(Washington, DC) – October 13, 2025 – The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), a world-class championship event, drawing leading equestrian riders from around the nation and the world, today debuted the inaugural $15,000 WIHS High Performance Hunter Championship Classic. The invitation-only class featured the Champions and Reserve Champions from the hunter divisions including: Green Conformation, Regular Conformation, First Year Green Working, Second Year Green Working, Regular Working, Small Junior Hunter (16-17), Small Junior Hunter (15 & Under), Large Junior Hunter (16- 17), Large Junior Hunter (15 & Under), Amateur-Owner (35 & Older) and Amateur-Owner (Under 35).
The two-round competition began with a traditional hunter-type course utilizing substantial natural fences, including a ‘four-panel snake’ fence, tree logs and walls without standards. Horse and rider combinations, which advanced to the second round based on composite scores, proceeded to a second round handy hunter course. The handy hunter course demanded brilliance and offered riders many options to showcase tight turns and innovative approaches.
John French led the first round with a stunning ride on Wesley. He received an average score of 87.000, leaving the other riders with a difficult score to beat. French and Wesley qualified for the class by claiming Reserve Champion in the Regular Working Hunter division. Jennifer Alfano and Rock Star, Reserve Champion in the Second Year Green Working Hunter division, challenged French’s lead with a beautiful round, receiving a score of 86.000.
The handy round offered many challenges for riders including a trot jump, a hand gallop jump, and a variety of approaches and options. Riders received bonus points for choosing a course that showcased risk and brilliance.
Cortie Wetherill aboard Take Away, Reserve Champion in the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 division, received the highest score in the round with a 95.666. Combined with an 83.000 in the first round his total score was a 178.666. Riding last, French knew that he would need an outstanding round using all the inside turns to beat Wetherill. French and Wesley did not disappoint. They received a score of 91.666. French’s total was a 178.666, creating a tie between himself and Wetherill. The scores from Judging Team 1 determined French and Wesley the winners.
The High Performance Hunter division is a new addition to the sport, created by the United States Hunter Jumper Association. The goal of this division is to create a program that will bring back tradition and true horsemanship, while promoting show hunters on national and international levels.
About The Washington International Horse Show (www.wihs.org):
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization benefiting local and national charities, is a world-class championship event, drawing leading equestrian riders from around the nation and the world. Each year riders participate in qualifying shows to earn the honor of riding at the WIHS. The
WIHS welcomes more than 600 horse and rider duos to compete to win some of the most coveted and prestigious awards in the world, including more than $400,000 in prize money. The show takes place every October in Washington, DC, attracting the attention of the equestrian world, non-equestrian world, celebrities and politicos alike with events such as show jumping, dressage, barrel racing and terrier races. October 2008 will mark the 50th anniversary of the WIHS.
The Washington International Horse Show is supported by the following 2007 sponsors: Salamander Hospitality, LLC, Hidden Trail Farm, LLC, FTI Consulting, Inc., Merial, LTD (UlcerGard), Monica & Hermen Greenberg, Canadian National Railway Company (CN), Monarch International, Gotham North, St. Michelle Wine Estates, Lynn Ellen Rice & Last Name Left Productions, Pat Carleton & The Cottonwood, Ltd., Pedigree/Masterfoods, Crawford Communications, Shalanno Farm, Tara Management, Tad Coffin Performance Saddles, Halstrum, LLC/Lubrisyn, Brooke Carmichael McMurray-Fowler & Pam Carmichael Keenan, JPC Equestrian, Betty & Ernie Oare, Berkley Underwriting Partners, LLC & EMO Insurance Agency, Inc., The Reid Family, Hillary Stiff & Chris & Nalini Rogers, Platinum Performance, Far Niente Stables, LLC and Cornell University.
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