Capital Challenge Will Host WCHR and Equitation National Finals Beginning October 1

September 14, 2016 - Upper Marlboro, MD

Sophie Gochman and Love Me Tender, the 2015 Grand Champion Pony Hunter honors. Capital Challenge is thrilled to welcome the Gochman Family as the returning sponsors of the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Kelli Cruciotti and Darius, winners of the 2015 Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championships.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Hunt Tosh and Largesse in their presentation ceremony for the 2015 $25,000 Future Hunter North American Championship, sponsored this year by the Wheeler Family and Madison Hills Farm.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Scott Stewart and Catch Me the 2015 Capital Challenge Grand Hunter Champion, Grand Champion First Year Green Hunter, Grand Green Hunter Champion, and 2015 WCHR Pro Challenge Champion.
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography

The 2016 Capital Challenge Horse Show, presented by the World Equestrian Center, will offer nine days of the nation’s highest-caliber hunter, jumper, and equitation competition beginning October 1 at Prince George’s Equestrian Center.

Each year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show hosts numerous equitation finals, the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals and much more, all made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors who have allowed the horse show to thrive for 23 years.

As the presenting sponsor of this year’s show, the World Equestrian Center is joined in support by many others, including returning sponsors, the Gochman Family who will again sponsor the $25,000 WCHR Professional Challenge, to be held Wednesday, October 5.

Immediately following the WCHR Professional Challenge on Wednesday, the $5,000 WCHR Developing Pro Challenge will take center stage, thanks to the sponsorship of the John R. Ingram Fund, and the highly anticipated $5,000 WCHR Professional Finals, sponsored by Madison Hills Farm, will be held Friday, October 7.

The WCHR Challenge Finals will also feature a Junior 3’6” Challenge, sponsored by Madison Hills Farm; a Pony Challenge, sponsored by RC Stables; an Amateur-Owner 3’6” Challenge; a Junior 3’3” Challenge; an Amateur-Owner 3’3” Challenge, sponsored by Milestone, LLC/Havens Schatt; a Children’s Challenge, sponsored by Stephanie Bulger and Meadow View; and an Adult Amateur Challenge, sponsored by Kate Considine and Willow Brook Farm.

Prior to the start of the WCHR Finals, equitation competition is in the spotlight during Capital Challenge’s Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com. The two days of equitation competition, to be held October 1-2, mark the start of the horse show and will include the Private Tutoring Services North American Junior Equitation Championship, the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Finals, and the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal Finals.

The following weekend, many of the same top Adult Amateur Equitation contenders return for the Ariat National Adult Medal Finals held on Friday, October 7.

“Being home to so many national equitation finals is something special and a huge honor to the horse show,” said Billy Glass, co-manager of the Capital Challenge Horse Show. “From the THIS Medal to the Ariat Medal and everything in between, the numerous finals and divisions give riders of all ages an opportunity to compete on the national stage against riders from around across the country. We’re greatly appreciate having the strong sponsorship support to make that possible.”

The support from sponsors also allows the Capital Challenge Horse Show to host the highly popular Future Hunter division which offers $45,000 in prize money throughout the six divisions and the $25,000 Future Hunter North American Championships, sponsored by the Wheeler Family and Madison Hills Farm.

Headlining the jumper competition is the $10,000 Ariat North American Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Challenge Cup, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation and to be held on Saturday, October 8.  

To learn more about the Capital Challenge Horse Show and this year’s sponsors, visit www.CapitalChallenge.org or follow the horse show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For a complete time schedule and prize list click here.

About the Capital Challenge Horse Show
Now in its 23rd year, the Capital Challenge Horse Show sets itself apart with a distinct and unique focus on preeminent hunter and equitation competition. Held each autumn at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD, the 2016 edition of the Capital Challenge Horse Show will take place October 1-9. The nine days of competition will include prestigious equitation events and the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Finals with many of the country’s best horses and riders competing in junior, amateur, and professional hunter divisions.