72 SIDELINES OCTOBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
doesn’t exist in the District.”
For the frst time in 2011, WIHS offered live stream action, which
got 130,000 hits for the week. Concerns that live stream would
reduce live spectators were unfounded and WIHS announced that
it will again offer live stream throughout the show’s six days from
the website.
Juliet spends a great deal of time at shows with Chloe, who
recently turned 16. The big drawback to that, admitted Juliet, is the
impact on her Washington social life where she could talk up the
Washington International Horse Show.
“I have good horse show contacts and the board has gotten
stronger with hunter and jumper riders,” she said. “I’d like to see it
stronger in the DC base. A day doesn’t go by that I’m not working
on WIHS.”
Recent improvements include hospitality guaranteed to please
the most jaded show gypsies. The exhibitor’s hospitality schedule,
included in the prize list as a download from the WIHS site, begins
with breakfast and offers food and snacks through the afternoon
throughout the show’s run. People can buy hospitality wristbands
for various parties and events. The food and bevies are top class
and then, too, there’s all the action in the ring.
“Last year we built a platform on the end of the ring so we can get
hospitality closer to the ring – it sold out by June and this year we’re
doing both ends with $25,000 tables,” said Juliet. “We provide really
good hospitality at a major sporting event and sell it to horse people
and to corporations in DC.”
Juliet credits her family with why she’s doing such a good job with
WIHS. “I come from a family of experts and what they taught me is
that you don’t have all the answers and so you surround yourself
with good people who love the sport,” she said. “Vicki (Victoria)
Lowell is head of the marketing division for Animal Planet and she
runs the PR for WIHS. Marc Oken is the treasurer – he was CFO
at Bank of America. Bridget Love Meehan came on as executive
director and this will be her second show. She was with Discovery
Communications and has a very savvy marketing brain that isn’t
all horses, which means that we can grow with greater appeal to
people who enjoy attending all sorts of sporting and entertainment
events.”
Courting individual and corporate sponsorships helps to pay the
overhead. Juliet and her team garnered Boeing as a sponsor and
it has turned into a nifty deal on both sides. “We distribute tickets
for the show free to military families through the Pentagon and
various community organizations, courtesy of Boeing and other
corporate sponsors,” said Juliet. “The military connection has been
very successful for us. We also work with the DC public schools.
We have discussed fancy bus service, so that people close to the
beltway and out in Upperville or Warrenton can enjoy the show
without driving.”
Juliet revs up about two favorite subjects. WIHS: her biggest goal
is to build up the board, she’s thrilled with the addition of the 3’3”
amateur owner hunter division and the increase to 40 equitation
riders for the WIHS Finals, how WIHS is alive and well and that they
have a multi-year contract with the Verizon Center. Her daughter: in
early August Chloe was High Junior/Amateur Jumper Champion at
the Jumper Classic presented by Fidelity Investments and Audi of
America and in their Grand Prix she had four faults for sixth place.
Juliet’s active participation in Chloe’s showing bears witness to how
much the non-rider loves competition.
“But you couldn’t pay me to ride – I love horses, I love watching
Chloe compete, I like to go to the track, I love the Washington
International,” declared Juliet.
Juliet’s presidency is a labor of love and it shows.
The Washington International Horse Show is October 23-28.
Visit their website at www.wihs.org.
Nick Skelton and Unique topped the seven foot wall to win the
$25,000 Puissance presented by The Boeing Company at last
year’s WIHS
Photo by Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Sanzibar and Victoria Colvin were named the Grand Junior
Hunter Champions and Best Child Rider on a Horse at the 2011
WIHS
Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Juliet in work mode, with Bridget Love Meehan.
Photo by Rex Reed