Expect the Best at the PNHS Highlights of the 2023 Pennsylvania National Horse Show

Since 1946, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show has brought the biggest names in equestrian sport to the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, and this year is set to be no exception. From October 12-22, 2023, the PNHS will welcome top show jumping, hunter and equitation competitors, and spectators can expect no less than the best.

A New Schedule, Chock-Full of Championships

For the first time, the PNHS has expanded to 11 days of competition (up from 10 days in 2022), with highlight events of this year’s show including the:

• Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final

• USEF Prix des States and Junior Jumper National Championships

• USEF/NCEA Junior Hunter Seat Medal Final – East

• Penn National Hunter and Jumper Championships

• $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National

• and much more!

More Ways to Get Involved

New to the show this year is Team Night, to be held on Friday, October 20! The special evening, held concurrently with a $30,000 Grand Prix, will offer prizes for groups across a number of categories, and barns and sports teams alikeare encouraged to gather for what is set to be one of the most exciting nights of the week!

From riding to baseball to soccer and more, no matter the sport, all teams are invited to participate and to find out more at PAnational.org/special-events.

Current or prospective high school and college students are also invited to attend the second-annual PNHS Education Fair, to be held Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October 15, and featuring dozens of secondary schools and universities.

That same weekend, spectators are encouraged to bring the whole family for the Celebration of the Horse from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. The special, free afternoon will feature pony rides, wagon rides, arts and crafts, behind-the-scenes tours, face painting and more.

In addition to top-caliber competition and activities for all ages, there is something even greater at the heart of the PNHS: the PNHS Foundation.

Established in 1999, the PNHS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides support for therapeutic riding programs and equine rescues.

In 2022, the PNHS Foundation awarded more than $50,000 in grants to nonprofit recipients both locally and across the nation. These grants provide scholarships for therapy students, facilitate care for therapy and rescue horses, allow for the purchase of equipment for horses and riders and much more – they are all only made possible thanks to exhibitor, sponsor and spectator support of the 11-day PNHS.

This year, the PNHS Foundation hopes to allocate more grant funding than ever before! In addition to giving back to non-profit organizations, the PNHS Foundation is proud to host “Foundation Friday,” featuring the the LifeVac Therapeutic Riding Championships, each year. This year’s Foundation Friday will take place on October 20 and will offer two therapeutic riding championship divisions. Riders qualify for these year-end championship classes by competing in any one of the qualifying competitions held throughout the summer months at local horse shows, and the PNHS often marks a highlight of the year for each of these riders.

To learn more about the PNHS Foundation and all that the PA National Horse Show has to offer, visit PAnational.org.