How a lifelong Dressage at Devon fan discovered an unexpected way to support the organization she loves
On a crisp autumn evening in Devon, Pennsylvania, the lights of the Dixon Oval glow against the darkening sky. Flags snap in the wind above the arena. Horses step into the ring under the watchful eyes of thousands of spectators.
For riders across the Mid-Atlantic, competing at Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon is a dream they’ve carried with them since their childhood years.
Anne Moss, former President of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Dressage at Devon, knows that feeling well — her own dream began long before she ever imagined helping secure the future of the event itself.
“I think I was imprinted on Dressage at Devon when I was a preteen,” Moss says. “My coach was one of the founders of the show. I remember watching her prepare for it and how excited she was. Seeing her ride there was incredibly inspiring for me.”
Like many young riders, Moss started in Pony Club, riding 20-meter circles in the backyard and learning the basics of the sport. But Dressage at Devon represented something larger — a gateway to the broader world of dressage.
“As a kid, one of the most exciting things for me was the brush with fame,” she says. “To watch these Olympians — people like Robert Dover, Lendon Gray, and Kay Meredith — ride would just blow you away. And I didn’t really know what they were doing at the time, but it definitely inspired me to take more lessons and learn what it takes to get horses to the Grand Prix.”
Her first experience competing at the show came as a teenager.
“I had two young horses when I was about fifteen,” she recalls. “One from Wonderland Farm and another from Iron Spring Farm, and the owners of these farms, Pat Goodman and Mary Alice Malone, were founders of the show. I was so in awe of these ladies, who had these formidable breeding programs. So, when I had the opportunity to show in hand at Devon alongside my idols, I just had a wonderful time. I was so new to it, I was running in riding boots.”
She smiles at the memory. “There were people from the Trakehner Verband at Devon that year, and one of my horses was picked to show with Wonderland Farms in the family class. I was so honored. Those early experiences were sort of addicting and were a launchpad for me into the bigger sport horse world.”
Discovering Dressage at Devon from the Inside
Moss’s connection to Dressage at Devon deepened as she became involved behind the scenes. After joining the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA), she quickly found herself working on the committee that supported the show.
“I joined DVCTA and immediately got involved with the Dressage at Devon Committee,” she says. “And I’ve basically been part of that Committee ever since — since 1999.”
Moss served as President of Dressage at Devon from 2022 to 2025. Seeing the event from the inside gave her a new appreciation for what it takes to make the show happen each year.
“It was really an eye-opener,” Moss says. “There’s an incredible amount of work involved in running Dressage at Devon. Being part of that process was rewarding.”
Even after decades in the sport, the atmosphere still feels unique.
“You can’t duplicate the environment at Dressage at Devon anywhere else,” she says. “There’s this crowd of thousands of people, outdoors under the lights with the flags and the wind blowing and the traffic going by — and maybe a train too — and I think that electricity sets it apart from any other venue in North America.”
That magic ambience is exactly what makes it meaningful.
“One of the things I love about Dressage at Devon is that it’s a huge goal for many local Mid-Atlantic riders. Just to show there. And I think because of that dream we all have, it makes it tremendously fun to cheer on riders that compete there every year because you sort of have this hope in your heart that maybe one day you will compete there as well.”
Moss herself still carries that dream. “It’s definitely on my list,” she says. “I’d love to bring my mare there next year at Fourth Level or maybe Prix St. Georges.”
A Surprise Opportunity
Last year, Moss and her husband John encountered a financial decision they hadn’t expected.
Like many retirees, they were required to begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts.
“We had saved and planned for retirement for decades,” Moss says. “We’ve been enjoying retirement within our means, but we didn’t really understand that we had this required minimum distribution. That was a surprise.”
Their financial advisor explained their options.
“They said, ‘You can take the money and spend it, or you can give it away.’”
That simple explanation opened the door to something Moss hadn’t considered before: making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from a retirement account.
“It really gave us a chance to sit down and think about the organizations we care about the most,” Moss says. “And it enabled us to give more generously than we ever anticipated.”
Qualified Charitable Distributions allow individuals over age 70½ to donate directly from their IRA to qualified nonprofit organizations. The funds count toward RMDs while potentially reducing taxable income.
Radene Gordon-Beck, a Partner and Wealth Manager at Kingsview Partners, says many retirees are unaware this option exists,
“For almost all of my clients who have philanthropic intent, it makes all the sense in the world to do a QCD from their IRA,” she says. “It’s a great tool and it’s a fairly underutilized giving option. It’s very hard to find a vehicle that makes an impact for a cause you care about, reduces your tax bill and can reduce taxes later during estate planning. It’s the trifecta.”
She adds, “Making a QCD is also a fairly easy process. If you work with your financial advisor, they just need to know the charity’s legal name, address and tax ID. You may be able to choose to have the check sent to the nonprofit, or you can request to receive the check directly so you can hand-deliver it.”
For Moss, the ease of the gift was unexpected and exciting.
“We’re not financially minded people,” she says. “We’re not investors. We are lucky to have trusted advisors who help us with these things. So, it was a pleasant surprise that we could do this, and we’re looking forward to continuing to do it.”
A Pivotal Moment for Dressage at Devon
For Moss, the decision to support Dressage at Devon was about more than nostalgia. She believes the show is entering an important moment in its history.
“Dressage at Devon is turning a corner,” she says. “If enough people put their support behind it now, the show has a chance to secure its future.”
Dressage at Devon operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of dressage and equestrian education through its annual show. Like many non-profit sporting events, the show operates on narrow financial margins.
“Our budget has been a real challenge over the years,” Moss says. “There were many years when the show was just trying to break even.”
But recent progress has been encouraging.
“The 50th anniversary inspired the support of some incredibly generous donors and sponsors, which helped the show become profitable in 2025,” she says. “That gives me a lot of hope.”
Equally important, she says, is the commitment she has seen from the volunteers and leadership behind the event.
“I’ve watched the Operations Management Team, the Committee, and the Board work incredibly hard to run the show responsibly,” she says. “People are very mindful of the budget.”
That transparency made her comfortable stepping forward as a donor.
“If I wasn’t involved on the inside, I wouldn’t necessarily know that,” she says. “But I’ve seen first-hand how carefully every dollar is used.”
More Than a Horse Show
To those within the dressage community, Dressage at Devon represents something much deeper than a competition.
“Running an international dressage competition and breed championship is not necessarily a good business model. The expenses often outweigh the return. But keeping this show accessible is so incredibly important to our region,” says Moss. “It just feels like Thanksgiving and New Year’s and a birthday party with all your friends in the Mid Atlantic area all at once, and it’s an incredible celebration of the sport of dressage. That does lift people and carry them forward and inspire them.”
For decades, the show has served as a gathering place for riders, breeders, trainers, volunteers, and spectators. It is also an educational hub, offering demonstrations and learning opportunities that fuel the dreams of riders at every level.
“I think what we’ve clued into over the years is that our audience does want to learn more — they want to be better riders, better breeders, better horsemen,” says Moss. “And Dressage at Devon puts it all out there in a big buffet. It is really an amazing continuing education event.”
The opportunity to support that mission — unexpectedly discovered through retirement planning — feels like a natural extension of the journey that began when Moss was a young rider watching from the rail.
“I know there are many more people out there like my husband and I,” she says. “And if we all do our part, the show will continue inspiring riders for generations to come.”
Planning for What Matters
Anne Moss’s story highlights something many people discover later in life: thoughtful financial planning can create opportunities to support the communities and organizations that matter most.
Through strategies like Qualified Charitable Distributions, donors may be able to align their retirement planning with their philanthropic goals.
Gordon-Beck offers one more tip for those considering a QCD, “It is always a good idea to consult with your financial advisor before making a gift to ensure it’s structured in a way that is most beneficial to you and your loved ones. On top of that, I would also really encourage donors to communicate their intentions to the nonprofit ahead of time, so they know where you would like to have that gift directed and can confirm receipt.”
Kingsview Partners, a wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations, works with clients to navigate these kinds of decisions — helping them plan for retirement while also considering how they want their resources to make an impact.
If you would like assistance planning for retirement or exploring charitable giving strategies like QCDs, Kingsview Partners can help guide the conversation.
Visit Radene Gordon-Beck | Wyomissing, PA Financial Advisor | Kingsview or contact Radene Gordon-Beck at rgordon-beck@kingsview.com.
You may also contact Harold Wenger Jr | 600 Eden Road, Building I, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 at (717) 208-6473 EXT: 20210 or hwengerjr@kingsview.com.