The 2025 Washington International Horse Show, presented by MARS Equestrian™ opened competition on Monday, October 20, with the WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter Championships, presented by MARS Equestrian™. Isabella Roman rode Irocco Grey S, owned by Carolex Stables, LLC, to victory in the $12,500 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship.

Photo – Irocco Grey S and Isabella Roman jumped to the WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship. (Shawn McMillen Photography)

Young hunter riders took center stage in The Show Place Arena to vie for the top title in the $12,500 WIHS Children’s Hunter Championship, presented by MARS Equestrian™. Following two rounds of competition, Isabella Roman of Wellington, FL, emerged victorious with the Carolex Stables, LLC’s Irocco Grey S.

Careful Watch

Under the careful watch of judges Shane George and Keri Kampsen, all combinations contested the first-round track before the top 12 highest-placed entries returned for round two. Roman’s opening round left an impression on the judges, and she sat in the pinnacle position with a score of 87.

“Coming into the second round sitting in first place, my nerves were very, very high,” Roman admitted. “I went and took a moment to myself before I went back in and just reminded myself, ‘It’s ok, you got this. Just calm down and don’t let it get in your head.’”

With a winning mindset and strategy, Roman returned to pilot the 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Zirocco Blue VDL to another top-placed round, earning a score of 86 points to secure the win on a total of 173.

Huge Deal

“This is a huge deal for me because I love this horse show,” expressed Roman. “I couldn’t wait to show in this ring, and I have to go back home tomorrow for school, so this means a lot.”

Her partnership with the gelding fondly nicknamed “Rocco” has been a slow and steady trust-building process, and it proved successful during the afternoon’s competition.

“I’ve been riding Rocco for almost two years,” she explained, “he was my birthday present. It’s definitely the greatest one I’ve had so far. He and I took a bit longer to get to know each other and figure out what was good for us, but it means so much to really shine in the ring and for it all to come together.”

For Roman, the day was a special one she shared with her family, including sister Francesca Roman who competed against her on the Carolex Stables, LLC’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Castillo (by Cabachon).

Family Dynamic

“Horse shows are a big family dynamic for us because we are always together at the barn,” she enthused. “For the past couple of years my sister and I have been showing against each other, and it’s always that competitive but supportive nature we have with each other. We are always very happy to see the other succeed.”

Roman was awarded the H. Fenwick Kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy for her win. With a two-round total of 168, Geneva Saunders of Nashville, TN, and Ella Trotz’s 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (by Calido I), As Ever, took home the reserve honors. Angelina Principe of Huntington, MD, rounded out the top three with her own 19-year-old Warmblood, Show Me, earning an overall score of 165.

The 2025 WIHS continues on Tuesday, October 21, with the conclusion of the professional hunter divisions, as well as the start of the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions. The day’s competition wraps up with the WIHS Children’s Jumper Championship and WIHS Adult Jumper Championship, presented by MARS Equestrian™.