Horse Illustrated Magazine

It’s time for one of the most prestigious dressage and sport horse breeding shows in America.

The 33rd annual Dressage at Devon offers more than $50,000 in prize money and awards over six days of competition. The event, held September 25-30, 2007, at the historic Devon Showground, is considered to be one of the most prestigious dressage and sport horse breeding shows outside of Europe. With competitors that include the likes of Olympians Carol Lavell, Lars Petersen and Robert Dover, Dressage at Devon draws more than 700 high-performance horses and 35,000 spectators each year, making it one of the largest horse shows in the United States. Perhaps even more admirable is that Dressage at Devon benefits Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding Inc., the oldest and largest therapeutic riding program in the nation.

“Each year we try to raise the bar to make the show better and better,” says Jim Hall, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “You can never rest on your laurels.” 

Competitors are drawn not only by the great prize money, but a stellar judging panel that always includes top Olympic-level judges from around the world. The show consists of three days of sport horse breeding classes. Winners at the breed show have gone on to the Olympics and the World Cup Finals. Three days of performance classes are highlighted by the Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night, in which horses and riders dance to music as diverse as The Beatles and Mozart.
  
And then there’s the shopping, offered in a boutique atmosphere that gives Dressage at Devon the flavor of a European horse show. If you’re considering a road trip that includes gawking at some fine dressage and sport horses, you can get more information from Dressage at Devon at www.DressageAtDevon.org.