Saturday is always an exciting day at Dressage at Devon and this year was no exception. Spectators enjoyed top-level performances all day, from the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix 16-25 CDI won by Vanessa Creech-Terauds, from Canada, (daughter of Diane Creech) on Hallmark (His Highness x Lapislazuly) with a score of 66.744.

Photo – Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) took top honors on Westwood 5 in the FEI CDI3* Grand Prix Special (Hoof Prints Images)

FEI CDI3* Grand Prix Special

The FEI CDI3* Grand Prix Special was all about top performances. Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) took top honors on Westwood 5 (Wolkenstein II x Lindenbluete), a 12-year old Hanoverian with a score of 68.426.

The second place winner was Jessica Jo Tate, on Faberge (Floristan x Baroness), a 16-year old Westphalian, with a score of 65.808. And in third place was Michael Pineo on Farrington (Jazz x Belalussi), a 9 year old KWPN with a score of 63.787.

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW

Just a few weeks after winning the Saugerties World Cup Freestyle in only their second Big Tour Competition, Lindsay Kellock and her mount Sebastien (Sandro Hit x Feirie Dame), a 13 year-old Rhienlander, took home the blue ribbon in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW. The rider-horse team scored a personal best of 75.870.

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and her mount All In (Tango x Leontine) a 14 year-old KWPN captured second place with a score of 74.945.

James Koford and his equine partner Adiah (Nico x Marije Ant), a 12 year-old Fresian Cross mare, danced into third place with a score of 72.855.  

10 Years after First Win at Devon Breed Show, Qredit Hilltop Competes in the Grand Prix

In 2009, a yearling colt Perfect Qredit (Quaterback x Dream Rubina), became the Grand Champion in the Devon Breed show. This year he returned as an 11-year old stallion under the name Qredit Hilltop. Back in 2009, Michelle, who was an air-traffic controller in Afghanistan, owned the colt and boarded him at Hilltop Farm in northern Maryland. When Hilltop farm bought Qredit, Michael Bragdell, Hilltop’s Training Director, started him under saddle and he has been working with Qredit ever since.

In 2012, Qredit won the 70-Day Stallion Test. Then in 2015, he debuted at Prix St. Georges earning scores in the seventies.

Dressage at Devon is his first big CDI show. In the Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW at Devon, Qredit came in sixth with a score of 69.185.

With a broad smile across his face, Bragdell says, “He’s quirky. I love him.” Now Bragdell says Qredit is more confident than ever, he knows all the moves, and the next step is to add “more expression.”  

Volunteering at Dressage at Devon and Building Mother-Daughter Bonds

Dressage at Devon has always been a family event. This year, two mother-daughter teams volunteered throughout the week. These mother and daughter pairs love coming to Dressage at Devon for the atmosphere, learning experience and to spend quality time with each other.

Lindsay Moritz started volunteering at Dressage at Devon in 2014 because she wanted to discover more about dressage with a goal of returning one day as a competitor. Moritz started by e-scribing scores, where she was able to listen to and learn from the judges’ evaluations. Now, she usually works in the gift shop, where she gets a front-row seat to the Dixon Oval.

Moritz’s mother, Paula Hill, also came in 2014, initially as a spectator, but was soon put to work. Apart from a lapse in 2015 due to extreme weather, the pair has volunteered at Devon every year. This time of year is special for them. Thursday night they always have a special dinner before they travel to north to Pennsylvania. “It is an annual tradition,” Moritz explained. This year, however, is the first time they had the opportunity to work together, spending time both at the gift shop and the Wheeler gate.

Martina Thiel and her daughter Julia Poblozki have also been coming to Dressage at Devon for many years. Martina Thiel showed her horse in the Breed Division in 2008. After having such a pleasant experience while showing, Thiel wanted to give back to the show and started volunteering in 2015. Poblotzi joined her the next year. Poblotzki is now spending some of her school vacation volunteering with her mother. The two were posted at the Dixon Oval gate throughout the day on Saturday.