2006 Dressage at Devon

Eurodressage's "What's Happening" at Devon - Friday

Here is Horsesdaily's Daily Devon Dish. Are that too many alliterative D's in one short sentence? Those who are missing the show and are following it via our website, make sure you book a plane ticket for Philadelphia next year, because Devon continues to be the best dressage show in the United States.

OK, so which unimportant yet intriguing news tidbits did we hear on the show grounds yesterday?

Many dressage riders are prancing around with new dogs. Canadian Jacqueline Brooks has the cutest Labradoodle puppy with her. I never heard that word before, but Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle. Fortunately for the dog, he's got the looks of a labrador. Anne Whitten of Horses Unlimited has a new teckel puppy which keeps her other one company. The pair of dogs is to die for! Michael Shondel is holding his 13-month old boxer Guny on the leash. The fearsome looking but kind boxer has a fitting collar with a "U.S. Navy" and "Shondel" label stitched on. Father Larry David McCormick brought his corgi Fiona along. It is her second year at Devon. Two years ago, Fiona made her very first outing to a horse show at Devon.

Oh by the way, Anne Whitten asked us to write that Michael Shondel has the longest eye lashes she's ever seen. Michael added, "and I don't curl them, that's just natural." Talk about writing about unimportant information!

Eurodressage's editor-in-chief Astrid Appels is not really shooting photos at Devon, but when she tears herself away from the computer, some cool photos do sometimes get made. We love this fantastic trot shot of Dr. Cesar Parra on the Rhinelander gelding Furst Fabio (by Fidermark).

Dutch horse dealers Diederik Wigmans and Dirk Fiechter have arrived at Devon. They have come to watch the show and catch up with some clients. Fiechter confirmed that he discovered and sold Lily Zilo's horses Mira and Matinee, with which she will compete at the 2006 Asian Games in December.

Dutch KWPN breeder and judge Toine Hoefs told us he has two lovely young stallions which he hopes to get licensed at the 2007 KWPN Stallion Licensing in 's Hertogenbosch. If the two youngsters are of the same quality as his fantastic stallion Uptown, we can't wait to see them! Hoefs also bought a house in Wellington, Florida and has told us that he decided on going to spend more winters in Florida and enjoy the good weather there. If only we could do the same thing! sigh.

We also spotted Britt Carlsen of the Danish publishing agency Ridehesten at Devon. Not only are several Danish riders competing here (Lars Petersen, Lars Baekgaard) but there are also many Danish horses showing (e.g. Succes, Schumacker Solyst, Schagall Solyst, Manette, Melville, Marsaelis, Lucky Me, May Liberty). Carlsen will be writing a story on the Danish presence at Devon, just like Eurodressage's correspondent Thomas Bach Jensen did last year. Bach Jensen is attending the Vechta Elite Auction this weekend and couldn't make it here.

Cathy Morelli popped by Mary Phelps' RV and told us she's very excited about riding the Kur tonight at Devon, because her grandchildren are coming over to watch her. It will be their first time at Devon. Her 4-year old grandson Collin calls Cathy "oo oo" instead of grandma. "At the Festival of Champions he shouted "oo oo" really loud when I entered the ring and I had to laugh so hard," Cathy told us. "He's very outspoken and he's probably going to do it again tonight but I probably won't hear it this time," she added. "It's great to have grandchildren and still be able to ride," she joked.

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