. "It has been inspiring to see how this show impacts every person who steps into Capital One Arena, every competitor who rides into the ring, and every promising young rider who participates in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals."

Former WIHS Equitation Finals champions include Olympic team silver medalist Kent Farrington (1999) and two-time Olympic team gold medalist McLain Ward (1993). Other WIHS Equitation Finals alums active in the grand prix ranks include Brianne Goutal-Marteau (2004), Jack Hardin Towell Jr. (2006), Lillie Keenan (2010), Victoria Colvin (2015), Hunter Holloway (2016), and Taylor St. Jacques (2017). The most recent winner was Elli Yeager in 2018.

Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant

Introduced in 2017, the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant gives riders the opportunity to participate in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals in Washington, D.C., without the financial commitment that accompanies the event. Grant recipients receive airfare and accommodations, and are guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime experience at one of the most prestigious equitation events in North America. Previous recipients of the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Grant include Abigail Brayman (2017), Ava Stearns (2018), and Juliette Joseph (2018).

“The Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund is proud to support the 2019 Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals," said LMCF founder Lindsay Maxwell, who is a philanthropist as well as successful amateur rider herself. "Qualifying for these finals represents a culmination of years of dedication and countless hours of practice, so I am thrilled to again support access to the finals for deserving young riders through the LMCF WIHS Equitation grant. A key component of the Fund's mission is to positively impact the lives of young people by providing access to special opportunities. My hope is that today's young riders will embrace a tradition of 'paying forward' access to the next generation of equestrians."

To be eligible, applicants must be WIHS members and in the top 70 of the WIHS Equitation Rankings at the time of application. The application will be posted in June 2019 and available at www.wihs.org.Invitations to compete in the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals will be sent to the top 40 junior riders based on points earned during the qualifying period in the East Coast and West Coast Leagues with 30 riders invited from the East Coast League and 10 riders from the West Coast League. 

Qualifying events for WIHS Equitation are held at more than 650 horse shows throughout North America, where riders can earn points to be eligible to compete in the Equitation Finals as well as the WIHS Children's and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships. The qualifying period runs from September 1 through August 31.

The 2019 Washington International Horse Show will take place October 22 through 27 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Tickets will be available on Ticketmaster.com and at Capital One Arena Box Office. 

Each year, WIHS continues a longstanding tradition as one of the world’s most celebrated indoor horse shows. The 2019 edition will again host the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington presented by Events DC, with coveted qualifying points on offer for the 2020 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Final taking place in Las Vegas, NV, in April. Additionally, WIHS will welcome qualified hunter, jumper, equitation, and pony riders from across the nation to celebrate year-end titles, including the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals.For more information on WIHS, please visit www.wihs.org, join WIHS on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Tag them using #WIHS2019 #HorsesInTheCity, #FEIWorldCup, and #Longines.

The 61st Annual Washington International Horse Show will return to Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22-27, 2019. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, email info@wihs.org.