Ashley Holzer, a four-time Canadian Olympian, entranced the crowds as she conquered three out of the four FEI Grand Prix classes with her geldings Jewel’s Adelante and Breaking Dawn. Holzer is pictured here aboard the KWPN gelding Breaking Dawn as she accepts the blue for the Grand Prix Freestyle.
Gorgeous autumn weather complimented the parade of quality horseflesh during the six days of competition at Dressage at Devon. American-based former Danish Olympic rider Lars Peterson, now based in Wellington, FL, won Saturday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle Open on Mariett with a score of 76.975%, followed closely by Ashley Holzer, a Canadian and four-time Olympian, aboard Breaking Dawn with a 76.5%. Tina Konyot, of Palm City, FL, was third with Calecto V and a 72.775%. Earlier on Friday, Holzer won the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle with Breaking Dawn and then the Grand Prix Open with Jewel’s Adelante, and continued on Sunday to take home the blue for the FEI Grand Prix Special, again with Jewel’s Adelante. Second place in Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix Special went to Catherine Haddard Staller, based in NJ, with Mane Stream Hotmail.
Performance Divisions
Benjamin Albright, affiliated with KYB Dressage in Maple Park, IL, piloted Kristen Cooper’s Toscano to victory in the FEI Young Rider Grand Prix for 16-25 year olds, while Tanya Strasser-Shostak and Action Tyme, owned by Canadian Evi Strasser, won the FEI Young Rider Freestyle. Barbara (Bebe) Davis captured the FEI Junior Freestyle aboard Rotano, owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, of Jupiter, FL, as well as the FEI Junior Team Test. Kimberly Herslow, of Stockton, NJ, won the FEI Intermediaire I Open Qualifier aboard Rosemarin.
Sahar Daniel Hirosh and Aragon, owned by Francis Murphy of Doylestown, PA, won the USEF 4th Level Test of Choice Great American Insurance Group/USDF Qualifier. Largo Di Molton, ridden by Jane Hannigan and owned by Suzanne Southall, of Newton, MA, won the USEF 4th Level Test 3. Due to its popularity, the USDF 4th Level Test 2 Open was split into two sections, 3A and 3B. Laine W. Hills, DVM, from Fort Lauderdale, FL, won 3A with Ukarde, and Silva Martin, of Unionville, PA, won 3B aboard Zoran. Martin’s husband, Boyd, well-known for his success in Olympic eventing, took second in Wednesday’s 5-Year-Old Suitability class with Dhouble Scoop.
Nancy Lewis-Stanton and Bellatesse HTF, owned by Chris Schuler of Fleetwood, PA, took first in the USEF Young Horse Test for Four-Year-Olds. Nadine Buberl and Fashion Designer Old, owned by Dr. Cesar Parra, based in Whitehouse Station, NJ, won both Thursday and Friday’s FEI Young Horse Test for 5-Year-Olds. Wanja Gerlach and Ribery 20, from Middleburg, VA, won the FEI Young Horse Test for 6-Year-Olds.
German Oldenburgs Sweep Breed Show
Before the Performance Division, Dressage at Devon held the world’s largest breed show where participants are judged 60% on movement, 30% on conformation, and 10% on overall impression. After 19 different breed classes, the 2013 Dressage at Devon Breed Division Grand Champion winner and recipient of the Curtis Paul Cheyney Jr. Memorial Trophy was Sanibelle, a German Oldenburg mare owned by Susan Craft of Elon, NC, and bred by Louise Rascoe. The Reserve Grand Champion of All Stallions/Mares/Geldings went to La Belladonna, a German Oldenburg owned and bred by Nancy Holoweski of Crosiadore Farm, located in MD. Totil Hit, son of the famed Totalis, won the bronze Donnerhall Perpetual Trophy for the Highest Scoring German Oldenburg as well as winning the German Oldenburg Verbrand class, the largest IBC class at Devon. Totil Hit is bred and owned by Sherry and Don Smith, of Mansfield, Georgia.
Local Iron Spring Farm Champions
Jupiter ISF, a Friesian from Iron Spring Farm in Coatesville, PA, was the Overall Colt/Gelding Champion despite stiff competition. He also was Reserve Champion in the Friesian class, second in the Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding class, and third in the Great American/USDF Colt Final. Holding their own against the numerous warmbloods, Friesians Nynke Ris and Yfke fan Fjildsicht, both of Iron Spring Farm, placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Four Years & Older Broodmare class.
Iron Spring Farm charged full steam ahead when full sisters Izara ISF and Isadora ISF placed first and second in the Fillies of 2013 class and were Champion and Reserve Champion in both the Devon Foal Championship and Great American/USDF Foal Final. Iron Spring Farm’s Dutch Warmblood Watch Me won Produce of Dam while Floraya ISF won the Filly Championship early Tuesday. The Colt/Gelding Championship went to Cha Ching of Hilltop Farm, based in Colora, MD.
Unusual Breeds & Two Retirements
Breeder Maryanna Haymon of Columbus, NC, won both the Mare Championships Great American/USDFBC Qualifier with Diamond Girl and the Get of Sire with Don Principe. Rosa Parks, a three-year-old filly owned and bred by Kristine Pino, won the Born in the USA class while Cinderella, a German Riding Pony, won the Suitable to Become a Dressage Horse for Six-Year-Olds with Erin Brook Freedman, of EBF Sport Horses, located in Oak Hill, VA. Maat van Ulitert and Troubador, a Florida-based gelding out of a rescued New Holland mare, won the Appaloosa Sport Horse division. April Schultz won the class with CCS Legolas, owned by Maureane Hoffman of Durham, NC.
German Oldenburg breeder Mo Swanson, from Slatington, PA, won the Breeder’s Group Class, and Tommie Turvey entertained the crowds with his flashy Paint geldings Joker’s Wild and Ace in the Hole. Saturday presented Rocher, owned by Joann and Chuck Smith, the record-setting Westphalian mare and the only horse to win the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle three times, with her formal retirement ceremony in the Dixon Oval. A ceremony was also held for Axel Steiner, an FEI-O and 5* judge. After judging the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games, the World Cup Finals, decades of Dressage at Devon, along with a host of other national and international events, Steiner is retired at the age of 72. Tiffany Arey of Collegeville, PA won the popular Ladies’ Hat Contest on Friday for prettiest hat, Stephanie Dahne, from West Chester, PA, won most creative, and Sarah Ford, of Chadds Ford, PA, won most unusual.
Overall, Dressage at Devon was again an eventful, treasured venue for both fresh and seasoned riders as well as a satisfying show for spectators.
Complete results are available at dressageatdevon.org.