Horse Illustrated Magazine

The 2014 edition of the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Penn. kicked off on Thursday, May 22 and continues through June 1. This is one show you should plan to attend, and here are eight reasons why.

1. It’s one of the oldest horse shows in the U.S., having been held for the first time in 1896. It’s been going on for almost 120 years, so you know they’re doing something right.
2. It’s for a good cause. Each year, Devon makes a donation to an area charity, like the Bryn Mawr Hospital.
3. With so many great equestrian sports out there, how can you pick just one? You could spend the weekend at a Saddlebred show, or a hunter/jumper show, or a carriage driving event, or you could go to Devon and get all of the above in one place, plus…
4. The Devon Horse Show isn’t just a horse show. There’s a country fair held alongside the equestrian events, which means there’s fun stuff for your non-horsey significant other or friends with short attention spans.
5. The Grand Prix of Devon attracts some of the biggest names in the sport of show jumping. Three-time Olympian McLain Ward has won it eight times, including last year with Rothchild. Will he defend his title? We’ll find out on Thursday, May 29.
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6. The fair is home to a Garden Cafe and a Tea Cart, which both sound very classy. But if that’s too hoity toity for your tastes, there is also Food Alley for your more traditional fair food noshing. You’ll be able to refuel between classes no matter what you’re in the mood for.
7. Among the special events taking place this year are demos by the Budweiser Clydesdales, a Shetland Pony steeplechase, and an appearance by famed clinician and past Road to the Horse champion Guy McLean with his horse, Nugget.
8. Having multiple disciplines at a single show means you can do fun things like the Five-Gaited Special. In this class, top competitors from the hunter and jumper divisions test their versatility, competing against each other on borrowed American Saddlebreds.

Convinced yet? Head over to devonhorseshow.net to start planning your trip. If you can’t check Devon off your bucket list this year, you can at least get a virtual experience by watching the event on USEFNetwork.com through May 31.

Related Video: Shetland Pony Steeplechase