Washington International Horse Show 2012

Mike and I went to the Washington International Horse Show on Friday night. It is such a neat show, the largest of its kind taking place in a major city. It's right in downtown DC in the Verizon Center (where the Capitals and Wizards play). Friday night had two competitions, the first being a speed competition (where your score is your jumping course time, plus 4 seconds for every pole knocked down). The second was the puissance wall, where competitors try to top each other jumping the highest. The actual jump is a fake brick wall made of lightweight boxes (that knock down very easily if the horse bumps into them). It got to 7 feet tall until there was one rider left who had not knocked it down. Plus I got to see some of my idols ride, Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut, both members of previous US Olympic delegations. It was also my first time seeing Reed Kessler in person, who this past summer became the youngest US rider to make the Olympic team.



Beezie Madden


Reed Kessler


Winner of the speed class Lauren Hough riding Oh La La


Before the puissance competition, the Washington Nationals' presidents mascots were on hand to do a "mini puissance" jump-off---and Teddy won!


The wall takes a victim...










The winner of the puissance at 7 feet, Olivier Philippaerts riding Chicago








The rest of my photos are here.

Dressage at Devon 2012

Last Friday I went to a horse show, Dressage At Devon. It is a nearly week-long extravaganza of international level dressage, breed competitions, and equestrian-related shopping. On the Friday that I went, I watched the Prix St. Georges and Grand Prix competitions, which are some of the highest levels of dressage. Most of the Canadian Olympic team was competiting, and they cleaned up. It was really great to see that level of riding in person.

The weather was supposed to be rainy, but it turned out to be fine most of the day. I was able to buy two new dressage whips, including one with a blue/purple striped handle (so I'll know if someone jacks it from me at the barn), and a handpainted mug with a horsehead on it. There was a lot of other stuff I wanted to take home, but that would've meant spending a few hundred dollars. The riding breeches and vest that caught my fancy would've been over a hundred on their own. So I was good and resisted.

The cool thing about the Devon showgrounds is that there have been horse shows at Devon since 1896. It's great that such a piece of history is still going strong today.

A Friesian in the Prix St. Georges


Same Friesian practicing shoulder-in--look at that bend!




Check out this moment of suspension during a canter pass


Extended trot


Sign with a picture of the showgrounds in 1914


They had this funny "ladies hat competition" as well. I think it was basically an excuse for some people to put stuff on their heads. Which I'm totally okay with.


David Marcus, the winner of the Grand Prix


Exhibition by Guy McLean, who does crazy acrobatic tricks with four horses at once


The rest of my photos are here.