Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA – October 26, 2024 – The pinnacle event of the 2024 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian™ was held on Saturday, October 26. Despite not claiming the win, the United States was very well represented with Americans claiming two of the top three positions in the $340,000 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI 5*-W, presented by Experience Prince George’s for the President’s Cup. The class was won by Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Major Tom.

The international jumper field at WIHS this year was one of the strongest ever, with 14 Olympians, 13 countries represented, and seven riders ranked in the world’s top 20.

Last year’s WIHS grand prix winner, Katherine Dinan (USA), returned to the jump-off next with Out of the Blue SCF, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Verdi TN x San Patrignano Cassini owned by Grant Road Partners. Dinan was close to making it a repeat victory with a clear round, but was just off the pace in 40.27 seconds and would have to settle for second place.

This was the pair’s first indoor horse show, and they have not had much experience jumping off at this level. “I’m still in a building relationship phase with this horse, so I was thrilled to be second behind Rodrigo. I’ll take that,” she remarked.

In statistics provided by EquiRatings, Dinan has had the most starts in the grand prix at WIHS since 2014 with eight rides in the class, along with three clear rounds and two podium finishes prior to this year’s edition.

“I think if you had told me this morning I’d be second, I would have taken that all day long,” she admitted. “But then of course looking back, I was a second and a half behind. I could easily have made it up, but my horse gave 110% today, and super kudos to her.”

Despite a bobble that caused a tack malfunction, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her Bull Run’s Jireh finished with just four faults in a time of 39.63 seconds. Their time would hold up for third place.

Vanderveen explained, “When I turned tight back on the vertical, he was a superstar to get over it clear, and my left leg aggressively slipped back in the air and caught my stirrup behind the saddle. I could not get it uncaught, then I think my balance was way off. I didn’t have a lot left to help him out. I was just trying to hold on at that point and just finish up as best we could, but I really couldn’t get it free.”

Vanderveen has ridden Bull Run’s Jireh since the horse was six years old and took her time with the talented 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. “He has all of what I think the right pieces are,” she said, “so I’ve wanted to not rush him. Now he’s jumped a few five stars, and this is also our first indoor show. I was really happy.”

WIHS President Vicki Lowell summed up, “Our goal is to make this the best five-star indoor show in the country and produce the best show we possibly can. We will continue to evolve the show and make it bigger and better.”

Final Results – $340,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington CSI 5*-W – President’s Cup Grand Prix, presented by Experience Prince George’s

1) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & Major Tom – 0 / 0 – 38.77

2) Katie Dinan (USA) & Out of the Blue SCF – 0 / 0 – 40.27

3) Kristen Vanderveen (USA) & Bull Run’s Jireh – 0 / 4 – 39.63

Source: Press Release (edited) from Jump Media for the Washington International Horse Show

Photos: © WIHS / Shawn McMillen Photography

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