Washington, DC (October 25, 2018) — The Man O’ War Project at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is pleased to be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) on October 23-28 at Capitol One Arena in Washington D.C. This year, the Man O’War Project is proud to sponsor the WIHS Military Ticket Program, now in its eight year. The program provides complimentary tickets to U. S. military personnel and their families, and has distributed more than 33,500 tickets since 2010.
In partnership with Columbia University Medical Center, the Man O’ War Project is the first university-led research trial among veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to determine the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for treating PTSD (EAT-PTSD) and to establish the first-ever manualized guidelines for the application of EAT-PTSD.
“The Washington International Horse Show is an important venue for the Man O’ War Project and we thank the organizers for the opportunity to help honor our nation’s service members and veterans,” said Ambassador Earle I. Mack, Founder of the Man O’ War Project, advocate for racehorse aftercare and former U.S. Army officer, “We appreciate the WIHS’ commitment to recognizing the invaluable contributions of our military and look forward to being part of the special tributes and honors throughout the Show.
The WIHS Military Ticket Program helps further the goal of giving back to the military community. This year 7,000 tickets will be distributed through military distribution partners including Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, MCCS (Marine Corps Community Services Quantico), The Pentagon, District of Columbia National Guard Armory, Dept. of the Navy, and USCG Base National Capital Region.
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/
Man O’ War Project at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Led by researchers at Columbia University, the Man O’ War Project is the first university-led clinical research study to determine the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy and establish guidelines for the treatment of military veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Man O’ War Project takes veterans diagnosed with PTSD through an eight-week treatment program that uses equine-assisted therapy to help them relearn the skills they need to live healthier and more productive lives. Working side by side with licensed mental health therapists and equine specialists, the veterans are guided through a series of non-riding interactions with the horses, which help them gain a better understanding and awareness of their own emotions and behavior.
Through this process, veterans increase emotional awareness and the ability to recognize and regulate emotion, and learn to more effectively interact with the horse and, by extension, the people in their lives. MOWPROJECT.org
About Washington International Horse Show
Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America’s most prestigious and entertaining equestrian events, attracting more than 26,000 spectators annually to Washington, D.C., for Olympic-level competition plus community and charity events. More than 500 top horses and riders arrive from all over the globe to jump for more than a half a million dollars in prize money. Highlights include the $135,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for the President’s Cup, presented by Events DC, the $25,000 Land Rover Puissance (high jump) and $50,000 Speed Final on Military Night, and Kids’ Day, a free, fun and educational community event. WIHS, an official USEF Heritage Competition, is rated CSI4*-W by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the world governing body for horse sports. The Washington International Horse Show Association, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization based in Washington, D.C. wihs.org