Two pillars of Devon have waved goodbye

The management team that kept the Devon Horse Show running and relevant for decades resigned today.

No one is more closely associated with the U.S. Equestrian Federation Heritage fixture than David Distler, who began working there in 1974, and Peter Doubleday, who came on board in 1976.

Though David started out by handling the ingate and doing some announcing, while Peter originally was solely an announcer, they both gravitated toward management, with David taking that role in 1985 and Peter becoming co-manager in 1987.

Together, their experience totals 85 years at Devon.

Upon receiving gracious emails from the managers announcing their departure, one stunned board of directors member asked, “Is this a joke?”.

There had been whispers that something was up during the 11-day show, which ended yesterday on Philadelphia’s Main Line, but at the same time, it was also a shock, said hunter judge Linda Andrisani, who last officiated at the show in 2019 and knows the managers well.

“That’s a big pair of shoes to fill,” observed Linda, who has also been a vendor at the show, where she started competing on her pony in 1964.

“From an exhibitor’s point of view and a judge’s point of view, it’s very sad,” continued Linda, who noted how important it is to keep the tradition alive, noting that both managers were so well-acquainted with the roots of the show that they insured it would continue in a way beloved by exhibitors and spectators alike.

“There has always been a very special place in my heart for Devon,” noted David, who showed there as a junior, and is also an internationally respected steward and judge, as well as manger of the Washington International Horse Show.

“It’s one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” said David about leaving the job.

“I used to joke that if I were cut, I would bleed Devon blue,” he stated in his resignation letter, referring to the unique shade that is seen on buildings throughout the showgrounds.

For his part, Peter said, “It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of such a tradition.  I will never forget Thursday nights, 12 coaches in the center ring line-up, arena eventing, etc..   I could go on and on.   It has been a great ride.”

At the same time, he said, he has “missed too many birthdays, anniversaries, weekly family dinners…and with that in mind, I am going to step aside and retire from Devon.  My family needs me home.”

He will, however, continue managing Toronto’s Royal Winter Fair, which marks its 100^th anniversary this November, and also will be announcing at a number of shows.

Both managers were involved with the Devon Fall Classic, which began in 2016 as an all-jumper show at lower level than its big brother.

“It’s a chance to ride in the big ring, under the arch, under the lights. It’s a blast,” said Peter.

David said there was a balance in keeping Devon in tune with the times while guarding its tradition. Once-respected shows of another era that didn’t do that, including Piping Rock, Bloomfield Hills and Chagrin, just “thought they could sit on their laurels to carry them through,” he mentioned, but that didn’t work.

Devon, on the other hand, has remained relevant, even though it is in effect, “an indoor show that’s outdoors” because of its small footprint. What makes Devon even more difficult to  run is juggling everything because it’s a multi-breed show, with saddlebreds, hackney ponies (the show’s symbol), roadsters and the coaches, as well as hunters and jumpers that are the bulk of the entry.

David noted over the last few years at Devon, he and Peter were “less-involved in the decision-making, more limited to the bones of show operations.”

He added that in the past, the two had more responsibilities, which was part of what produced the horse show.

Peter said, he felt it wasn’t a team effort anymore, as he and David were kept out of the loop on important discussions and decisions, with communications an issue. He added that when he occasionally was asked for his opinion, the decision was made by others.

Devon Chairman and CEO Wayne Grafton, who took over in 2014, did not respond to requests for comment.