by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 6, 2023
There have been dozens of show jumping grands prix around the country since the beginning of the year. Do you remember who won them? It’s easy to take a guess–McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, Karl Cook, but as one show comes after another, it’s just as easy to forget which class was which in the mists of week-after-week competition.
The Devon Horse Show is different. Devon, which just ended its 2023 run in a suburb of Philadelphia, is a touchstone of the year. People may decide to go to HITS instead of WEF, or the Desert Circuit rather than WEC. But they’ll always make an effort to compete at Devon, because everyone remembers who won there (it’s engraved on the lovely sterling silver trophies) and it’s an experience like no other on the circuit. It harks back to a more elegant past, but with up-to-date footing.
Its country fair, set among shade trees; the little carnival with its merry-go-round; the Tea Cart with crustless tea sandwiches–the whole of Devon is a unique island of joy on a decidedly unglamorous strip of highway.
Shopping at the country fair is a popular Devon pastime.( Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
At age 127, Devon is the oldest multi-breed show in the country. At one time, it wasn’t unusual to see classes for saddlebreds and hackney ponies at the same showgrounds across the country as the hunters and jumpers, but that is no longer the case in the era of specialization. So Devon is an exception.
At Devon, every discipline–from the four-in-hands pulling coaches to those hackney ponies and the equitation–is enjoyed by the crowd. Many spectators spend all day on the blue benches at ringside as they watch class after class.
They also are entertained by various exhibitions, including the Budweiser Clydesdales this year. as well as the Shetland pony steeplechase and the Radnor Hunt Fox Hounds. The Orpheus Club, the oldest men’s singing group in the country, offered beautiful renditions of God Bless America and the Star-Spangled Banner on grand prix night.
From the blue benches to the grandstand, the crowd loves what happens at Devon. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Riders are appreciated here. Even though fans may only come to this one horse show a year, they remember their favorite athletes, human and equine, providing both congratulations and consolation as needed. They root for the riders, never more so than in the $226,000 Thursday night grand prix, where each downed rail brings a sympathetic “ooh,” while successful completion of a difficult triple combination elicits a cheer, only a bit more restrained than the eruption when a competitor produces a clean round.
The “King of Devon,” McLain Ward, calls the show “a very special place to my heart, and I think to many people.”
The 12-time winner of the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, named after his favorite horse, explained, “It has such tradition, and the show has had a little bit of a rebirth in the last 10 years. That’s great to see. It’s always nice to be successful here.”
Ashlee Bond, who won the grand prix on Donatello 141, also enjoyed the crowd and gave back to fans, circling the ring at a walk several times after her victory gallop. She greeted spectators, letting the kids pet her horse and offering a bright smile that will remain with many onlookers as a treasured Devon memory.
Ashlee Bond, Sapphire Grand Prix winner, with Donatello. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“These special shows are so few and far between now,” mused Pat Boyle, who is Devon co-manager with Phil DeVita, succeeding managers David Distler and Peter Doubleday, who ran the show for a half-century.
When it comes to shows like Devon that are champions of tradition, Pat said, explaining why he accepted the post, “someone has to take the initiative to make them continue. Peter and David did a phenomenal job, it’s too important not to keep it going and thriving.”
Devon co-manager Pat Boyle. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
For Pat, that’s what makes being a manager worthwhile, despite only grabbing three hours of sleep a night.
The most noticeable change this year was the glamorous archway at the Dixon Oval’s side entrance. It was produced by David Lauinger Equestrian Services, which also redid the footing where an upgrade was needed.
The new arch at the side entrance to the Dixon Oval really dresses up the ring. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The pony breeding was moved from the show’s first Thursday to the final day, making it “an all-breeding day.” The concept got mixed reviews, but Pat believes it was better not to have the distraction of pony breeding when the equitation competitors were riding in the most important classes of their young lives.
With other changes, he said, “it’s still Devon, but it’s Devon squared.”
“We want to keep building on the aesthetics,” explained Pat, citing improving the lighting as a priority and “constant upgrades to make the horse and rider safety experience even better.”
For showgoers, he believes it should be the case that “Every time they come back, there’s something new.”
After getting his face painted, Isiah Bradbury enjoys a lemon stick. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
That’s also what happens at the country fair, which is run by a separate group from the horse show. But tradition can’t be ignored.
Kids love the lemon sticks; a lemon with a candy stick stuck in it. It’s a classic sweet and sour combo.Then there’s the awesome Devon fudge and a host of special treats for the younger set.
Artist Rosie Carlino designed her pop-up shop to make it look like a little garden. It’s her first time being part of the fair.
Rosie Carlino and her pop-up shop in the country fair. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I grew up going to Devon. I’ve always admired Devon and I’ve been on a waiting list to get in,” she said.
Another important aspect of Devon goes beyond the competition and the shopping.
Wednesday is Ladies Hat Day, with some very interesting attractions sitting on various heads, along with the usual fascinators and feathered straw toppers.
Mrs. Cortright Wetherill, whose family has been involved with Devon for generations, wore a hat featuring the ferris wheel (part of the fair’s skyline) and several plastic horses nestled among flowers.
When it comes to hats, Katie Whaley, is the expert. Her Hats by Katie booth is always busy, as it has been for 31 years, but her offerings aren’t designed to be contest winners. They’re more sophisticated, perfect for anyone who is driving horses, which is her specialty.
Katie, who will be competing her pair of Welsh ponies in the world driving championships this summer, said hats are “much bolder” these days as customers get used to having something different.
“They used to be a little skittish about the dressy hat and the feathers. Now they come in and look for a Devon hat every year–something tasteful they can wear again, but something that’s got a little bit of a kick to it.”
Katie Whaley and her hats. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
As for the horse show where she and her mother both competed, she said, “Devon’s Devon, my favorite show of the year. We’re all scratching and kicking to keep it the same.”
People have worried for years that with Devon’s location in a commercial area, it might someday be sacrificed for development. But Pat Boyle said rumors to that effect are completely untrue and that the show, which benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, will continue at its same site.
“Why would it go anywhere?” he asked.
Interested in reading our Devon coverage? Click on this link or the Previous Columns link at the top of the website.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 4, 2023
Not surprisingly, Hannah Sue Hollberg is a big fan of the Essex Horse Trials.
It wasn’t just that she won $10,000 Sunday in the Open Intermediate section, where she was the only rider to finish in a field of three, and she topped the Preliminary division as well.
Hannah Sue Hollberg and Hachi in the Intermediate Division. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
A great crowd, a challenging but safe cross-country course and a prime location in the heart of New Jersey’s Somerset Hills were all big selling points for Hannah Sue, along with the prize money.
“It’s so much fun coming here because everyone is cheering for you and it feels like such a big time event,” she said.
“I’m surprised people aren’t beating down the door to come. I think it was off people’s radar,” Hannah Sue said. People she talked to didn’t know there was an Intermediate Division.
“I’ve been telling everybody about it and next year it will be better,” she promised.
Another person I spoke with agreed riders were unaware of the $10,000 in prize money being offered by sponsor Running S Equine Veterinary Services, so they didn’t enter. A total of 98 horses ran. The lower levels were full, but the upper levels were sparse.
Dr. Nicole Johec and Dr. Travis Bowers of Running S Equine Veterinary Services with Hannah Sue Hollberg and Essex Horse Trials co-organizer Morgan Rowsell. Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer
Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of the event with Ralph Jones, noted, “We don’t need a lot of rides to run, but we’d like good quality riders here so they can get ready for international competition, to develop a team for the (U.S.) team.
“I’m disappointed not more riders showed up. We jumped around a lot of dates (the date has changed three times in three years). We’re not in the habit of the riders at the moment, they’ve got other choices. Hopefully, the word will get out from this great weekend to promote us for next year.”
Hannah Sue feels emails or calling riders isn’t enough to get out the word in this era. Her suggestion to let everyone know about Essex is to tag all the riders on Essex social media posts.
“Their social media people, if they (riders) don’t see it themselves, will tell them about it. Essex, the date and prize money is pretty much all you need.”
The event moved from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, where dressage and show jumping were held on Saturday, to Moorland Farm in nearby Far Hills for the cross-country on Sunday.
Hannah Sue’s victory in the Intermediate came despite two runouts with a new mount, the 11-year-old Dutchbred Hachi (VDL Cardento X Dylona), ridden by Phillip Dutton until December. Prior to that, he was a show jumper with Beth Franco.
“We’re still getting to know each other,” Hannah Sue said of Hachi.
“He’s such a character. A really cool horse. I’m still sorting out the bit, and turning is a little bit of an issue sometimes. He just jumped so big into the water…I almost fell off.”
Hachi ran past the second element in the complex.
“I almost had him, I turned him and he looked away from it, he didn’t quite lock onto it,” she recounted.
He lost some heart with the water problem, Hannah Sue believes, and ran out at 18 B, six fences later.
“Now I know what to work on,” she said. The other riders had bigger problems, which left all the prize money to her.
“It was more of a learning mission with him,” she said.
“I’m just lucky nobody beat me.”
Hannah Sue’s other blue ribbon of the day in Preliminary came with the cute-as-can-be Rockster, a palomino Morgan who is a true dream horse. Not only is the 9-year-old gelding beautiful, he also is easy to ride (Hannah Sue’s 12-year-old niece jumps him over cross-rails).
Originally named Mia-Mar Hillbilly Star (Mia-Mar Remo X Shato’s Lucky Star), he came from Washington State.
Trish Arnold, the veterinarian her family used when Hannah Sue was growing up in Kentucky, had moved west and the two lost touch. But they re-connected when the vet decided to sell Rockster, who has competed at Intermediate level. She sent the 9-year-old gelding to Hannah Sue, who is marketing him for sale.
Hannah Sue Hollberg and Rockster, winners of the Preliminary section. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“He’s an amazing little athlete. He’s so cute and he’s amazing cross-country,” said Hannah Sue.
“His little face–you can’t beat it. I love riding him; he does it on his own. He’s the safest, easiest, most fun thing I’ve ever ridden,” she added.
Take a look at Rockster’s cute little face. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Rockster led wire-to-wire, finishing on his dressage score of 27.3 penalties, ahead of Emily Bradford and LJS LanaTraveler (31.6).
The Training section was dominated by Caroline Martin Pamukcu, who won with Billy Be Jolly (24.3) and finished second on Cascadella 8 (25.5). Caroline also won the Advanced Combined Test on Saturday with HSH Blake (34.7).
Caroline Pamukcu and Billy Be Jolly, winners of the Training Seciton. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
Be Jolly came from British team member Pippa Funnell, with whom Caroline worked while she was training in England last year. Caroline sold the “very sporty” mare to a client, Gail Davis, who bought the horse for Caroline.
Cascadella came from dealer Paul Hendrix two months ago as a replacement for a horse he had sold to Caroline that didn’t work out.
“I think the world of her,” Caroline said of Cascadella.
“She’s got really good technique. I think she’s the real deal as well.”
Several special honors were handed out. The Jean and Elliott Haller horsemanship trophy went to Matt Crutchfield, an 18-year-old Virginian who was fifth in the Preliminary on Independent JWB.
Matt, who trains with Caroline, enjoyed Essex.
Matt Crutchfield and and Independent JWB. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“The environment is great for riders and horses. It’s such a big environment you don’t see it at many shows, at least smaller shows, in America.
“Everything around the water (complex) is amazing. I went over to Europe with Caroline and this is an event like you’d see in Europe.”
He hopes to make the Young Rider team next year and is in a lease to buy arrangement with his horse.
Essex began on the Haller family farm in Bedminster in 1968. Their son, Roger, went on to design the cross-country courses at the 1978 World Championships and the 1996 Olympics.
For the second year in a row, the Golden Nugget Memorial Trophy donated by Clarissa Wilmerding was presented to Peyton Brienza, the winner of the Novice Rider section on The Brave Little Toaster (best horse name!) The award is given to the lowest-scoring member of Pony Club, age 18 or under, who has completed all three phases of the Essex event. Peyton won with 27.2 penalties.
Clarissa Wilmerding presented the Golden Nugget award to Peyton Brienza. (Photo courtesy Essex Horse Trials)
Essex had a great turnout for the Peter Chesson Memorial Car Show, which runs concurrently with the eventing. A number of people who came for the car show wandered over to the cross-country to watch the horses compete.
Proceeds from Essex benefit the Greater Newark LifeCamp in Pottersville, which provides an enriching day camp experience for approximately 300 Newark-area youths per day for six weeks during July and August.
This year, the event invited those who will be attending the camp and their parents to a picnic by the water complex, so the children could watch the action and even had a chance to sit on a pony.
Click on this link for results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 3, 2023
The Essex Horse Trials at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation offered the perfect location to prep for her upcoming eventing Nations Cup in Poland, according to Caroline Martin Pamukcu, who won the Advanced Combined Test Saturday with HSH Blake.
“There aren’t a lot of places in this country to get this kind of atmosphere at a venue that’s so historic,” Caroline said of the facility in Gladstone, N.J., where Olympic teams trained for decades.
Caroline Martin Pamukcu accepts her prizes for winning the Essex Horse Trials Combined Test from Dr. Travis Bowers of sponsor Running S Equine Veterinary Services. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“You ride around here, and you almost pinch yourself, because you know all the greats of eventing culture have been here before you. It’s so cool.”
She added she is also “a huge fan of Chris Barnard,” the show jumping phase’s course designer, noting his routes are fair but “always hard.”
The Combined Test consisted of dressage followed by show jumping. This format does not include cross-country.
Caroline led in the dressage with 30.7 penalties, and benefited from a post-ride critique from judge Debbie Adams. Although she had a rail in the evening show jumping segment, her lead was such that she was able to maintain it, winning by 0.1 penalties over Shannon Lilley with Ideal HX.
How adorable is this palomino Morgan, Rockster, who leads the Open Preliminary Division atEssex for Hannah Sue Hollberg. (Photo © 2023 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
While victory was nice, Caroline emphasized, “I wasn’t coming here to win, I was just coming as preparation.”
Blake, an 8-year-old by BMC Tolan R, will be competing in his first Nations Cup. He was owned by an older Irish rider who kept him in her backyard, but had to sell after Covid hit. Caroline has been showing him since he was five, when he won the U.S. five-year-old championships. Last year, he finished 10th in the Young Horse Championships at Le Lion d’Angers.
The Essex Foxhounds made an appearance at their namesake Essex Horse Trials. (Photo © 2023 by Jamie Saults)
When Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of Essex with Ralph Jones, asked Caroline if she would be interested in entering a Combined Test to help her get ready for the eastern European competition, she leaped at the opportunity.
“I begged and pleaded with him to do this because there are not a lot of places in this country to get this sort of atmosphere, let alone it’s so historic,” Caroline explained.
She added, “Any time you can get him (her horse) in atmosphere and get him out and about without putting too much stress on his legs, the better it is.”
Erin Kanara and Windchase Lionstar lead the Open Intermediate division going into cross-country. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Caroline, who trains with former U.S. eventing performance director Erik Duvander, also spent the winter on a grant working in England with British team star Pippa Funnell. Her big goal for the year is the Pan American Games in Chile this fall.
Caroline has a farm in Riegelsville, Pa., that is home to 52 horses, 30 of which are for sale. She came to Essex with 18 horses, most of whom are available, so she is glad to have an opportunity to show them off to potential clientele. She’s first and second in the Training section, with Billy Be Jolly (24.3 penalties) leading her Cascadella 8 (25.5).
Cross-country begins at 8 a.m. Sunday at a different venue, Moorland Farm in Far Hills, about 10 minutes from the USET Foundation. A car show is also being held at the facility. Admission to Moorland Farm is $20 per car.
Click here for results.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 2, 2023
It wasn’t Ashlee Bond’s victory gallop that said it all about her win in the $226,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon; it was her victory walk on Donatello 141.
After topping a field of 24 in Thursday night’s 4-star class, Ashlee remained in the Dixon Oval, which was surrounded by spectators, not only in the grandstands, but also jammed into every square foot of space around the ring.
Ashlee’s fans meet Donatello. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Slowing to the walk, she made several more leisurely circuits of the arena with her bay gelding (Diarado X Luna), proceeding slowly and stopping every few feet so fans could pet her Westphalian gelding.
Ashley couldn’t get enough of the crowd, and they (especially the children) couldn’t get enough of her, reaching out eagerly to touch her mount, smiling back with excitement as she smiled at them. Ashlee, the mother of six-year-old Scottie, loves the kids and posed for a photo with about 25 of them after the class.
Many riders will stop for a few seconds here and there on their way out of the ring after a win, bur Ashlee made it an important part of the evening.
When I asked why she put such a focus on the interaction, she explained, “I feel like this is so rare in our sport. We don’t really get this, other than Aachen (Germany). It’s the only other place I felt this kind of energy. Everyone just talks about it; how incredible the people are and how knowledgeable. I just enjoy giving back.
Ashlee added, “I was just really appreciative, I think we all are, of being able to have this kind of an environment that average sports get all the time, but we don’t. It’s really cool to give back to the crowd.”
She also recalled watching Richard Spooner and McLain Ward when she was growing up, noting “they were always so kind when I was young, I feel like it’s something we all should do.”
It was the first time the native of California had competed at Devon. Her only previous visit to the show came when she was eight, 30 years ago, to try out a couple of ponies, so this was her first real taste of what the 127-year-old show was about.
She led off the three-horse tiebreaker, finishing the shortened route in 37.29 seconds.
Ashlee Bond and Donatello. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ashlee never walks the jump-off course.
“I do what I feel is right for my horse, regardless of who’s behind me. That was kind of `just do my thing,’ ” she said.
One second behind her was Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue. Schuyler Riley was third in 39.32 seconds on her reliable Robin de Ponthual. It was the third time she has been third in the class, which obviously is a bit frustrating, but he is a reliable performer in the venue.
“He absolutely loves it here,” she said of the Katherine Gallagher’s 18-year-old Selle Francais (Elf D’Or X IO de la Grande) who came closer to getting her name on the trophy last year, when she was second.
Schuyler Riley and Robin de Ponthual. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)_
Devin has been riding LL Show Jumpers’ Eddie Blue for 10 years, since the Dutch warmblood (Zirocco Blue VDL X Silvana) was four.
“I think I was up halfway through (the jump-off) on the time but he’s not as quick-footed as Ashlee’s horse, he’s a little bit slower,” Devin reflected.
Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I probably should have taken the risk to the last jump and done a double leave-out and then eight strides vs. the nine, but I didn’t quite see it and didn’t quite believe in it. That’s show jumping.”
Devin is pointing toward European shows this summer with his 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games team gold medal mount.
Ashlee now lives in Loxahatchee, Fla., just outside Wellington. The benefit of that over being on the West Coast is having three major showgrounds within a few hours’ drive, which is not the case in California. It also means she can be home more with her family.
The biggest target of Ashlee’s summer will be the Nations Cup in Prague, Czech Republic at the end of July. She is a member of the Israeli team, which hopes to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics there.
When she won at Devon, the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, was played during the victory ceremony, an emotional moment for her.
“Israel’s always been close to my heart,” said Ashlee who became an Israeli citizen in 2018.
“My dad was born in Haifa and my grandmother emigrated there from World War II and I’m really strong in my faith. It’s God’s country and I’m proud to hear it (the anthem) every time and I just want to keep bringing Israel to the top of the sport.”
Devin Ryan, Ashlee Bond and Schuyler Riley. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The fact that only three riders were clear in the first round over the course designed by Anderson Lima was surprising, but the stunner was the fact that McLain Ward wasn’t among them.
Since 1999, McLain had been victorious 12 times in the class named after his favorite horse, Sapphire. The fans, many of whom had been coming to the grand prix for years, are always vocal in their support of him.
McLain gets the loudest cheers when he enters the ring. And this time, he got the loudest groans when his mare, Callas, toppled a rail at the final fence. He finished sixth, behind 23-year-old Raleigh Hiler on Obra’s Chloe, who had a single time fault and won the style award, and Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza, whose I-Cap CLZ was faster than Callas to put her fifth.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 1, 2023
The professional hunter divisions at the Devon Horse Show have drama enough, but the $25,000 USHJA Hunter Derby a day later always takes it up a couple of notches, as star performers meet in a demanding two-round format.
The field of 38 for Thursday’s class included a line-up of major talent, including High Performance Working Hunter Champion Cannon Creek, 3-foot, 9-inch Green Hunter champ Front Page, High Performance Working Hunter Stake winner Lafite de Muze and last year’s Derby victor, Autograph.
Cannon Creek, Autograph’s stablemate, led with a score of 96 in the Classic round, but the tables were turned in the Handy round for which 12 qualified. Autograph, his sleek black coat setting off his supple frame, jumped with the same type of authority that won him the class in 2022.
“He’s so scopey. You can’t build jumps too big for him,” his rider, Hunt Tosh, bragged. Autograph, a son of Balou, earned a 94 in the Handy, the same score as in his first round, but this time it carried the day. His total of 188 brought him the $7,500 first prize.
Hunt Tosh and Autograph. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Analyzing the route for the Handy, Hunt agreed there weren’t many options in terms of approaching the fences, as is sometimes the case.
“You had to follow the same path and be tidy,” he commented.
“I think it truly was a jumping contest today. There wasn’t a place that you had to do anything crazy tricky. It was nice for the quality hunters that went in and jumped solid good rounds.”
The course designed by Alan Lohman included a tribute to Philadelphia, just a few miles from Devon. Among the fences was a model of Independence Hall, while renditions of the Liberty Bell were markers on the route.
Hunt was leading in the first round on Cannon Creek with a 96. But the 2022 USHJA International Hunter Derby winner tripped in the Handy to wind up with a score of 80 and finish 10th.
Cannon Creek and Autograph, owned by the Wheeler family (after whom the showgrounds’ second ring is named) are both imports who came from Emil Spadone’s Redfields Farm in Califon, N.J.
Colin Syquia, who rode Front Page to second place, noted “in the first round, he answered every question.” In the Handy, he was maybe a little bit late to the first jump on the left turn, but after that, he was awesome.”
Colin Syquia and Front Page. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
That may be what brought him down to a 90 from a 95.5 in the first round. The horse belongs to Cynthia Sulzberger, whose family publishes the New York Times, hence his name.
Hunt and Colin are respected professionals who have been on the scene for years, but the Derby’s third-place finisher, Ariana Marnell, is just 17. She finished ahead of her trainer, John French, ninth on Milagro.
Ariana rode in junior classes at Devon last week before stepping up to the biggest test of all with Ocean Road.
She was “just trying to have fun” by competing in the Derby.
Arianna, who will be going to Auburn University when she finishes high school, noted that Hunt is someone “I’ve been watching since I was six or seven years old,” adding at the post-derby press conference, “it’s exciting to be sitting up here.”
Hunt noted the fact that it is only her first derby at Devon makes him nervous, observing, “Colin and I have been sitting side by side for a while now; she’s sneaking up really fast.”
Ariana didn’t have high expectations for what the class would bring.
Ariana Marnell and Ocean Road. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I was just excited to do another round,” she said, referring to making the cut for the top 12. She is, however, no stranger to Devon. Her first national title with Ocean Road was the Junior Hunter Finals at the showgrounds in 2021.
“He really likes Devon,” said Ariana, who moved up from ninth place in the first round to score a 93 in the Handy, the second-highest score in that round.
Colin Syquia, Hunt Tosh and Ariana Marnell. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He’s super easy,” Ariana commented.
“He’s always really good. If there’s a mistake, it’s definitely mine, always.”
Hunt understandably is fond of Devon, but not just because he’s so often a winner here.
I had heard people say the Derby should offer more than $25,000 in prize money, but as Hunt noted, you have to wonder where it would come from. And while more money would be nice, of course, just being able to compete in a derby at Devon is enough.
“Devon to me is one of the most special ones, a show you look forward to every year, even the fact that we’re still able to come here with the development around it,” Hunt observed.
“I’m so lucky to have the owners I do behind me, who stand behind Devon as well. As long as we have Devon, I’ll take whatever they can do. As many times as the gate at the Dixon Oval opens, we want to go in.”
Click here for derby results
by Nancy Jaffer | May 31, 2023
A new name will be engraved on the Hope Montgomery Scott trophy for the Devon Hunter Grand Championship.
Californian Nick Haness took that title for the first time on Wednesday, capping a series of top honors at the show, including the Grand Hunter Championship with McQueen, who was the Green Conformation Champion and reserve in the 3-6 Green Hunter section, and Champion Mare with Stephanie and John Ingram’s Pavlova (reserve in the Green Conformation).
Scott Stewart’s name appears 17 times on the silver Leading Rider tray, but this edition of the show wasn’t one where everything went his way. He had a tough time in the High Performance Hunter Stake, the final class of the division, when Hudson dropped a rail at the last fence, while his other mount, Nottingham, was charged with a refusal there. Nottingham wound up as reserve champion to Cannon Creek, a two-time titleist in the division.
Nick was ecstatic at the achievements he and trainer Carleton Brooks of Balmoral Farm racked up at the show on Philadelphia’s Main Line, and for more than the obvious reasons of being a star at one of the USA’s most prestigious fixtures.
Nick Haness and Carleton Brooks with McQueen’s caretakers, Brian Sanchez and Rodrigo Vega, who won the Leading Grooms Award. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Ten weeks ago, Nick fractured his right wrist when he got too close to the standard of a trot jump at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., and his leg hooked on it. The horse kept going straight and the standard didn’t fall, but Nick did, ripped off the saddle backwards. Ouch.
The week before the accident, he had won the $100,000 Hunter Spectacular in Thermal, Calif. To be put out of action by a 2-foot trot jump on the East Coast could only be called ironic. Or maybe bizarre.
With Devon on the horizon, the injury was particularly discouraging.
I asked Nick if a fortnight ago he could have predicted winning the Leading Rider title.
“To say I would have been leading hunter rider two weeks ago in a cast, sitting at home, dreaming of this moment–probably unlikely,” he replied.
“It’s something I’ve always strived to do. I’m so thrilled. I was expecting a lot less of the outcome for the week. To have this much success was beyond my expectations.”
Although it would have been ideal for him to show Strasburg Morin Inc.’s McQueen several times in the run-up to Devon, he couldn’t even ride (doctor’s orders) so Carleton and his wife, Traci, kept the string of horses going, including the 2022 Devon Grand Hunter Champion, Only Always. Carleton believes in the efficacy of working horses at the walk, so there was a lot of that, and hill exercise as well for fitness.
Devon was Nick’s first show since the accident, so he made it count. McQueen was a great partner.
Nick Haness shares a moment with McQueen after the pinning of the Grand Hunter Championship. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“In every single class he went in, he gave it his all,” said Nick, citing the fact that the son of Cornet Obolensky is a brilliant jumper with a big stride.
“It was fun to show him off here against people who never really knew him or saw him before, because he’s been a West Coast horse mostly. He really wowed the judges every class.”
In the stake class, there was a long gallop to the final jump, an oxer.
“I just thought to myself, `Let it go, McQueen’s got it. You’re at Devon, you’ve got to take a chance.'”
The German import came to the Brooks’ stable in June 2022. They wanted to let him mature, so they didn’t show him much because they didn’t want to break his green status, so he did very little over low jumps.
Nick’s an interesting guy. He’s skipping Devon’s Thursday hunter derby and is headed home to train his two zebras and a pair of camels, part of a vast menagerie on the animal lover’s 20-acre Temecula farm.
I asked Nick why Devon is such a strong magnet to draw him from the West Coast.
“It’s that sign over there, `Devon Horse Show Where Champions Meet.’ You couldn’t say it any better,” he explained.
“That’s the part I love most about Devon. It is one of the most rewarding and exhilarating places to have a great week. I always believe there’s a lot involved, it can go anyone’s direction any week at a horse show.” (Just ask Scott Stewart!).
“If luck is on your side, your horses go well and you can have a week like I did this week,” Nick believes, “there’s nothing better.”
The Leading Lady Rider was Amanda Steege, who won the High Performance Working Hunter Stake with a score of 92 percent on her longtime partner, Cheryl Olsten’s Lafite de Muze. It was the second year in a row that Amanda has taken that title. After getting her ribbon, she took her horse to the rail and let people pet him. She explained that her mission with Lafite is to be “an ambassador for the sport,” and people loved it.
Lafite de Muze meets his public. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Regular Conformation Hunter honors went to Stephanie Ring’s Can Can, a former jumper who leaped so high in that division that he wasted time in the air, which isn’t good in a speed class.
“He’s an amazing little horse with a lot of personality and loves to put in a huge effort at the oxers,” said his rider, Chris Payne.
CanCan and Chris Payne. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“He still takes the oxers a little seriously,” Chris noted.
“So our plan is to get him to not overthink the oxers and try so hard. He just thinks it’s fun. It’s his first time here, so I’m thrilled with him.”
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