“We expect to have 1200 horses in the grounds and 1500 stalls available. Conservatively, the economic impact [to the local area] will be over $15 million.” – Oliver Kennedy, Brookeville, MD resident and co-founder of the Capital Challenge (Photo: Alden Corrigan)

With close to 1,000 horses every year, Capital Challenge Horse Show at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center is Maryland’s biggest horse show. Now, in its 24th year, it just got bigger, expanding to ten days.

Equitation Weekend, presented by BigEq.com, now offers three full days of competition and will host the new United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final for the East Coast. The Jumping Seat Medal Finals were created to provide a 3’3″ level final, as well as an introduction to the 3’6″ finals and a stepping stone to the Talent Search Finals. “The 3’3” [Final] is something that’s needed,” said trainer Troy Hendricks of Kimber-View Stables in Glenmoore, PA. “It’s a great stepping stone for young riders in the equitation. The 3’6” can be very difficult, and this really gets them in the ring and gives them the opportunity for a final. It gives them something to work for. Not all riders are 3’6” medal contenders, so maybe that’s not their niche. This is a really good niche, and it’s really good for our industry as a whole.”

New for 2017 is the Low Junior/Amateur Jumper division, which features a $10,000 classic. Additional jumper highlights include the $10,000 North American Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Classic, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation, and the $10,000 Children’s/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic.