PARTICIPANTS
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding
Susie Webb, PA National Horse Show Foundation
Miss Pennsylvania 2018 Kayla Repasky
Gregg Cook, Hershey Harrisburg Sports and Events Authority
Jennifer Pensinger, PA Breast Cancer Coalition
Sharon Altland, PA Farm Show
PNHS board members, and other guests
WHERE/WHEN
Wednesday, October 10, 2018, 11:45 a.m.
Large Arena, PA Farm Show Complex, 2300 North Cameron St., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
WHO/WHAT
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) is a premier equestrian event attracting the nation’s top hunters and jumpers and features many of the TOP names in the sport. During the ten days of national and international competition, 1,400 qualified Junior and Adult competitors from the U.S. and abroad vie for more than $500,000 in prize money and eight national championships – including the prestigious Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final, and the Neue Schule/USEF National Junior Jumper Individual and Team Championships. “Junior Weekend” takes place October 11-14, followed by “Senior Week” October 15-20, culminating in the $132,000 Prix de Penn National Grand Prix, which features Olympic and international riders.
As one of the largest indoor Horse Shows in the United States, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show offers fans exciting national and international competition, shopping, special attractions and more! The Central Pennsylvania region also benefits from the Pennsylvania National Horse Show realizing an over $12 million dollars annually in economic impact. The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation proceeds benefit therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs.
PA NATIONAL HORSE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
- Oct. 11-14: JUNIOR WEEK with riders under 18 years of age competing, Neue Schule Junior Jumper Championships and Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal Finals.
- Oct. 15-20: SENIOR WEEK with professional riders and international open jumpers.
- Saturday, Oct. 13 – 1:00-4:00 p.m.: Family Fun Day Fun for ALL! Crafts, Draft Horse Wagon Rides, Caricature Artist, Chipper the Pony, Story Telling by Local Authors and Behind the Scene Tours.
- Wednesday, Oct. 17: “Pony Up for Pink” with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and Media celebrities hitting the ring for a fun obstacle course; $15,000 Dash for the Cash.
- Thursday evening, Oct. 18: $50,000 Pennsylvania Big Jump and Barrel Racing Valley Forge Military Academy Mounted Color Guard and Band.
- Friday afternoon, Oct. 19: “Foundation Friday” Therapeutic Riding Championships and Award to the Therapy Horse of the Year.
- Friday evening, Oct. 19: $35,000 Keystone Classic Speed Stake; Polo Demo from Garrison Forest School.
- Saturday evening, Oct. 20: Olympians ride in the $132,000 Grand Prix de Penn National; Stunt Dog Productions Entertainment with Meet & Greet at 5:30 in Main Lobby. Also, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Singer/Songwriter Olivia Farabaugh, former contestant on “The Voice” will perform prior to the Grand Prix, off of the lobby. Special Meet & Greet with international champions TBA.
- McLain Ward and Adrienne Sternlicht, two members of the United States' Gold Medal Show Jumping Team that made history at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), head a list of nearly forty top riders from five countries entered in the 73rd annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS). The competition will be fierce as Olympic veterans, World Cup and World Champions vie for prestigious titles and top prize money in PA.
- Joining them will be Ward’s four-time Olympic teammate and fellow double Gold medalist Beezie Madden, who was also part of the Silver medal team at Rio. She won the individual Bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and individual Silver at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games™. She was the FEI World Cup™ Champion in 2013 and again in 2018 when she claimed her second title at the Longines FEI World Cup Final in Paris, France. Madden has been named the USEF Equestrian of the Year a record four times.
- Two-time U.S. Olympic veteran Leslie Burr-Howard, a Team Gold medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and Team Silver medalist at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, is set to compete at her 51 st consecutive PNHS! She will also be inducted into the Pennsylvania National Horse Show Hall of Fame during a special ceremony that will take place on Saturday evening, October 20 prior to the start of the $132,000 Prix de Penn National Grand Prix.
- Also entered are U.S. Olympic Gold medalist Peter Wylde (2004) and Beat Mandli of Switzerland, a two-time Olympian who won a Team Silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Joining them is Mario Deslauriers of Canada, an Olympic veteran who won the FEI World Cup Final in 1984 when he was just 19 years old; he is still the youngest rider ever to win that title.
- Ian Millar, the most decorated rider in Canadian equestrian in history who has competed in a record 10 Olympic Games, will be competing, as will his son Jonathan Millar, a World Equestrian Games veteran, and daughter-in-law Kelly Soleau-Millar, who rides for the U.S. Irish riders Daniel Coyle and Cormac Hanley are also entered.
- Other top U.S. riders include Christine McCrea, double Gold medalist at the 2011 Pan American Games, Laura Chapot, team Bronze Medalist at the 2007 Pan Am Games, Molly Ashe-Cawley, Kelli Cruciotti, Katie Dinan, Charlie Jayne, Lillie Keenan, Peter Lutz, Jonathan McCrea, Callan Solem, and Jimmy Torano.
- Riders compete all year to qualify and be invited to participate by the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) in Pennsylvania. PNHS has been named as a prestigious U. S. Equestrian Federation Heritage Competition.
- Free parking, children 10 and under are free. Many FREE FAN APPRECIATION DAYS plus assorted food selections, and happy hour daily, including “The Pink Pony,” a new signature drink to support the Foundation.
- The PNHS also offers a huge variety of shopping opportunities. Open daily during the show from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., more than 70 specialty boutiques on two levels offer hours of shopping for one-of-a-kind products including fine arts, antiques, gifts, horse tack, equestrian clothing, accessories and much more.
- The PNHS is also partnering with 39 With Honor, an affiliate of Wreaths Across America, to support our military and veterans during the holidays at Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA.
About The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, provides support for therapeutic riding and equine rescue programs. The Foundation makes grants exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to acquaint, teach and train the public in therapeutic equestrian endeavors and to support equine rescue efforts. Proceeds from the show benefit the Foundation.
For more information, updates, promotions, vendor information, tickets, and more, please visit www.PAnational.org or call (717) 770-0222.
Updates can also be found on social media at:
Facebook: @panationalhorseshow
Twitter: @PA_NationalHS
Instagram: @pa_nationalhs