By Tara Hankinson
While bays and chestnuts ruled the Dixon Oval, the bright, diverse spirit of the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair was reflected in the Pony Hunter divisions today where palomino, buckskin, and appaloosa competitors peppered the division. At Devon, color and variety reign supreme. Exhibitors and spectators alike shared their enthusiasm through vibrant ensembles.
Jackets and show shirts remain demure, but out of the ring, riders wore a monochromatic rainbow of schooling breeches in charcoal grey, steely blue, navy, and black. After dismounting, junior riders perused the show grounds in playful Chuck Taylors, Crocs or Sperry Topsiders to buy their first lemon sticks of the show. Spectators dazzled from day to night in corals, florals, lime green and sky blues with beribboned straw hats; Vendor Katie Whaley of Hats By Katie said women are prioritizing sun coverage, purchasing straw and canvas creations.
Devon moved digital this year with newsfeeds on Facebook and Twitter; the souvenirs booth has been updated as well. Whimsical polka-dotted bows feature the emblematic Devon Horse, and, for adults, new zebra-printed drink buckets dress up any bottle of wine or champagne. As with the many disciplines of Devon, variety is the spice of life; visit the Tea Cart for an array of cakes and the time-honored sugared iced tea with mint. Basking in the “Devon blue” of the Main Grandstand, surrounded by the cheerful outfits of fellow Devon devotees makes the tradition even sweeter.
By Sara Cavanagh
Christy DiStefano of Ramsey, N.J., was one of the most successful junior riders yesterday at the opening day of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, which runs until May 31.
Three equitation classes, competitions in which the position and riding ability of the juniors is judged, were held on the first day of Junior Weekend, which runs today and tomorrow. Entries were so large in the three classes that two were divided into three sections of about 37 each, while the third was split into four sections of about 30 each.
DiStephano, riding a big chestnut gelding named Rodin, won her section of the WIHS Equitation class, Jumper Phase, and was second in her section of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search.
“This is my biggest win ever at Devon,” said DiStefano, who has competed at Devon twice before. “It has always been a goal of mine to win at Devon. I really wanted to win the Talent Search. It’s my favorite class because it’s more jumper based, and it’s also a Talent Search.”
DiStefano, 18, is a senior at Ramsey High School and will attend the University of Oregon next year.
“I’m deferring college until the winter, because I want time to concentrate on the finals,” said DiStefano, referring to the four major year-end championship equitation classes held in Gladstone, N.J., Harrisburg, Pa., Washington D.C. and Syracuse, N.Y. in the fall.
“Devon is different from other horse shows,” said DiStefano, who trains with Stacia Madden of Beacon Hill in Colts Neck, N.J. for equitation. “It has almost the feel of a final. All the top barns are here. There’s a great sense of competition. Everyone wants to win.”
Junior compete in jumper, pony hunter and hunter classes today and tomorrow, and a week of adult competition begins Sunday with the Carriage Please Drive, which arrives at the Dixon Oval at 2 p.m.