Washington International Horse Show Goes Green

The environmental initiative, Green Is The New Blue, spearheaded by amateur rider Stephanie Bulger, is making a debut at the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN, running from October 22 through 27, 2019, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Launched earlier in 2019, Green Is The New Blue is a program designed to help horse shows be more eco-friendly and educate riders, trainers, vendors, spectators, and horse show staff on the simple but effective ways they can make a difference.

“It’s sometimes difficult to look at a problem like climate change and pollution and think anything we do individually can make a difference,” said Bulger, who launched Green Is The New Blue at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show in June. “We want to help educate horse show managers and give them resources and tools to help horse shows lessen their negative impact on their environment.

“Our philosophy is to do a few things well instead of trying to do everything at once,” explained Bulger. “We started with a recycling program and have developed other projects to educate and encourage visitors to WIHS that they can make a difference.”

What can you expect from Green Is The New Blue at WIHS?
• All-new Green Flat Major located around the show with tips on how to be more eco-friendly.
• No more plastic bags at the WIHS merchandise store. Don’t worry, there will be reusable bags available!
• Limited edition "green" items in the WIHS merchandise store.
• Printing of tickets has been reduced to 40%.
• VIP tickets are now digital.
• Eco-friendly goods, including biodegradable napkins, cutlery, etc., in the AON exhibitors’ lounge
• No more plastic water bottles—look for water coolers instead! Be sure to pick up a complimentary WIHS water bottle in the show office!
• Prize lists and programs are printed on recycled paper with soy ink.
• A move to digital materials with a goal to no longer print prize lists in 2020.
• Recycled paper in show office.
• Recycling bins everywhere! Not sure what can be recycled? Green Flat Major will be there to help!

"Washington, D.C., is rated as one of the greenest cities in the United States, and as D.C.’s “horse show in the city”, WIHS looks forward to becoming a greener horse show and leading the way in sustainable initiatives within the horse show industry," said WIHS Executive Director Mary Helen Shaughnessy. "With the partnership of Green is the New Blue, WIHS can begin to cement our place as a truly eco-friendly show, committed to the future of our planet just as we are committed to the future of our sport."

WIHS will continue a longstanding tradition as one of the world’s most celebrated indoor horse shows in 2019 and again host the $136,300 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for, presented by Events DC for the President's Cup, with coveted qualifying points on offer for the 2020 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Final taking place in Las Vegas, NV, in April. Additionally, WIHS will welcome qualified hunter, jumper, equitation, and pony riders from across the nation and celebrate year-end titles, including the coveted Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Fund WIHS Equitation Finals.

Tickets for WIHS are available online on Ticketmaster.com, at the Capital One Arena box office or by calling 1-800-745-3000. For group discounts, contact Capital One Arena Group Sales at 202-661-5061. For more information on tickets and discounts for military, seniors and students, visit WIHS.org/tickets.

For more information, please visit www.wihs.org, join us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. Tag us using #WIHS2019 #HorsesInTheCity, #FEIWorldCup, #JumpToGreatness, and #Longines.