Washington, DC - Sept. 3 - Before the equestrian action kicks off at this year's Washington International Horse Show on October 25, the MCI Center will be rocking with the excitement of the sizzling rides and amazing wrecks of the Professional Bull Riders Challenger Tour on Sunday night, October 23, 2005 at 7pm.

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) debuts at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. for a one-day only bull riding event. The U.S. Capitol Invitational, a part of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Challenger tour, brings 40 of the best PBR riders battling the rankest bucking bulls in the industry to our nation's capitol. More than $18,000 is up for grabs in prize money!

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company President, Murray Kessler who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington International Horse Show said, "It's a brand new location for the PBR Challenger Tour and we're really hoping this will become a multi-year partnership. I'm very excited about coming to the MCI Center. I think we'll be able to draw six or seven thousand people this year," Kessler estimated. "Beyond this year, I think we'll be able to sell out and in turn make some significant revenues for the Washington International Horse Show."

The event format includes 40 bull riders taking on the world's best bulls for a long-round competition. Then, the top 10 riders will compete in a short-go round. The event championship will go to the rider with the highest cumulative score on two bulls.

"If you've never seen the bulls before it's going to be very exciting for you. It's all out for eight seconds. Riding the bull is just one part. Getting off and getting safely away is the other part," laughed Kessler. "I'm also excited that we're going to have an exhibition of show jumping that night." Kessler revealed an exciting challenge that's in the works. "We've got a very exciting challenge that will pit a show rider on a bull against a bull rider doing show jumping," he said. "That should be a lot of fun for everybody in attendance on Sunday night."

Ticket prices for the U.S. Capitol Invitational start at $15. For more information, please call Ticketmaster at 202-397-SEAT, 410-547-SEAT, or 703-573-SEAT.

Over 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN, and in Spanish on Telemundo. With over 450 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air. In addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise tour, and the Humps N Horns Tour, the tour is designed specifically for entry level contestants.

The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.

For additional information, please visit www.pbnow.com.

WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW

FAST FACTS

Washington International Horse Show - (Office) 16063 Comprint Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 - 301-987-9400 Fax: 301-987-9461 - www.wihs.org - Susan Webb - Susie@wihs.org

During Show at MCI Center: 202-661-5227 - Fax: 202-661-5228 - Web Site: www.wihs.org (#s TBD)

PRESS LINK PR/Diana De Rosa: O: 631-773-6155, C: 516-848-4867, dderosa1@optonline.net

PHELPS MEDIA GROUP, INC./Mason Phelps, Jr.: O: 561 753-3389, mpjr@phelpsmediagroup.com

BENDURE COMMUNICATIONS/Vicki Bendure: (540) 687-3360, bendurepr@aol.com

WHAT: Washington International Horse Show

WHO: Elite equestrians and their multi-million dollar horses competing for some of the most coveted trophies in the world.

WHEN: October 25 - 30, 2005

WHERE: MCI Center, Washington, DC

TICKET PRICES

Same as last year.

Day Day Evening Regular

Evening VIP**

Tuesday $15 $20 $40

Wednesday $15 $20 $40

Thursday $15 $30* $45*

Friday $15 $35 $60

Saturday $20 $35 $60

Sunday $15 No Evening No Evening

Anytime Package $85

Regular admission for each performance ($235 package)

• Barn Night Groups (10 or more) receive $5 off each ticket. See back panel for rules or visit www.wihs.org
• VIP Seats include premium arena-level seating and a FREE Wihs Program Book ($10 Value). Take ticket stub to WIHS Souvenir Booth.
• www.ticketmaster.com or call 202-397-SEAT

2005 Special "Anytime Package" Offer:

This year the Washington International Horse Show is offering an "Anytime Package" ticket deal for $85.00. The "Anytime Package" allows admittance for spectators to all events and performances from Tuesday, October 25th through Sunday, October 30th. The cost of tickets if purchased for each event would total $235.00, at the very least, so this opportunity is a great way to save money while enjoying all that the show has to offer. Also included in the Anytime Package is free admittance into the Starlight Starbright Pony Pavilion which will have a host of activities for families to enjoy on Saturday, October 29th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

SCHEDULES: (2004 Spectator Attendance: 50,000 +)- THIS INFORMATION I NOT FINAL

10/25 - Daytime: Regular & Green Conformation - 1st & 2nd Green - Regular Working - A/O Hunter (35 & Under and Over 35) - Evening: WIHS Children's Hunter Championships & Adult Hunter Championships

10/26 - Daytime: Regular Working & Regular Conformation - 2nd year Green & Green Conformation - 1st year Green

A/O Hunter (35 & Under & Over 35) - A/O Jumpers - Evening: WIHS Children's Jumper Championships and Adult Jumper Championships

10/27 - Daytime: Small Jr. (15 & Under), Large Jr. (15 & Under) - Small Jr. (16-17), Large Jr. (16-17)

$25,000 President's Cup Qualifier - A/O Jumpers - Evening: $20,000 Gambler's Choice

10/28 - Daytime: Small Jr. (15 & Under), Large Jr. (15 & Under), Small Jr. (16-17), Large Jr. (16-17), WIHS Equitation, A/O Jumpers - Jr. Jumpers TFR - $20,000 Open Jumpers - Evening: $25,000 Puissance

10/29 - Daytime: Small, Medium, Large Pony - Afternoon: $15,000 Open Jumpers Speed Class - Jr. Jumpers

Evening: WIHS Equitation Classic: (Jumper Phase & Final work-off) - $100,000 President's Cup Grand Prix

10/30 - Small, Medium, Large Pony - WIHS Pony Equitation Classic - Local Hunter Finals (Horses) - Local Hunter Finals (Ponies) - Jr. Jumpers TFJO - Local Jumpers Finals

Exhibitions to Include: Barrel Racing - Trick Riding - Terrier Races - Musical Free Style - Dressage...and more

SPONSORS: (2004) Market Salamander, RLJ Development, Manhattan Mortgage Company, Arwen Stables, Gotham North, Monica & Hermen Greenberg Foundation, SCJ Foundation, Split Rock Farm, the Braun Family, J. Aron Charitable Foundation, Bainbridge Companies, Handtmann Family foundation, Legg Mason Funds, Anne Meyer & Turnabout Farm, NetJets, Newstead Farm, Pedigree, Smith Management Construction, Inc.

Media Partners: NBC4 - Metro - Practical Horseman - The Gazette - The Journal - the Chronicle of the Horse - Equiery - WAMU 88.5 FM - The Washington Post - MIX 107.3 FM - Sidelines - Horse Talk - 97.1 Wash-FM - The Washington Times

ABOUT THE MCI CENTER: The MCI Center offers sponsors luxury hospitality, an upscale spectator base, prime media exposure, and a highly-visible corporate presence.

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES: $100,000 Level: President's Cup Grand Prix - $75,000 Level: Evening Performance (includes party in MCI Café) - $50,000 Level - $25,000 Puissance (includes party in MCI Café) - WIHS Equitation Classic - WIHS Championships

QUICK FACTS:

-English Style Horse Show Spectators & competitors have one of the richest income/economic demographics of any sports audience.

-USEF members average HHI - $134,500 - net worth $955,400 - Professional/managerial positions - 60%

27 million Americans ride a horse at least once a year - More than 10% of U.S. households currently participate in riding - 2,000,000+ people currently own horses - An additional 18% of U.S. households have an interest in riding - 33% of American households own/ride horses or would like to own/ride horses - 2/3 of current horse owners own more than one horse.

-The MCI Center offers sponsors luxury hospitality, and upscale spectator base, prime media exposure and a highly-visible corporate presence.

-With everything from shopping at the specialty vendor booths and bidding on silent auction items to cheering on Olympic riders, the WIHS combines affordable family fun, shopping, glamour and international equestrian competition.

-The WIHS is a charitable organization; proceeds donated to local and national charities. Past recipients include: CRPF, NBC4s Camp 4 Kids, Canine Companions for Independence, ASPCA, Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health, Partners in Education, Community Services for Autistic Adults & Children, National Center For Therapeutic Riding, etc.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The 47th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) has served as one of the world's elite show jumping competitions since its genesis in 1958. From its birthplace at the DC Armory, to the Capital Centre, and now at the state-of-the-art MCI Center, the WIHS brings the "country to the city" every October with Olympic horses and riders competing throughout the 6 days of competition for some of the most coveted and prestigious awards in the world.

The Washington International Horse Show takes place each year at the MCI Center, Washington, DC. The musical freestyle dressage exhibitions by top dressage riders, are a crowd favorite. Musical freestyle dressage is often referred to as "dancing on horseback" since riders and horses perform a routine of complex movements - all to the beat of music.

Each year, equestrians from all across the US competed in horse shows to qualify to compete at Washington. The world's top riders fly their multi-million dollar equine athletes to Washington to view for top honors in this world class show jumping event.

The Washington International Horse Show is a great place to start shopping for the holiday season with amazing bargains in both the Silent Auction and at the 60-plus specialty vendor booths along the concourse of the MCI Center. To view information about this year's specialty vendors and descriptions of their products, visit www.wihs.org

WIHS EQUITATION QUALIFYING INFORMATION

Competitors must be WIHS members for qualifying points to count. Membership forms and Show Application Equitation forms may be downloaded at www.wihs.org - or contact Ryegate Show Services, 717-867-5643 - wihs@ryegate.com

RULES & REGULATIONS (new for 2005): Riders must be members of the WIHS Equitation to earn points in the standings.

The WIHS Equitation and Washington Pony Equitation are open to USEF and CEF member shows that request an application to hold an equitation qualifier class.

Shows must apply 30 days prior to the start of the show in order to offer the equitation class(es). Upon receipt of the application, the show contact will be mailed all pertinent forms.

Completed results forms and payment ($7.00 fee per rider in each class) must be returned to the Ryegate office within 10 days from the conclusion of the recognized horse show.

Qualifying period: shows starting on or after September 1st through shows starting on or before August 31st. The top 30 riders in the WIHS Equitation and the top 25 riders in the Washington Pony Equitation will be invited to compete in the Finals at the Washington International Horse Show.

Multi-day horse shows are permitted to hold either a one or two phase WIHS equitation qualifier. One-day horse shows are only allowed to hold a one-phase event. Washington Pony Equitation Classes may only be held as one phase.

The WIHS Equitation classes are open to junior members of USEF or CEF. Three riders must complete the course for the class to be included in the National Ranking.

• The same horse must be used in all phases of the event...No Exceptions.
• One rider per horse, unless the judge requests a change.
• Classes to be judged in accordance with the current USEF standards for equitation.
• Riders may only compete in one WIHS Equitation class at a show.
• Splitting of classes must be in accordance with USEF Article 2203.3.1.