They are the Devon Horse Show’s ultra hunter champions: Nick Haness, Leading Hunter Rider for the third year in a row; Scott Stewart, who piloted the show’s Grand Hunter Champion for the umpteenth time and Amanda Steege, High performance Hunter Leading Lady Rider (for the third time in four years).
They share an appreciation of their horses’ intelligence and desire to be in the game. You can see the though process of one racehorse trying to outrun another, but do show hunters understand the more subtle nuance of victory in their arena? Amanda thinks so; Scott and Nick agree.
Amanda believes that Cheryl Olsten’s Lafitte de Muze, the Belgian warmblood by Darco that she has ridden for eight years, “just really has a desire to win. I’ve never had a horse that I feel is trying to win every class as much as he is. I think that’s the thing that makes him extra special. He’s really intelligent and I think he knows when he goes in there that he’s performing.”
Lafitte was the show’s High Performance Hunter Champion, scoring a career best of 96 in the division’s final class, the stake.
Amanda Steege and Lafitte de Muze. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
Devon was the only show where he hadn’t taken that championship, said Amanda, speaking of the “elusive white cooler.”
Nick, who was aboard the Ingram Family’s Odette, the show’s Leading Mare and Green Conformation Champion, is “amazing, probably one of the smartest horses I’ve ever ridden. She’s incredibly in tune with the rider. I don’t think I’ve ever asked her to do something that she didn’t do for me,” he said of the Oldenburg, who won all the jumping classes in her division. If you have a great mare, she can do anything.
Leading Hunter Rider Nick Haness with Odette. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I’m so excited and blessed to be riding her again this year, especially at venue like Devon,” said Nick, who was primarily in California over the winter, while Odette was in the East, ridden by Emily Williams and trained by Tom Wright.
Betsee Parker’s Grand Hunter Champion, California Love, is described by Scott as “beautiful, scopey, athletic.” The horse he bought as a three-year-old “is very laid back. When it’s a little more (atmospheric) environment, he picks up in a good way.”
Although Scott has been a winner repeatedly over the decades at Devon, the thrill remains.
Scott Stewart and California Love with owner Betsee Parker. (Photo © 2025 by Nancy Jaffer)
“It’s still very special. The ring has great memories for me,” he observed.
Amanda’s connection with Devon started long before her personal involvement.
“This show is important to my family,” she explained.
“I have a picture of my great grandfather showing here in 1913 on his pony. My mom’s family, the Smiths, they’re from Blue Bell and Fort Washington (Pa.).
“My mom showed here when she was growing up. It was the same course every year. She jumped the first jump, then her pony he stopped at the second jump.” She would fall off and “had to walk the whole way back to the ingate.” Amanda did add that her mother persevered and finally made it around the course.
Click here to go to the results website, then click on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28, to see hunter champions