Devon, Pa. – May 26, 2022 – Top equitation riders from around the country convened at the Devon Horse Show’s Dixon Oval Thursday, eager to kick off the week dedicated to junior competition. The Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 3*, sponsored by Courtyard Marriott, was highlighted in the afternoon packed with a talented field of exhibitors. In Section A of the class, Zayna Rizvi emerged victorious aboard Acer K. Section B saw Avery Glynn earn the top prize with Gerardus.
For 123 years, the Devon Horse Show has been the place “where champions meet” every May to earn top prizes, leading rider titles and the honor of competing at the historic show. The most talented riders throughout the United States set their sights on qualifying for the prestigious event each year, which has been running since 1896. Devon also provides equitation exhibitors the chance to accumulate valuable points towards year-end finals.
Paul Jewell (USA) fashioned a 14-obstacle track for the class that challenged riders to prove their confidence, style, and accuracy in the irons around a technical show jumping course under the pressure of a time-allowed. Several double combinations, a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination, a triple bar, and some long bending lines added to the difficulty of the task at hand. With any jumping faults accumulated being factored into the riders’ scores, they were especially incentivized to ride clean around the course.
At the conclusion of Section A, Rizvi was awarded the top placing by the judges on Acer K. Rizvi is no stranger to the winner’s circle in the equitation ring, having topped the 2021 ASPCA Maclay National Championship at the National Horse Show riding Finnick. Earlier in the day Thursday, she also took the win in the California Split Section A of the Washington Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase, also riding North Run’s Acer K, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding. Rizvi was also awarded the Honey Craven Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated in 2004 by Jane Macelree, for riding to the highest scoring round of the day.
In Section B, it was Avery Glynn and Gerardus, owned by Georgy Maskrey-Segesman, who topped the leaderboard. Though only Glynn’s third time competing with the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, the pair expertly tackled the course, which featured an open water obstacle, and continued to consistently perform during the flat phase. The flat test asked the top 12 athletes to demonstrate a number of tasks, including a sitting trot, a counter-cater and extended canter. Marking Glynn’s first trip to the Devon Horse Show, it was made even more memorable by securing the iconic Devon blue.
In the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Equitation Classic Jumper Phase, sponsored by Courtyard Marriot, earlier in the day, it was Rizvi on Acer K once again who claimed the blue ribbon in the first half of the California Split with a score of 92. Alexa Leong on Donald Stewart’s Any Given Sunday took the red ribbon in the first half of the split with a score of 89. In the second half of the California Split, it was Luke Jensen aboard North Run’s Jamaica who earned first place with a score of 90. Taylor Cawley on Mamba, owned by Blanca Equine LLC, finished in second place for the day.
Section B of the WIHS Equitation Classic Jumper Phase saw just as much tough competition in the Dixon Oval. When the time had come for the prize giving, it was Kingsley Dey on her own Joker De Fallogne who took first place in the first half of the California Split with a score of 91. Kaitlyn Kiely earned the second place ribbon just behind Dey, riding Kiely Equestrian LLC’s The Original to a score of 88. In the second half of the California Split, Ellie Aronson took the blue with a score of 90 aboard Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc.’s Conthacco. Sofia Cady on Brookside Pine Farms, LLC’s Konfessions earned second place with a score of 80 in the split to round out the class on Thursday.
Equitation competition at the 2022 Devon Horse Show will resume Friday, May 27, at 8 a.m. with the ASPCA Maclay Medal, followed by the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Championship.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Zayna Rizvi – Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 3* Section A winner
On her partnership with Acer K:
“He felt really good. He’s always on top of his game but I think he likes [the Dixon Oval]. He was very attentive in the best way possible and he was right there with me.”
On the course:
“I am always nervous when it comes to bending lines to the water because I want to make sure I measure it just right so I can ride up. I thought I did a pretty good job. [Acer K] is so good at jumping the water though, so no matter what is going to help me out. Other than that I thought the course was really nice.”
On the flat:
“I always have to focus on keeping my upper body still, it’s something I have to focus on with every horse. [Acer K] is really good at all of the tricks on the flat.”
On the Devon Horse Show”
“Last time I was here I was competing my medium pony, so this is my first time doing the horses here, which is exciting. I’m very excited to do the jumpers later, I’m looking forward to it.”
Avery Glynn – Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 3* Section B winner
On Gerardus:
“I believe he is 11 years old and this is only the third time I’ve ever shown him. I showed him once in California and then last week at the Kentucky Horse Show. We are a fairly new partnership but he is one of the more talented horses I’ve ever sat on in my life. He gives you the best feeling in the ring and the best feeling over the jumps. I’ve never seen a horse with so much potential in the equation ring that I’ve gotten to ride. I’m really enjoying getting to ride him. Thank you to his owner Georgy [Maskrey-Segesman] for giving me this opportunity.”
On the course:
“It’s obviously a Talent Search so there is open water, but he is super brave at the water and I wasn’t worried about that. It was just getting on a flow and staying on a flow throughout the course, then you make the time allowed and the lines and jumps just come up nicely.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“This is my first time here, but it’s living up to my expectations, and they were quite high. I’m really enjoying it here and that was just so exciting to get to win that.”
RESULTS
Washington Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section A – First California Split
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Acer K / Zayna Rizvi / North Run
2. Any Given Sunday / Alexa Leong / Donald Stewart
Washington Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section A – Second California Split
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Jamaica / Luke Jensen / North Run
2. Mamba / Taylor Cawley / Blanca Equine LLC
Washington Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section B – First California Split
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Joker De Fallogne / Kingsley Dey / Kingsley Dey
2. The Original / Katilyn Kiely / Kiely Equestrian LLC
Washington Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section B – Second California Split
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Conthacco / Ellie Aronson / Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc.
2. Konfessions / Sofia Cady / Brookside Pine Farms, LLC
Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 3* – Section A
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Acer K / Zayna Rizvi / North Run
2. Cento Chico / Dominic Gibbs / LG Sport Horses LLC
3. Glenti SIH / Skylar Wireman / Leah Von Henkle
Platinum Performance / USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 3* – Section B
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Gerardus / Avery Glynn / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman
2. Izar / Augusta Iwasaki / Ashland Farms
3. HH Moonshine / Tessa Downey / Tessa Downey
Dover Saddlery / USEF Hunt Seat Medal – Section A
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Salvatore / Baylee McKeever / McLain Ward
2. Attendu de Lannois Z / Augusta Iwasaki / Ashland Farms
3. Serendipity / Francesca Guidi / Francesca Guidi
Dover Saddlery / USEF Hunt Seat Medal – Section B
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Jamaica / Luke Jensen / North Run
2. Castlefield Spartacus / Isabella David / West Hill
3. Conthacco / Ellie Aronson / Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc.
Dover Saddlery / USEF Hunt Seat Medal – Section C
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Kaskade / Sterling Malnik / Sterling Malnik
2. Van Gogh / Eve Westfall / Barn Rat LLC
3. Gerardus / Avery Glynn / Georgy Maskrey- Segesman
