44 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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An Afternoon at Devon
By Marissa L. Quigley
Driving through the quaint little town of Devon, the pale blue
grandstand suddenly comes into view. Deep in the recesses of my
childhood memories images begin to stir: an endless car ride, a
sugar high, spilling something on my jodhpurs and this same view
through the window in the backseat of mom’s car.
There are not many times in my adult life when I can tap back
into that kind of wonder; but the Devon Horse Show is a special
place. I’m standing outside the Dixon Oval, a legendary spot in
itself and the faces from the posters that hung around my childhood
bedroom have come to life around me. I’m there for the Idle Dice
Open Stakes class and this is one of three Olympic Observation
Trials. The course walk is a veritable who’s-who of show jumping
legends: Margie Engle, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward, to
name a few, are walking an enormous, challenging course.
I am greeted at the press box by an elegant woman in a Lilly
Pulitzer dress and pearls -- of course, because it’s Devon and
Lilly is de rigueur. I settle into the back row, trying and failing
to blend in with the other reporters, for whom this event is just
another assignment. The rounds, however, have me completely
spellbound. McLain exudes confdence and poise aboard Antares
F, Indigo is all business and Cedric bounds around like a pony
having fun. When Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z put in the only
clear round, which I can only describe as thrilling, I fght the urge
to cheer.
The class isn’t only made up of living legends, but also
some of our youngest and brightest. As Katie Dinan enters the
ring, the announcer reminds us that she was Best Child Rider
at Devon in 2009, only three short years ago. As she handles
an exuberant buck two strides from a monstrous oxer, which
the pair cleared with ease, I wonder what it must be like to be a
teenager, riding alongside these Olympic greats. I wonder if this
younger generation of riders could possibly have the same level of
reverence I felt at their age, when I was still trying to fgure out the
pony hunters. While I’m amazed at what they’ve accomplished, I
can’t help but wonder: Has the Grand Prix ring lost its mystique to
this generation?
I make my way out of the press box and into the crowd, ducking
between women in fancy hats and kids with cotton candy, hoping
to get a few good shots of the awards presentation. Standing
ringside, I see a familiar sight, as McLain Ward receives his
champion ribbon for leading Open Jumper Rider. I know what’s
coming, and I can’t help but grin, as he walks the big gray stallion
up to where a little girl is standing and hands her his ribbon. I
share a smile with Mr. Ward at her squeals of excitement. After
the shadow of the gorgeous gray passes over us, I kneel down to
interview Mr. Ward’s new number one fan. Sophie King proudly
displays her ribbon and tells me she is fve and three-quarters,
from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She’s beaming and it’s like
looking at a refection of me, twenty years ago. My question, of
course, has been answered: There will always be little girls who
idolize these riders.
Later that afternoon, I have the opportunity to meet Mr. Ward
himself, to shake his hand and pose for a photo for Sidelines.
He’s always been my favorite professional rider and it’s an honor
to meet him. He is humble about his recent successes, gracious
enough not to notice that I’m furiously blushing and thankfully
busy, which didn’t leave me too much time to gush.
Settling in for the evening events, I forego the controlled,
professional atmosphere of the press box in favor of a seat in the
stands. The Amateur-Owners are dazzling the crowd in a very
exciting jump off, daring to take a blind inside turn to the Liverpool
and racing against the clock. I’m cheering over a mouthful of fried
dough, drinking white wine from a plastic cup and I can’t remember
the last time I’ve been so excited. I realize that even though I’ve
long since outgrown my pigtails and garters, I will forever be a fan
of this sport and my pony-crazed inner child will always be just an
afternoon at Devon away.
About the writer: Marissa is a lifelong hunter/jumper rider from
New Jersey. She and her horse, Tucker, compete in the Adult
Amateur Hunters and take very good care of each other. Follow
along with their adventures on the Sidelines Magazine website at
www.sidelinesnews.com/blogs/tuckerthewunderkind.
Marissa has her photo taken with Mr. Ward!
A Popular Blogger Becomes A Reporter and the Result Is Magic, Memories and Mr. Ward!