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36 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE H O R S E S H O W

Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is a Treat for Everyone

Jen Alfano is one of many top hunter trainers who fock to Devon each year

Four in hands are always a crowd favorite at the Devon Horse Show

All photos courtesy Devon Horse Show and Country Fair

The 115th Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 26 through June 5, has many improvements, including all new state-of-the-art footing in the Gold Ring to complement the footing installed in the Dixon Oval last year, which drew many compliments.

The show opens with the traditional Junior Weekend, featuring equitation classes on Thursday, with ponies and junior hunter and jumper classes contested Friday and Saturday.

The Pony Hunt Teams, in which the teams of three ride in elaborate costumes while presenting “gifts” to the judges, held as the last class Saturday afternoon in the Gold Ring, is a wonderful spectacle.

The Junior Jumper Classic highlights the Saturday evening schedule in the Dixon Oval, followed by the popular Horse Hunt Teams, Parent and Child and Family classes.

The Carriage Pleasure Drive opens the adult week of showing, with the carriages arriving from the pre-judging at St. David’s Church into the Dixon Oval at 2 p.m. Sunday, followed by Pony Jumpers in the afternoon and evening.

First and Second Year Green, Regular Working, Green Conformation and Conformation classes are held Monday through Wednesday, with Adult Jumpers and Coaching featured on Monday evening.

Young Jumpers compete Tuesday and Wednesday, while the frst Open Jumper class is held Tuesday evening.

Thursday is devoted to Breeding classes, with the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon at 8 p.m. Thursday evening.

Amateur Owner Hunters and Jumpers and Local Hunters compete Friday and Saturday.

Coaching classes are evenings Monday through Friday, while Saddlebreds, roadsters, hackney and harness ponies and Friesians compete Wednesday through Saturday evening.

The $50,000 Open Jumper Sakes is the fnal class Saturday evening, followed by the presentation of the leading Open Jumper Rider and Champion Open Jumper awards.

Competition in the jumper section is always exciting and should be extra special this year, as both Laura Chapot and McLain Ward, who have traded the Leading Rider title back and forth, will both compete at Devon this year, along with many other top international competitors and Olympic veterans.

The fnal Sunday is devoted to the $25,000 International Hunter Derby, beginning with round one at 10 a.m. From the starting feld, the top 12 horses will compete again in round two over a handy hunter type course. Tickets will be available over the phone, 610-688-2554, or on the Internet, www.devonhorseshow.org, beginning April 13.

General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over.

Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $50 depending on the performance.