Known as the place “Where Champions Meet,” the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair heralds in its 128th year of world class competition, May 22nd to June 2nd, 2024, at the historic Devon Show Grounds. The oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse show in North America, this year once again brings together elite equestrians from varied disciplines in one extraordinary 12-day event. Hunters, Equitation, Jumpers, Saddlebreds, Roadsters, Carriage Driving and Coaching alike will all have their chance to compete for a spot in the famed winner’s circle in the Dixon Oval.
From its humble beginnings in 1896, the first Devon Horse Show began as a one-day event that consisted of approximately thirty classes. The original show ring was constructed on grass and the judges and officials sat in a gazebo in ‘the center of the ring. Today, the Devon Horse Show boasts three impressive competition rings featuring hundreds of riders competing in over 300 classes with prize monies totaling close to $1million.
What’s the fastest-growing equestrian sport outside the US? Holly Corcoran of Stroudsburg, PA says it’s endurance. And a lot of equestrian organizations around the world agree with her.
Corcoran has been competing in endurance since 2003, after years in the show ring. “I really prefer being on the trails,” she says, and points out that endurance is much more than a really long trail ride. “It’s amazing what you learn about your horse when you spend that much time together.” But endurance is unique among equestrian sports, it’s one in which families can compete alongside each other—or even against each other. It’s accessible and most rides are open to all ages of riders, from young teens to…well…senior riders who have nothing more to prove, other than that the joy of riding is ageless. Junior riders—those under age 16—must ride with a sponsor throughout the ride, Corcoran says.
When non-profit organizations work together, there can be great outcomes for both horses and kids. Work To Ride is taking on a horse from PTK Racing’s partner Pastured Place, a non-profit retirement and rehoming organization for former racehorses, to take part in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover competition this fall.
PTK LLC is a family owned stable dedicated to responsible racing and breeding of Thoroughbred horses. They try to make sure that every horse that goes through their stables has a home when their racing days are done. To accomplish that they have partnered with the non-profit organization Pastured Place. Older horses and those that need specialized care, who may face a long-term retirement, may go to Six M Farm in West River, MD. Horses that have potential for a second career may go to Meadow Spring Farm in Oxford, PA.
This spring, Ali Rawle from Meadow Spring Farm contacted Lezlie Hiner, founder of Work to Ride, about a horse that could be a good candidate for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover.
Kelly Wells of Marlan Farm in Freeland, MD says she “dabbled a bit with polo as a teenager.” She grew up immersed in polo but pursued equestrian glory in the show ring.
“My dad played polo and my uncles played too. I did a lot of showing and focused on that.” Until she went to Cornell, where she “broke out of the show ring,” and went wholeheartedly into polo. The road almost-not-taken has led Wells to extraordinary success as a player and a coach.
First stop: Garrison Forest, the private college preparatory school in Owings Mills, MD, a school focused on preparing young women for success in college and beyond. The school was looking for a polo coach in 1997, and Wells was looking for a job. “I have a degree in teaching,” she says, “but I didn’t think that I would be teaching polo until I got the job at Garrison Forest.” She stayed at Garrison Forest “cutting my teeth there,” for six years.
It was an outstanding program in which to begin her career. Garrison Forest’s polo team had amassed 14 National Interscholastic Championships, capped by a run of seven titles from 1992-1998.
Long before Buffalo Bill and the Wild West shows and John Wayne and Hollywood popularized the idea of the rough-and-tumble horsemen, riding the range and protecting their herds and families, enslaved men of African and Spanish descent were working cattle in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Last year DNA analysis of bones linked to African cattle were found in Mexico, indicating that the first cowboys in North America likely were Black, researchers say.
A number of groups in the U.S., led by the New York City Federation of Black Cowboys, have made it their mission to recognize and celebrate that rich equestrian culture that has thrived despite discrimination and segregation. Among those groups today, the Crazy Faith Riders of New Jersey.
Two of the longest standing point to point race meets in the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association are the Cheshire Races, and the Brandywine Hills Point to Point Races.
The 77th running of the Cheshire Races was held on Easter Sunday, March 31 at the Plantation Field property near Unionville, PA. The day’s events were held in honor of Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
The featured event of the four sanctioned timber races was the Joseph Walker III Memorial Open Timber for the Cheshire Bowl and a $20,000 purse. The winner in a tine of 5:05 3/5 was Court Ruler, owned by Leipers Fork Steeplechase, trained by Leslie Young, and ridden to victory by Freddie Procter.
To advertise or for more information, please contact: Debbie Reid or Phyllis Hurdleston at 717-509-9800.
debbie@eastcoastequestrian.net or phyllis@eastcoastequestrian.net
P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604
