Devon, PA – Oct. 1, 2023 – The sun was shining bright for the final day of competition at the 2023 edition of Dressage at Devon presented by Kingsview Partners welcoming the much beloved, Freestyle Sunday. U25, Junior, Amateur, and other CDI riders took their turn in the Dixon Oval dancing their way down the centerline for the last time this year.
Coming off of her recent gold in the Junior Individual Championship at The 2023 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, Rowe closed out her 2023 competition year at Dressage at Devon on Jason Rowe’s 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Lightfire Just Do It recreated the same magic here at Dressage at Devon posting the only score over 70% of the class, riding to a final score of 71.040% in the CDIJ Junior Freestyle.
Rowe kicked off her trip to DaD on Friday with her first win of the week in the CDIJ Junior Team Class posting her first score over 70% of the week with a 70.404%. On Saturday, she continued her winning streak with another blue ribbon performance posting a score of 69.069%. Completing the Dressage at Devon trifecta, Rowe claimed her third and final victory of Dressage at Devon in her least favorite event, the freestyle with her best score of the week. Recapping her performance Rowe stated, “The freestyle is not my favorite. It was pretty good, and Nike was good. the canter half passes are probably my favorite to do on him, because he just bunches up and he just goes along and does what he’s best at.
Reflecting on her first experiences riding with the magical atmosphere of DaD, “I thought it was great,” she stated “It’s a very different show, and not like other shows, it is very original!” The young Virginian will be skipping the winter season in Wellington to focus on school, but will be riding Lightfire Just Do It, her show jumper, and her pony in the off-season in preparation for Young Riders next spring.
Keelin Craige and Molly Ryan’s 2009 ISR gelding, Capstone’s Oh Henry (Empire’s Power × Wild Rush) claimed the second-place position with a score of 65.430.
Amateurs took center stage and the penultimate class of the day in the CDIAm Intermediate I Freestyle.
The win in the CDIAm Intermediate I Freestyle, sponsored by Mary Phelps/Markel Insurance, went to Ici De La Vigne, owned and ridden by Christina Morin-Graham. The 2013 KWPN mare by Jazz x Future 71, posted a 69.683% to secure the blue.
Don Giorgio on his own Sensei, the 2013 Westphalian Gelding by Sezuan 2 × Fürst Piccolo 2, bred by Christine Schreiner took home second with a 68.850%.
Rounding out the podium in third it was Amina Bursese of Jupiter, FL and C Discreto, a PRE 2014 Stallion by Machin × Carbonero V, bred by Yeguada Castelnovo with a 67.792%.
The final class of the 2023 edition of Dressage at Devon was the CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle. Erin Bonneville scored an impressive 74.225% to take home the win with her own Qennett HTF, a 2014 Hanoverian Gelding by Qredit Hilltop × Negro, bred by Hilltop Farm Inc.
Second went to Meagan Davis of Loxahatchee, FL and Toronto Lightfoot, owned by Scott Durkin. To the soundtrack of James Bond, Davis posted a 72.075% aboard the 2013 Oldenburg gelding by Totilas x Onassis, bred at the Lightfoot Breedings Stables in Denmark by ZG Lyngs u.Damsbo, Stutteri Lightfoot.
Laine Ashker rounded out the top three, scoring a personal best of 71.033% aboard Ann Wilson’s 2014 Oldenburg Gelding, Zeppelin, by Blue Hors Zack × Hardenberg Donnerschwee, bred by Richard Wiegert.
DRESSAGE EXPLORERS DAY PRESENTED BY THE GRIER SCHOOL
Dressage Explorers Day Presented By The Grier School offered countless fun and educational events and was enjoyed by children of all ages. To start the day off, Father Macklin was welcomed to the Dixon Oval, as were a vast array of animals for the Blessing of The Animals ceremony. Children had the opportunity to create stick horses in the Make-N-Take Stick Horse tent, whom they then rode down the center line of the Dixon Oval in the Centerline Ride. The Model Horse Show invited kids to bring their favorite Model Horse to compete in the Model Horse Show.
Dressage at Devon would like to thank the Grier School for their generous sponsorship of Dressage Explorers (Kids) Day. The Grier School is a boarding and day school for girls in grades 7 – 12, located on 320 mountainside acres in beautiful Central Pennsylvania with 250 students who enjoy a well-rounded education in academics, the arts, and athletics. Riding at Grier School offers students the opportunity to develop skills through several programs designed to help riders achieve their equestrian goals. For more information about the Grier School please visit: https://www.grier.org/
Dr. Liz Arbittier, VMD, VCA, and her team of vets and vet techs from The University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center were set up with their vet truck for the New Bolton Center Vet Truck/Meet the Vet & Vet Tech. Kids were invited to talk to Dr. Liz and her team about what it is like to be a vet and the path to get there. Dressage at Devon would like to extend a big thank you to the entire New Bolton Center team in attendance today.
Check back after the show for the Dressage Explorers Candids Gallery here.
