Devon, PA – Oct. 1, 2023 – The sun was shining bright for the final day of competition at the 2023 edition of Dressage at Devon presented by Kingsview Partners welcoming the much beloved, Freestyle Sunday. U25, Junior, Amateur, and other CDI riders took their turn in the Dixon Oval dancing their way down the centerline for the last time this year.
Coming off of her recent gold in the Junior Individual Championship at The 2023 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championships, presented by USDF, Rowe closed out her 2023 competition year at Dressage at Devon on Jason Rowe’s 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Lightfire Just Do It recreated the same magic here at Dressage at Devon posting the only score over 70% of the class, riding to a final score of 71.040% in the CDIJ Junior Freestyle.
Rowe kicked off her trip to DaD on Friday with her first win of the week in the CDIJ Junior Team Class posting her first score over 70% of the week with a 70.404%. On Saturday, she continued her winning streak with another blue ribbon performance posting a score of 69.069%. Completing the Dressage at Devon trifecta, Rowe claimed her third and final victory of Dressage at Devon in her least favorite event, the freestyle with her best score of the week. Recapping her performance Rowe stated, “The freestyle is not my favorite. It was pretty good, and Nike was good. the canter half passes are probably my favorite to do on him, because he just bunches up and he just goes along and does what he’s best at.
Reflecting on her first experiences riding with the magical atmosphere of DaD, “I thought it was great,” she stated “It’s a very different show, and not like other shows, it is very original!” The young Virginian will be skipping the winter season in Wellington to focus on school, but will be riding Lightfire Just Do It, her show jumper, and her pony in the off-season in preparation for Young Riders next spring.
Keelin Craige and Molly Ryan’s 2009 ISR gelding, Capstone’s Oh Henry (Empire’s Power × Wild Rush) claimed the second-place position with a score of 65.430.
Amateurs took center stage and the penultimate class of the day in the CDIAm Intermediate I Freestyle.
The win in the CDIAm Intermediate I Freestyle, sponsored by Mary Phelps/Markel Insurance, went to Ici De La Vigne, owned and ridden by Christina Morin-Graham. The 2013 KWPN mare by Jazz x Future 71, posted a 69.683% to secure the blue.
Don Giorgio on his own Sensei, the 2013 Westphalian Gelding by Sezuan 2 × Fürst Piccolo 2, bred by Christine Schreiner took home second with a 68.850%.
Rounding out the podium in third it was Amina Bursese of Jupiter, FL and C Discreto, a PRE 2014 Stallion by Machin × Carbonero V, bred by Yeguada Castelnovo with a 67.792%.
The final class of the 2023 edition of Dressage at Devon was the CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle. Erin Bonneville scored an impressive 74.225% to take home the win with her own Qennett HTF, a 2014 Hanoverian Gelding by Qredit Hilltop × Negro, bred by Hilltop Farm Inc.
Second went to Meagan Davis of Loxahatchee, FL and Toronto Lightfoot, owned by Scott Durkin. To the soundtrack of James Bond, Davis posted a 72.075% aboard the 2013 Oldenburg gelding by Totilas x Onassis, bred at the Lightfoot Breedings Stables in Denmark by ZG Lyngs u.Damsbo, Stutteri Lightfoot.
Laine Ashker rounded out the top three, scoring a personal best of 71.033% aboard Ann Wilson’s 2014 Oldenburg Gelding, Zeppelin, by Blue Hors Zack × Hardenberg Donnerschwee, bred by Richard Wiegert.
