For many equestrians, competing at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is a dream—an item on a bucket list reserved for a select few of the most talented riders each year. For one mother-daughter duo from California, that dream became an unforgettable reality this year, as the daughter made her first-ever appearance at Devon—and won.
Making the cross-country trip from the West Coast to the storied grounds of Devon, Pennsylvania, was no small feat. But for Stella Rumanes, her mother Michelle Decker-Rumanes, and their horse, Goodnight Moon, it was a journey nine years in the making.
Despite nerves before the final class, Stella rose to the occasion, fueled by years of partnership with Goodnight Moon and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing your horse like family. Her expectations were modest at first—“I was kind of hoping I’d just get a ribbon,” she said—but after winning her first round, everything changed. “Maybe I do kind of have a chance,” she realized. That moment transformed hope into possibility. By the second round, she knew a championship was within reach. As the pressure mounted, she leaned on the connection that had been built over a lifetime. “It’s not really that I’m riding a horse,” she said. “It’s that we’re going around together.”
But beyond the ribbons and accolades, what made this Devon debut extraordinary was the layered story behind it. Michelle had carefully saved and trained Goodnight Moon for years, once riding him herself—even while pregnant with her daughter. Watching Stella now take the reins—literally and figuratively—was more than just a proud parent moment; it was the realization of a dream shared between generations.
“I tried to not be the ‘momager’ and just enjoy watching,” Michelle said, beaming. “It’s not every day you get a first-time Devon participant… who is also a first-time Devon champion.”
