2004 Dressage at Devon

Competitors Represent 12 Nations at International Dressage at Devon Horse Show

September 23, 2004

The elegance and precision of classical horsemanship are showcased at the highest rated show outside of Europe, September 28th through October 3 rd

It has been called poetry in motion and ballet on horseback. For those who practice it, it is a challenging sport that requires a lifetime of dedication. Dressage is the hottest, fastest growing equestrian discipline in the USA today. In September, Dressage at Devon brings top competitors, horses, trainers and judges from across the continent and around the globe together for the highest rated international dressage competition and most complete breed show outside of Europe. This year, the 30th annual Dressage at Devon Horse Show will be held September 28th through October 3rd at the Devon Horse Show grounds in Devon, Pennsylvania. Olympic medallist Robert Dover calls Dressage at Devon “the standard by which all American horse shows should be judged.” Competitors at the 2004 Dressage at Devon Horse Show will represent 12 nations and 29 states and five Canadian provinces.

Dressage at Devon opens with the three day Breed Division, in which horses are judged for movement and conformation. Dressage at Devon is considered one of the world’s largest breed shows, with over 400 horses competing in more than 50 classes, including 25 individual breed classes. “It’s a great and unusual collection of horses,” says Co-Chair Melanie Sloyer, and includes the East Coast Series Final for the Cosequin® USDF Breeder’s Championship and the North American Breeders Futurity Championship Finals, a competition introduced at the 2003 Dressage at Devon and offering up to $20,000 in prize money. New in 2004 are the Born in the USA Breeders Awards Thursday, the four-day Performance Division of dressage competition begins. Most

Dressage at Devon classes are F.E.I. (Fédération Equestre Internationale) level, including four Grand Prix classes, the highest level of dressage—the level of Olympic competition.

Dressage at Devon was the first large dressage competition in the United States to offer international-level competition classes for ponies. There will also be “dancing to the music” with musical freestyles. Dressage at Devon features electronic scoring with an instantaneous display of marks for each movement, from each judge.

Special exhibitions held during competition breaks include a pas de deux featuring an Andalusian stallion ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery and a professional dancer, driven dressage by Native Ponies of the British Isles, and the Thorncroft Mainstreamers Drill Team. The Festival Shops offer exclusive apparel, fine arts, antiques and collectibles from over 50 vendors. “The best food on the horse show circuit,” according to competitors, includes everything from burgers to full gourmet meals, including the Wine and Cheese Shop and Beer Garden. Families enjoy the weekend atmosphere, where Kids Corral provides activities for youngsters, and exhibitions are geared towards family fun. Audience members may choose to hear live, expert commentary on individual headsets with Dressage with the Experts. Friday is Ladies’ Day and all those wearing hats will be admitted free and receive a goodie bag. Celebrity judges including famous chef and restaurant owner Georges Perrier, NBC 10’s Amy Freeze and hatmakers to the Dutch royal family H.W. and Wilhemina de Winter, will select the most impressive bonnets for a special prizes.

More than 700 volunteers work together to make Dressage at Devon a success. The show is presented by Delaware Valley Combined Training Association and benefits Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc., one of the oldest and largest therapeutic riding facilities in the nation. Thorncroft helps the disabled to improve balance, circulation, muscle tone, and concentration, while enhancing self-esteem. Since 1991, Dressage at Devon has raised close to $850,000 for Thorncroft.

Dressage at Devon takes place at the Devon Horse Show Grounds, Route 30, in Devon, Pennsylvania. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, September 28; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 29; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, September 30; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, October 3 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $6; children under 12 are admitted at no charge. Reserved and box seats are available. For information, call 610-358-5785 or go to www.dressageatdevon.org.

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