TurnoutHQ+ Newsroom · Published April 25, 2026 · Updated September 8, 2026
Key Takeaway
Hunt Tosh and Scott Stewart swept the major professional hunter divisions at WIHS, with Tosh taking Grand Champion honors and Stewart winning the Leading Rider Award.
What Happened
The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) concluded its professional hunter championships, with veterans Hunt Tosh and Scott Stewart securing top honors. The event, a highlight of the indoor circuit, featured elite performances across green and high-performance divisions.
Hunt Tosh claimed the High Performance Working Hunter championship with Flamingo-K, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood. This pair also received the prestigious Protocol Trophy, recognizing them as the highest-scoring high performance hunter across three major shows: Devon, Pennsylvania National, and Washington. Tosh additionally won the 3'6" Green Hunter championship with Bastogne, ultimately earning the overall Grand Champion Hunter and Green Hunter titles.
Scott Stewart, a consistent top performer, achieved the High Performance Conformation Hunter championship aboard Private Life and the Green Conformation Hunter title with Harvard Hall. His successful day earned him the $5,000 Scott Stewart Leading Rider Award.
In the 3'9" Green Hunter division, Daniel Geitner and Walk The Moon, an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding, took first place.
Why It Matters
These championships represent a pinnacle of the hunter discipline's indoor season. Success at WIHS signifies the culmination of a year of preparation and consistent performance for riders and owners. Hunt Tosh's win with Flamingo-K exemplifies the value of established partnerships and long-term consistency, highlighted by their Protocol Trophy achievement. The diverse representation of European warmbloods, including Belgian, Dutch, Westphalian, and Austrian breeds, underscores the global nature of hunter horse sourcing. Furthermore, the success of 6 and 7-year-old horses in the Green divisions indicates a strong pipeline of emerging talent, promising continued competition in the sport.
Discipline Context
The hunter discipline evaluates the horse's style, movement, and jumping form. At events like WIHS, judging is highly refined, favoring horses that display rhythmic pacing, correct jumping technique, and a composed temperament. Divisions such as "Green" and "High Performance" facilitate the development of younger horses while showcasing seasoned athletes at higher jump heights. Conformation divisions incorporate an assessment of the horse's physical build alongside its performance over fences.
Competitors heading into the season can find show tack and riding equipment ahead of entries.