Great Spectator Horse Shows
COVERAGE OF THE 2009 FIDELITY CLASSIC GRAND PRIX AT THIS LINK: Fideity Classic
Going to spectator horse shows is a wonderful and relatively inexpensive way to have a great day or weekend with horses and to learn by observing the best amateur and professional riders. I have a compiled a list of my favorite spectator horse shows for hunter jumpers below. Additionally there are a couple of non-horse show events to spectate. Remember that many of these events offer food, fashion, shopping and special events that will interest even a non-horsey friend or two!
Devon Horse Show and Country Fair: My favorite spectator horse show ever! The largest and oldest outdoor horse show in the United States, it draws over 100,000 spectators and exhibitors each year! It includes hunt teams, hunter classics, driving, gaited horses and a grand prix. The first show was held in 1896. Takes place in late May. http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/
Washington International Horse Show: Takes place in October. Washington, D. C. Another great spectator horse show http://www.wihs.org/
Dansko Fairhill International 3-Day-This is actually a 3 star horse trial and not a hunter jumper event, but wow, is it fun and exciting to watch! One of the best spectator horse shows! I highly recommend it! Takes place in Fall (usually late October) date T.B.A. Elkton, MD. http://www.fairhillinternational.com/eventing.html
The ASPCA Maclay Medal Final-part of the National Horse Show, will be featured at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in late October/early November at the Oncenter Complex, Syracuse, New York http://www.nhs.org/
Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Harrisburg, PA- Early/mid October http://www.panational.org/
The Fidelity Jumper Classic is usually held on Labor Day weekend (September). Silver Oak Equestrian Center Hampton Falls, NH http://www.jumperclassic.com/welcome/default.asp
Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS)- A winter show series with multiple locations and dates. See website for details http://www.hitsshows.com/
Annual Winterthur Point-to-Point This is a steeplechase, not a show, but it is the social event of the year in Northern Delaware and really quite a site to see. Amazing tailgating competition, hunter demonstrations, races and carriage parade! Early May, at Winterthur, Greenville, Delaware -http://www.winterthur.org/?p=644
Going to spectator horse shows is a wonderful and relatively inexpensive way to have a great day or weekend with horses and to learn by observing the best amateur and professional riders. I have a compiled a list of my favorite spectator horse shows for hunter jumpers below. Additionally there are a couple of non-horse show events to spectate. Remember that many of these events offer food, fashion, shopping and special events that will interest even a non-horsey friend or two!
Devon Horse Show and Country Fair: My favorite spectator horse show ever! The largest and oldest outdoor horse show in the United States, it draws over 100,000 spectators and exhibitors each year! It includes hunt teams, hunter classics, driving, gaited horses and a grand prix. The first show was held in 1896. Takes place in late May. http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/
Washington International Horse Show: Takes place in October. Washington, D. C. Another great spectator horse show http://www.wihs.org/
Dansko Fairhill International 3-Day-This is actually a 3 star horse trial and not a hunter jumper event, but wow, is it fun and exciting to watch! One of the best spectator horse shows! I highly recommend it! Takes place in Fall (usually late October) date T.B.A. Elkton, MD. http://www.fairhillinternational.com/eventing.html
The ASPCA Maclay Medal Final-part of the National Horse Show, will be featured at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in late October/early November at the Oncenter Complex, Syracuse, New York http://www.nhs.org/
Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Harrisburg, PA- Early/mid October http://www.panational.org/
The Fidelity Jumper Classic is usually held on Labor Day weekend (September). Silver Oak Equestrian Center Hampton Falls, NH http://www.jumperclassic.com/welcome/default.asp
Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS)- A winter show series with multiple locations and dates. See website for details http://www.hitsshows.com/
Annual Winterthur Point-to-Point This is a steeplechase, not a show, but it is the social event of the year in Northern Delaware and really quite a site to see. Amazing tailgating competition, hunter demonstrations, races and carriage parade! Early May, at Winterthur, Greenville, Delaware -http://www.winterthur.org/?p=644
Winterthur Point-to-Point
