September 22-27, 2026

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Every role plays a part in the success of Dressage at Devon.

Join us and help create something extraordinary.

We’re excited to announce 

Open Committee positions

for 2026 and beyond

Is Joining the Committee Right for You?

If you’re a friendly team player who loves Dressage at Devon, this is your chance to play a bigger role in something you already care about. Committee members help shape the show’s future, bring fresh ideas to the table, and work alongside others who share the same passion for dressage and community. It’s a wonderful opportunity for devoted D@D fans and those who already volunteer during show week to make an even greater impact.

What’s involved?

You’ll join a fun, passionate group that works together year-round to bring every detail of the show to life. From brainstorming new ideas to supporting event operations, committee members play a big part in making the Dressage at Devon experience unforgettable. The committee meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7 PM via Zoom to stay connected and keep the magic moving.

Show dates: September 22–27, 2026

Explore the available Committee roles below by clicking on each position. For full descriptions and details, contact Anne Moss at (610) 316-4294‬.

Step into the booth and be part of the action all week! Help coordinate schedules, keep operations running in order, and make sure the announcers and show management are always on the same page.

Help celebrate the achievements that make Dressage at Devon so special by working with the Awards Team to organize, prepare and present awards throughout the show.

Work with the Box Holder Team to create a welcoming and personalized experience for both returning and new box holders.

Work closely with the Marketing & PR Team to strengthen community ties by connecting with local organizations (GMOs), schools and groups to promote Dressage at Devon year-round.

Show competitors they are valued by organizing, assembling and distributing welcome bags that add a thoughtful touch to their Dressage at Devon experience.

Welcome and assist judges, competitors, spectators, sponsors, vendors and VIP guests to ensure everyone enjoys a positive and memorable experience.

Help plan and manage Dressage Explorers Day by guiding fun, hands-on activities that inspire kids to learn about and enjoy dressage.

Help plan and coordinate educational activities and demonstrations that inspire riders, spectators and young equestrians alike.

Be part of the big-picture planning and on-site coordination that keeps the entire show running seamlessly.

Assist with keeping the showgrounds in top shape during the event by helping coordinate maintenance needs and facility requests.

Coordinate the annual fashion show by working with designers, vendors and volunteers to create a memorable and stylish event.

Assist the Donor Relations Team with special campaigns and initiatives like Born in the USA, the Sustainer’s Club and other efforts that help Dressage at Devon continue to grow and thrive.

Help manage the Dressage at Devon Gift Shop by assisting customers, maintaining displays and restocking merchandise during the show.

Assist with researching and drafting grant applications that help fund Dressage at Devon’s ongoing programs and community initiatives.

Collect and coordinate in-kind donations for hospitality areas, helping create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for guests, sponsors and VIPs.

Assist with organizing and hosting hospitality spaces for judges, competitors, sponsors, vendors and VIPs to ensure a welcoming experience for all.

Support hotel room assignments for officials, judges and key staff to help ensure a smooth stay for everyone involved.

Help assemble and deliver thoughtful welcome bags for judges and officials to show our appreciation for their participation.

Support the Marketing Team by assisting with various projects, campaigns and promotions that highlight Dressage at Devon throughout the year.

Assist the Marketing and PR Team in coordinating with media partners and trade outlets, managing press materials, press room coverage and on-site access.

Create and distribute name tags for committee members, staff, press, photographers, and key participants to ensure everyone has proper credentials during show week.

Plan, coordinate and manage parties and gatherings held throughout the year and during the show, ensuring each event is well organized, enjoyable and brings our community together.

Help at the annual plant sale on Sunday afternoon and Monday after the show by greeting shoppers and assisting with sales.

Be part of the team that brings the Dressage at Devon Preview Party to life in Wellington, helping organize details and creating an unforgettable evening.

Help organize and track materials, deliverables and sponsor content for the official show program, ensuring everything is ready for production, with ad sales as a bonus opportunity.

Assist with the planning and coordination of the Dressage at Devon Sabine Schut-Kery Clinic in May, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for participants and auditors.

Support the safety team by helping ensure the well-being of all competitors, spectators, horses and staff throughout the show.

Assist with seating arrangements, gate entry and box holder access to ensure a smooth, organized and welcoming experience for all.

Join the behind-the-scenes team that transforms the grounds for show week, helping set up spaces and details that make Dressage at Devon unforgettable.

Play a key role in wrapping up show week by helping pack, organize and restore the grounds after the competition.

Work closely with the Sponsorship and Vendor Team to ensure both sponsors and vendors feel supported by managing their requests, coordinating important details and providing assistance where needed.

Collect valuable feedback from judges, competitors, box holders, sponsors, vendors and committee members to help improve the Dressage at Devon experience.

Support the Volunteer Team by helping organize schedules, check-ins and communications to keep everything running smoothly.

Secure and organize in-kind donations for volunteers, ensuring every helper feels appreciated for their time and effort.

Be part of our next chapter.

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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 2026)
  • 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!

 

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.

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.

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 Capital Square Masterclass with Carl Hester 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