Devon Horse Show set to begin Thursday
The slogan for this year's Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is "Devon: The Tradition Continues." That is certainly a fitting motto for an event that began in 1896. This year, however, a new tradition has been born.
The slogan for this year's Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is "Devon: The Tradition Continues."
That is certainly a fitting motto for an event that began in 1896. This year, however, a new tradition has been born.
The Grand Prix of Devon, arguably the signature of the 11-day event, now bears a horse's name - Sapphire.
"That's going to be an exciting event," said Carrie Wirth, a press officer for the show who works for the Phelps Media Group.
The Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon is a two-round event in which riders and their mounts navigate a course with jumps up to five feet high and six feet wide.
Its namesake was the mount of show jumper McLain Ward, 39, who retired the mare after winning two team gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
"He has won the class more than anyone in the history of the class," Wirth said of Ward.
Ward, currently ranked fourth on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking list, will compete against top riders from the United States and around the globe.
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has raised an estimated $47 million for the Bryn Mawr Hospital since 1919.
"It's a Pennsylvania treasure and treasure for the equestrian world as well," Wirth said. "People come from all over the country and the world to compete here."
Devon Horse Show
What: Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Where: Devon Horse Show Grounds, 23 Dorset Road, Devon.
When: May 21-31.
Top riders
McLain Ward, 39, currently ranked fourth on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking list.
Hayley Barnhill, 21, won the USEF Medal and ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2010.
Georgina Bloomberg, 32, ranked sixth on the Rolex/USEF Show Jumping Ranking list.
Kelly Cruciotti, 17, was second in the ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2013.
Katie Dinan, 22, student at Harvard and considered one of the nation's top young talents.
Hunter Holloway, 16, youngest rider in history chosen to represent the United States in the FEI Nations Cup Young Rider Team in Germany.
Michael Hughes, 18, won the Zone 2 ASPCA Maclay Regionals and the USEF Talent Search Finals East in 2013.
Beat Mandli (Switzerland), 46, an Olympic silver medalist from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He trains Katie Dinan.
Paul O'Shea (Ireland), 38, jumped his first grand prix at age 25, competed in Ireland then moved to the United States.
Top events
$100,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, May 28.
$25,000 International Hunter Derby, May 28.
Tricks and Roman Rider Rachel Jackson (exhbihition), May 22-24.
Family day, May 21 and May 26.
Lady's day hat competition, May 27.
Children's day, May 31.
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