The Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events, has chosen Elizabeth Kruse of McLean as youth ambassador of the 2013 show. As WIHS youth ambassador, Kruse is the voice for young equestrians in the Washington D.C. metro area and she oversees the Junior Committee, which consists of 20 members from the area.

Kruse, 16, is a rising junior at Langley High School who showed for the first time at WIHS last year and competed at the WIHS Regional Horse Show in 2009. She has attended the WIHS for many years with her family and friends and was a member of the Junior Committee in 2012.

As WIHS youth ambassador, Kruse will continue to build youth programs and special opportunities for the Junior Committee and the show in order to engage in the community from young rider events to Barn Night and Kids’ Day. The Junior Committee is made up of students from public, charter and private schools and new members join every year as the current students graduate and go to college.

The 2013 Junior Committee includes 20 members, 12 of which are from the Washington D.C metropolitan area: Mary Elizabeth Cordia, 15, of St. Stephens & St. Agnes School, started riding on her 7th birthday and won the Laura Pickett Trophy for Excellence in Horsemanship in 2012; Miriam Dupree, 15, of The Potomac School, started riding at age 3; Olivia McCarren, 13, of Westland Middle School, started riding at age 7 and is in her second year on the committee; Caroline McGranahan, 16, of Langley High School, started riding at age 10; Rachel Michael, 14, of The Madeira School, started riding at age 6 and is in her third year on the committee; Hanna Powers, 16, of the Madeira School, led the committee as youth ambassador in 2012; Natalie Ralston, 15, of Langley High School, started riding at age 7; Gaby Ruff, 16, of Thomas Edison High School, started riding at age 12; Casey Schmitz, 16, of Stone Bridge High School, started riding at age 5; Jenny Searles, 14, is a home-schooled student who has been riding since age 7 and plans to represent the state of Maryland in the 4-H Eastern National Horse Bowl competition in Louisville, Ky. in November; Isabel Stettinius, 14, of Foxcroft School, started riding at age 5; Erin Suidikas, 17, of WT Woodson High School, started riding at age 7 and is in her second year on the committee.