The Dixon Oval has hosted countless Devon Legends, including some of the most famous and successful Grand Prix jumpers. Throughout the years, these mounts have had their moment in the spotlight, collecting numerous Sapphire Grand Prix victories and Championship titles, but few can say that their horse has shown for nearly two decades in the Dixon Oval.
Andrew Ross, a rider and trainer based out of Foxfield Farm in Reinholds, Pennsylvania, has been showing at The Devon Horse Show and The Devon Fall Classic for years. He returned to the 2024 Devon Fall Classic with his longtime partner, Electra. The 1998 Thoroughbred mare went second to last on the final day of Take2 Thoroughbred Jumper competition, laying down the fastest time out of the field to take the win on Friday morning. But, the Devon blue ribbon he adorned on her had more meaning than met the eye.
Electra is far from a stranger to the Devon podium, having shown at Devon since 2007. In those 17 years, she has competed in countless classes including the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix where she placed 10th, the Welcome Jumper Stake, and the 1.40m jumpers where she placed first.
Electra started off her career as a racehorse in Maryland. After a brief stint on the track, she was deemed too “uphill” to be fast and was restarted as a hunter. It wasn’t until Olympic trainer, Pierre Jolicaire saw Electra doing a one stride in a Hunter two stride in and out that she was introduced to the jumper ring.
Jolicaire took over her training with the hope of marketing her with his other high-end showjumpers, and though she was one of the best in the barn, her thoroughbred breeding held potential buyers back from jumping on the sale of the horse.
Ross periodically rode the off-the-track thoroughbred when he was still an amateur rider in Virginia while she was with Jolicaire. She passed through the hands of a few trainers before eventually, Ross purchased her as his own personal mount when she was just six years old.
And that is just the beginning of their two-decade-long partnership together.
When asked about the early months of their partnership, Ross noted: “…she would just jump so high over everything.” He continued admitting, “We had a lot of time faults in the beginning because she spent so much time in the air jumping that high over all the fences…she just hung in the air so long.”
Eventually, the athletic mare found her stride and became the “cheat code” horse that she still is 20 years later. Ross reflected on her character stating,
“She still loves it, you know, she wants to come to the shows and wants to go in the ring. I was thinking about something today, ‘don’t you always want to go back and do something in your life that you had done a long time ago?’ And she lets me do it. I’ve had her for so long and she’s still competitive. She has the biggest heart of any horse I have ever met. There was nothing she wouldn’t try to win.”
After a highly successful career jumping 1.45m Prixs and larger jumper classes, Electra has a newfound passion for speeding around in the Thoroughbred Jumper divisions, taking current rider, Rachael Kealey to Thoroughbred Jumper Champion titles at The Devon Fall Classic in 2022 and 2023.
Ross took back the reins of his longtime partner for the 2024 Devon Fall Classic, claiming the Reserve Champion title in the division.
