September 22-27, 2026

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Dressage at Devon: A Stepping Stone to the Olympics

Dressage at Devon is more than just a competition; it’s a prestigious event that serves as a critical stepping stone for dressage riders aiming for a bigger stage, like the Olympics. This iconic show, nestled in Devon, Pennsylvania, provides a unique and challenging environment that helps prepare both horse and rider for the pressures and demands of international competition.

The Gateway to Global Success

Dressage at Devon offers top-tier classes, including the CDI-W qualifier, which is essential for riders aspiring to compete on the world stage. Riders accumulate points in this qualifier to earn a spot in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, a significant milestone on the road to the Olympics. The high standards and intense competition at Dressage at Devon mirror the conditions of global events, making it an invaluable preparatory experience.

2023 CDI-W Grand Prix Musical Freestyle winner, Benjamin Ebeling with Indeed. This marked the pair’s first time qualifying for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final. Photo by Olivia Airhart, Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group

Top-Tier Competition and Unique Environment

The atmosphere at Dressage at Devon is unparalleled. It combines the excitement and pressure of international competitions with the supportive community spirit. Riders and horses experience the thrill of performing in front of large, enthusiastic crowds, which is a crucial aspect of preparing for larger competitions. The Dixon Oval, where much of the competition takes place, offers a setting that challenges and hones the skills of competitors, ensuring they are well-prepared for future international events.

Hope Cooper and Flynn PCH competing in 2023’s CDI-W Grand Prix Musical Freestyle, one of the only Dressage World Cup™ Final Qualifiers in North America under the lights of the Dixon Oval in front of packed stands at Dressage at Devon. Photo by Olivia Airhart, Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group

A Tradition of Excellence

The dedication of competitors, sponsors, volunteers, and spectators has cemented Dressage at Devon’s status as a cornerstone event in the equestrian calendar. This collective effort ensures that the show continues to provide a high-caliber, supportive environment essential for nurturing future Olympic champions. Anne Gribbons, a member of Dressage at Devon’s Board of Directors and a renowned figure in the dressage world, exemplifies the level of expertise and commitment associated with the event. Gribbons has trained and shown 15 horses to Grand Prix, competed in 10 national championships, and was a member of the 1995 Pan American Games silver-medal winning team for the United States. Her involvement underscores the event’s significance and the high standards it maintains​.

Stories of Success

Olympic Silver Medalist, Sabine Schut-Kerry at the 2022 Dressage at Devon Masterclass instructing Canadian Grand Prix dressage rider, Jaimey Irwin. Photo by Phelps Media Group

Veteran and hopeful Olympians alike have utilized Dressage at Devon as a stepping stone to make it to the pinnacle event in the sport. Athletes such as Sabine Schut-Kery, Tokyo Team Silver Olympic Medalist for Team USA, has competed at Dressage at Devon, showcasing the level of talent nurtured here.

Two-time Olympian, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz with her own, Aquamarijn. Photo by Olivia Airhart, Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group.

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and her mount Aquamarijn, who were the winners of the 2023 CDI-W Grand Prix Qualifier at Dressage at Devon, are set to compete in their second Olympics together in Paris, representing the Dominican Republic, following their debut in Tokyo. 

Alice Tarjan and Jane, winners of the 2022 CDI3* Intermediate B at Dressage at Devon. Photo by Phelps Media Group

Marcus Orlob and Jane, owned by Alice Tarjan, are making their first Olympic appearance for Team USA in Paris this summer. Orlob has competed at Dressage at Devon for several years in the young horse divisions, and Tarjan, a long-time local and supporter of the show, previously showed olympic-bound mount, Jane at Dressage at Devon in the CDI3* Intermediate B in 2022. 

The experience gained at Dressage at Devon competitions has been instrumental in their preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their story, like many others, highlights how Dressage at Devon’s rigorous environment and top-tier competition provides the perfect training ground for riders with aspirations for the world stage.​

Four-Time Olympic Eventer, Boyd Martin riding in Dressage at Devon’s 2023 Masterclass with Danish Olympic Dressage athlete, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. Photo by Olivia Airhart, Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group.jpg

Additionally, four-time Olympic eventer Boyd Martin participated as a demonstration rider in the Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour Masterclass last year, further highlighting the event’s role in developing top-tier talent. Cathrine, a prominent Danish Olympian, is renowned for her horses Atterupgaards Cassidy and Bohemian.

Developing Future Champions

Dressage at Devon’s comprehensive program includes numerous classes for young horses, providing an excellent foundation for future champions. 

2023 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships Junior Individual Championship Gold Medal winner,Sienna Rowe and Lightfire Just Do It winning the CDIJ Junior Freestyle in 2023. Photo by Olivia Airhart, Mane Source Media for Phelps Media Group

Other offerings include classes for young riders and ponies. Additionally, 1*, 2*, 3*, and Adult Amateur competitions are offered. 

This variety ensures that there are competitive opportunities for riders at all stages of their careers, making Dressage at Devon an essential stop for those aiming to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

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Parking at Dressage at Devon

Parking is available near the Devon Show Grounds with several options depending on when you arrive and how close you want to be.

Attendants will direct spectators on where to park when you arrive. Please allow extra time to walk across the street and into the gates especially during busy evening events Thursday through Saturday nights.

Additional parking is sometimes available in nearby overflow lots. Signs and attendants will guide you if the main lot is full. 

Accessible parking for guests with mobility needs is located close to the entrance gates. Be sure to bring your placard and let the attendants know so they can direct you to the right area.

Street parking around the neighborhood and in designated resident lots is limited. Please follow all posted signs and instructions to avoid being ticketed or towed.

If you are traveling by train or rideshare you can be dropped off right at the front gates on Lancaster Avenue. This can be a great option on busy nights.

Helpful Tips Before You Arrive

Following the Flow of the Week

From Tuesday through Thursday the breed division showcases foals young horses and breeding stock. From Friday through Sunday the performance division features the sport side of dressage including tests that lead up to the Grand Prix.

The Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night under the lights is a highlight of the entire week. Freestyles continue through Sunday with additional rides on Saturday afternoon.


How to Read the Competition Schedule

Check the Header
At the top of the sheet you will see:

  • The show name and date (Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon 2025)
  • The arena name either Wheeler Arena next to the grandstands or Dixon Oval the main arena surrounded by the iconic blue grandstands
  • The judge’s name for that ring

Understand the Columns
The sheet is usually set up as a table with

  • Time when the ride begins
  • Rider name
  • Horse name
  • Test or class such as Prix St Georges or Grand Prix
  • Number on the bridle or saddle pad for identification


Reading the Scores
Dressage tests are scored from 0 to 100. Here’s how to understand what those percentages mean:

  • 60 to 65 percent: A solid test with room for improvement
  • 66 to 70 percent: A strong ride with good flow and expression
  • Above 71 percent: An excellent test with accuracy, harmony and quality of movement

Awards and Breaks
Breaks are noted for judges and ring staff. Awards ceremonies are a celebrated part of the Dressage at Devon tradition so stay to cheer for the winners!

Download a day sheet (coming soon)

See the results (coming soon)


What You Look for in a Dressage Test

hen you watch a test notice the rhythm balance and harmony of horse and rider.

The best rides look effortless as though the horse is dancing on its own. At the higher levels watch for advanced movements such as the piaffe, passage and pirouette. See if you can name the movement. When the ride ends you can view the official results after the test (link coming soon).

You know a rider is doing well when they stay the course of the pattern, don’t break strides for a few steps, when the horse is expressive and free flowing and he rider looks like they aren’t doing anything up there.


Where to Watch

Wheeler Arena

Next to the grandstands. This arena often hosts the breed classes and select performance rides. The rail is open to stand along and gives you an up close view

Dixon Oval

The main arena surrounded by the famous blue grandstands. The atmosphere especially at night is one of a kind. Seating in the Dixon Oval includes paid and reserved box seats or reserved grandstand seats. Some seats may be open if not occupied and you can always ask a staff member if you are unsure. Standing at the rail and on any benches is also an option if you do not have tickets for reserved seating.

Reserved seating is available for featured events.

Watch the Livestream!

Horse Show Etiquette

The shared energy between the crowd and the competitors makes Dressage at Devon one of the most unique shows in North America. It is important to remember that horses are extra sensitive to their surroundings by nature. They are prey animals and even the most highly trained horses can spook or lose focus when they enter a new arena. By following these few things, you help horse and rider partners show their best and you help create an experience for all those around you.

  • Keep your energy steady during the test. Avoid sudden loud noises or big movements right at the rail that might distract a horse.
  • If you are on the rail stand still as the horse passes.

Cheer and clap when a ride is finished especially at the salute. Riders and horses thrive on it here!


Spectator Judging

On Friday and Saturday nights during the Grand Prix classes, spectators are invited to score along with the judges. It’s a fun and interactive way to learn how tests are evaluated.

(Details coming soon)


Events Beyond the Competition

Dressage at Devon is more than a horse show. Throughout the week, you’ll find hands-on experiences, expert lectures, unique exhibitions and family-friendly activities that add to the tradition and energy of the event.

Tuesday
• Parade of Breeds returns to the Dixon Oval, celebrating the beauty and diversity of dressage breeding with commentary and group presentation of class winners

Wednesday
• Shop Sip and Stroll brings after-hours shopping, drinks and music to the Fall Festival vendor area
• Lecture Series begins with educational talks on training, development and breeding

Thursday
• The Masterclass with Ingrid Klimke features Olympic-level insight to six all-star equestrians
• Vendor pop-ups, lectures and special events continue throughout the showgrounds

Friday
• Performance Division continues with qualifying tests, including the Grand Prix level freestyle qualifier
• A Dance-Off featuring top riders going head to head with celebrity breakdancing judges

Saturday
• Grand Prix Freestyle takes center stage under the lights in the Dixon Oval
• Food, shopping and music bring a festival atmosphere

Sunday
• Dressage Explorers Day invites families and kids to enjoy crafts, games and hands-on learning
• Musical Freestyles and Mimosas on the Midway offer a relaxed final day with plenty of riding action

Monday
• Devon Plant Sale takes place near the front gate before show close

View full event schedule


Dressage at Devon Weather

Dress for changing weather. Afternoons can be warm and evenings cool. Bring layers and a jacket for the night events and classes. Wear comfortable shoes since you may walk on gravel or grass and sometimes in mud. Leave umbrellas at home when possible and bring a rain jacket or poncho instead since umbrellas can spook horses. Sometimes they do not but sometimes they do so it is better to plan ahead.


The Community

One of the best parts of Dressage at Devon is the people. The community is welcoming and open. If you have questions about the schedule, the classes or where to go, do not hesitate to ask. Staff, volunteers and even fellow spectators are happy to help you feel at home.

COMING SOON

Check back when the show begins September 23rd 2025.

Why Dressage at Devon?

Dressage at Devon is not just a horse show. It is one of the most prestigious equestrian events in North America, blending high level sport, tradition and community. Each fall the historic Devon Show Grounds in Pennsylvania become the stage where the best dressage riders and horses from the United States and abroad come together.

What Makes it Stand Out

  • Two shows in one: a massive breed division where foals and young horses are showcased and judged, and a performance division where seasoned athletes compete at the highest levels of the sport
  • The highlight of the week is the Grand Prix freestyle on Saturday night, when riders guide their horses through intricate routines set to music under the lights of the Dixon Oval
  • An atmosphere unlike any other dressage event in North America, with packed grandstands, shopping, food and a festival style energy that attracts lifelong fans and first time spectators alike
  • Competing at Dressage at Devon is considered a career milestone, much like playing at Wimbledon or Carnegie Hall

Why the Grand Prix Matters

The pinnacle of dressage is the Grand Prix level, which only a small fraction of riders ever reach. Out of thousands of competitors in the United States, only a few hundred ride at this level each year, and fewer than fifty compete in international Grand Prix classes on American soil.

Dressage at Devon is one of the rare places on the East Coast where spectators can see this elite level up close. Many of the riders who perform here go on to represent the United States at the Olympics, the World Cup Finals and the World Equestrian Games. Winning or even placing at Devon is a once in a lifetime achievement that marks a rider’s career.

Long Story Short

For someone new to the sport, Dressage at Devon is where you go to see the very best. It combines the history of a landmark event with the thrill of top level competition and the welcoming energy of a community gathering. Whether you know horses or not, you leave with the sense that you have witnessed something rare and world class.

Event Schedule
Competition Schedule

What is Dressage?

Dressage is often called the art of horse training, but at its heart it is about partnership. Horse and rider learn to move as one, with the horse responding to the smallest signals so every stride looks effortless.

The word itself comes from the French for “training.” The goal is to bring out a horse’s athletic ability and willingness so that the movements look natural and fluid. To someone new, the best comparison is figure skating on horseback, where strength, precision, and artistry meet in the arena.

The Basics

At its most basic level, dressage teaches a horse to:

  • Respond softly and precisely to the rider’s signals
  • Carry itself in balance
  • Move with rhythm
  • Transition smoothly between gaits

Riders guide with subtle aids from their legs, seat, and hands. To an observer it can look like the horse is dancing on its own.

Dressage in Competition

In the Performance Division, horse and rider perform a set series of movements called a test inside the arena. Judges score each movement on accuracy, balance and harmony.

At the highest levels, horses perform advanced movements such as:

  • Piaffe – a trot in place
  • Passage – an elevated springy trot
  • Pirouettes – controlled turns in place at the canter

These require years of careful training and athleticism, yet the goal remains for it all to appear effortless.

The Breed Division focuses on evaluating foals, young horses, mares and stallions. Horses are judged on conformation, movement and genetic potential. This is often where future dressage stars make their first appearances, giving breeders recognition and offering buyers a chance to see promising horses at the very beginning of their careers.

Competition Levels Explained

Dressage is structured in progressive levels, like school for horse and rider. Each stage adds new skills while building strength and understanding.

  • Introductory and Training Levels
    The foundation stage. Horses show walk, trot, and canter in simple patterns, with a focus on rhythm, relaxation, and obedience.
  • First through Third Level
    Balance and strength begin to develop. Horses show lengthened strides, circles, changes of lead, and lateral work such as leg yields and shoulder-ins.
  • Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges
    Considered advanced. Horses demonstrate flying lead changes, collected gaits, half passes, and pirouettes. This level begins to prepare them for international competition.
  • Intermediaire I and II
    A bridge to the top levels. Horses refine movements like piaffe and passage, and perform more complex sequences of flying changes.
  • Grand Prix
    The Olympic standard. Every transition and step is judged. Horse and rider must demonstrate complete harmony while performing the most demanding movements in the sport.

Why Levels Matter 

The levels are designed to protect both horse and rider. Just as a student cannot skip from basic math to calculus, a horse cannot jump from simple gaits to piaffe.

Progression through the levels:

  • Builds muscle, balance, and suppleness gradually
  • Develops focus and confidence in busy environments
  • Protects the horse from injury or stress
  • Teaches the rider subtle communication and feel

The beauty of dressage lies not only in the freestyles under the lights but in the journey itself. Each level deepens the partnership and proves that patience, trust, and respect create the highest form of art.

Why Dressage at Devon is Important