The fiftieth anniversary of Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon Sept. 23-28 has generated new vitality and excitement for a tradition that is far more than simply a competition.
It’s also entertainment, shopping and an opportunity for education, with a variety of possibilities for both riders and spectators, in addition to a multi-faceted breed show.
The competition and fall festival at the historic venue on Philadelphia’s Main Line has reached a half-century landmark that was far from a certainty when financial insecurity threatened its future.
Anne Moss, who took over as president three years ago, emphasized the importance of the board having implemented a strategic plan “to make the show an even better place for competitors, spectators, vendors and volunteers, and to work a little bit on the culture of the show.”
As she explained, “It started from within and really looking hard at ways we could better support each other on the committee and the management team and the board, and also with a huge focus on customer service for competitors and spectators, boxholders, volunteers and all of us, so that it would be a wonderful experience to be at the show at every level.
Anne Moss, president of Dressage at Devon. Photo © by Nancy Jaffer
“It’s a really joyful thing to work on the Dressage at Devon team. I’m not saying it wasn’t previously, but I think the focus was horse show and vendor village, and a little bit on the boxholders. We had to do more to show the boxholders and spectators our love and the competitors too, as one individual to another.”
Sarah Campbell, the show’s vice president of event operations (described by Anne as “my right hand”) called the venue “a magical place to come to and spend six days immersed in dressage, breeding and catching up with all your friends.
“The team we have pulled together over the years has worked really hard to revitalize it. It’s been a huge effort.”
Dressage at Devon once was a “must” for the top level of the discipline in the Northeast and beyond. Big name participants have been seen in the Dixon Oval over the years, including Anne Gribbons, Lisa Wilcox, Adrienne Lyle, Hilda Gurney, Lars Petersen and a combination that everyone remembers, the beloved floppy-eared Rocher and her rider, George Williams, former president of the U.S. Dressage Federation.
Board member Christina Morin Graham cited “the number of people the show has impacted over such a long time, literally generations of riders. The show has such an energy and I’m excited that it’s still able to deliver that for riders, spectators and enthusiasts.”
Christina Morin-Graham. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
But as the winter Florida shows grew in importance and people started going south earlier each autumn, Dressage at Devon became less of a key destination for riders. They determine their priorities amid an increase in the number of shows and changes in the calendar.
Efforts by the organizers and sponsors have played a big role in giving the show a leg up, but this year, Dressage at Devon also gets a boost in entries as a qualifier for the new U.S. Open for dressage, set for November in California.
In addition, the show is a qualifier for the April 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Ft. Worth, Texas. That fixture is on the wish list for U.S. competitors seeking to match themselves against the best from around the globe, without having to travel abroad.
As a result, Dressage at Devon “has gained a whole lot more interest from competitors and that has filtered down to more interest from spectators, competitors and volunteers,” Anne said.
A fun attraction is the Friday night dance-off, with costumed riders showing their moves to music on creatively decorated horses. Who can forget Silva Martin winning the 2024 edition posing as a well turned-out hippie?
Dance-Off winner Silva Martin. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
This year, as a special event for the golden anniversary, riders and breed class competitors who are part of the show’s history will be included in a parade featuring “Legends of Dressage at Devon.” They are being invited back to the show to appear (horseless) in a Saturday night showcase. Those who have not been contacted but would like to take part should email Anne at annemoss380@gmail.com.
George Williams and Rocher from her Dressage at Devon retirement ceremony. (Photo © 2013 by Nancy Jaffer)
The Saturday night Grand Prix Freestyle always has been a highlight bringing in fans, but boosters know it takes so much more to attract the support that was needed to make sure the show not only hit its fiftieth anniversary, but also to keep it going beyond that.
Education is now a major feature, and introduction of the first Master Class with Sabine Schut-Kery four years ago has drawn a series of interesting clinicians (including Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, the individual silver medalist over the weekend at the FEI European Dressage Championships in France.)
The 2025 Thursday night Master Class will be conducted by Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, a German medal-winning eventer and dressage rider (she was on the gold medal team at the European Championships last week) who is the daughter of the legendary Olympic dressage gold medalist, Reiner Klimke.
Ingrid Klimke, right, with the European Championships gold medal winning team.
She’s a great attraction not only for dressage riders, such as Silva who has signed up (and whose eventer husband, Boyd Martin, also has ridden in the Master Class), but also obviously for eventers — a number of whom are based near Devon — looking for tips to improve their dressage phase.
One is the well-traveled Jennie Brannigan, a five-time U.S. eventing team member, who wasted no time applying for the class.
Jennie Brannigan cross-country with FE Lifestyle. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I jumped at the chance,” said Jennie.
“It’s really exciting for me to be a part of that. It was just a no-brainer. To ride in the Dixon Oval is such an amazing experience. How can you turn that down?
At the same time, she noted another motivation, saying, “Dressage is my weakest link.” She’s looking for some insights from Ingrid, someone Jennie describes as “lovely” after meeting her in Europe.
A lecture series, headlined by Dr. Hilary Clayton speaking about harmony between the horse and rider in the barn and the arena, also will feature a number of other experts and updates by staff from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. To learn more, click here.
Also on the education front, dressage and musical freestyle judges from around the country will be receiving training at the show, under the auspices of the U.S. Dressage Federation.
Last year’s Dressage at Devon Grand Prix Freestyle winner Kevin Kohmann with Dünensee (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
Sarah, like Anne and Christina, is a dressage rider. She competed at the show with her homebred Hanoverian, Bailamos, in 2023 and finished as the top amateur in her Fourth Level class. Christina and Anne both are riding in the show this time, so these key organizers are well-connected through their horses.
There was concern that the show, which at one point was out of money, might not celebrate its fiftieth. As Sarah noted, the big question was, “Can we make it?”
But the show achieved a milestone when it moved into the black by earning $5,000 last year.
An anonymous donor has offered a $50,000 matching gift if the show gets $50,000 in contributions. That benefit would be a huge step for the financially fragile fixture, which costs $1 million to run, while the cost of renting the showgrounds increases regularly as well.
Those who wish to donate and insure the show will continue can go to the donation page at the website, or click directly on this link.
“It’s still a huge challenge to do a budget on a horse show; you have no idea who is going to come spectator-wise, competitor-wise, sponsor/vendor-wise,” said Anne.
“At least we’re doing better. It will be the biggest Master Class attendance so far. The focus we’ve put on education has been a hit with spectators, too.”
While finances obviously are still an issue, the show is making progress.
“I think we have its nose pointing in the right direction,” said Anne.
“We are so excited to be an important stepping stone for high-performance riders and for spectators thinking about becoming high- performance riders. One of the biggest joys I have as president of Dressage at Devon is seeing the talent come to the show, and how it flourishes and grows afterwards.”
The show is seeking volunteers to help, whether it’s for a few hours or several days.Special needs are for assistance with the Dressage Explorers for kids on Sunday, and general/floater volunteers on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 23 and 24, during the day.
Volunteers will receive an entry ticket, a parking pass and food on the day they help. There’s also special swag, including a commemorative fiftieth anniversary T-shirt. Click here to sign up.