The roster for the competition under the lights was impressive. Twelve competitors returned from the field of 17 in Friday evening’s qualifying test. There were several crowd favorites and the enthusiastic spectators showed their appreciation repeatedly with hoots, hollers and hearty applause. At the end of the evening, Lars Petersen of Florida, representing Denmark on the gray Danish gelding Succes, was the champion. The crowd clearly appreciated Petersen’s fanciful choreography to a medley of cartoon classics including Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. With his score of 73.40%, he edged out Courtney King of New Milford, CT, on Idocus, with a 73%, by a mere .4%.
In third place, with a score of 72.10%, was Olympic veteran Ashley Holzer of Canada on the KWPN gelding Pop Art. Holzer has high hopes for Pop Art that go all the way to Hong Kong. The winning field truly reflected the international flavor of Dressage at Devon.

After his ride, a beaming Petersen said, “Now it is really coming together. He is a very hot horse. This was his first time under the lights. And it’s the first time that I rode him in a Grand Prix and he didn’t spook.”

President of the Ground Jury Barnabas Mandi of Hungary said of Petersen, “He was absolutely the clear winner. His music is very nice and he had some very difficult movements. The horse was happy all of the time.” Of King he said, “It is interesting that a young rider is so calm and concentrated. It shows a good quality for the future.”
King said, “I like to win, but I couldn’t be happier to be second. These are wonderful riders to emulate,” she explained, referring to Holzer and Petersen. “Idocus is usually very soft, but he came against the bit tonight. He tried to be very honest.”

Holzer also expressed satisfaction with her ride. “Pop rode his first Grand Prix less than a year ago, and this was only his third time doing this freestyle,” a choreography to a medley of music from Epcot Center and the film National Treasure. “He started out tense but kept getting calmer. He’s that kind of horse—he’ll keep working for you no matter what.”

As for the response from the grandstands, Mandi said, “I think it was a very important day for dressage. The spectators were very enthusiastic. They were influencing the riders to do better.” King agreed. “Most horse shows you are riding for yourself and your horse. At Dressage at Devon the spectators want you to do well. It’s very special.”

While the Grand Prix Freestyle conquered the night, the day was dominated by the FEI Intermediaire I class, and its 41 riders. King bested the field on Rendezvous 3 with a score of 71.25%, despite the fact that King reported the 17.1 hand mare, an Austrian warmblood cross, “was not quite herself.” She explained, “The test was a bit conservative for her, but she is solidly confirmed at this level and very expressive. Her pirouettes are great—she has such an ability to sit. She is also very supple, so her zigzag is something we can always show off.” Dressage at Devon will be the final small tour competition for King and Rendezvous 3, as she is taking her to Europe with the intention of moving her to Grand Prix. With her pleasure at winning, King felt it important to remember the owner of the horse, Francine Walker. “Without the owners, I would have no opportunity to be out there. The owners of these horses are understanding and sacrifice a lot. They get no financial reward, no glory, and they give so much to the sport.” Rendezvous 3 is one of five horses that King is competing on at Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect. Behind King with a 66.833% was Shannon Dueck on Control. Melissa Taylor captured third place on Dacardo with a 66.667%. Both Taylor and Dueck reside in Florida.

Next in the Dixon Oval were young competitors riding the FEI Junior Individual test a test that includes a series of flying changes on a serpentine and canter half-pass. Jade Deter of Ottawa on Mastermind, finished with a score sheet that boasted plenty of eights and sevens, along with a few sixes, for a final score of 70.250% She was the first and only junior rider to finish with a score in the 70s in her Division. With her score of 66.65% in Friday’s FEI Junior Team Test she remained the highest scoring Junior of the show. Mastermind, owned by Deter, is a 10-year-old 16.3 hand chestnut Westphalian gelding. The petite 16-year-old has been riding him since November, and although she acknowledges that the two have a way to go before they are showing their best with each other, she does know him well in the ring. “I’ve learned that I have to keep his poll up and his hind legs active. Yesterday the judges said that he was short in the neck and I worked on improving that today.” Mastermind, says Deter, is really willing and has a super attitude.” Her goal for today’s ride was a 70%. She expressed both surprise and excitement at her score.

Alexa Rice of Stillwater, MA on Maarten placed second with a score of 63.333%. In third place was local rider Elizabeth Keleman of Malvern, PA on Palomos with a 63.750%.
In a day full of dressage excitement, crowds were also treated to a hearts-stopping demonstration of the Australian-born sport of Polocrosse, an exhibition by the Mainstreamers of Thorncroft, beneficiary of Dressage at Devon Presented by WTDirect, and a dramatic pas de deux by Sabine Shut-Kery on the Friesian stallion Illiad and a professional dancer.

Louise Frock Vice President of Marketing for WT Direct, presenting sponsor of Dressage at Devon, said that Devon and WTDirect are a natural fit. “We are both steeped in tradition,” she explained. This was the first time that WTDirect had sponsored an equestrian event. In addition to their generous sponsor, WT Direct has pledged a $50 donation to Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc. for every new account resulting from the sponsorship. Visit their website at www.WTDirect.com/dressage for details.

Sunday, the final day of the event, includes the Grand Prix Special, Freestyle classes for Juniors, Young Riders, and Intermediaire I as well as the FEI pony test and Fourth Level tests.