Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon kicked off with Breed Competition on day one of the qualifying event for the USDF Breeders Championship East Coast Series and East Coast Series Championship Final. Numerous breeds competed for the chance to participate in the Select Breeder Services (SBS) Parade of Breeds, where the winners of each breed class were invited back into the Dixon Oval and presented with a special rosette.
Hannah Heritage and Athena LG, a 2019 mare owned and bred by Margaret Graham, won the Hanoverian class sponsored by the American Hanoverian Society. A longtime attendee of the show, Hannah and Margaret were thrilled to take home the grand champion ribbon.
She said, “I’ve been coming to Devon for almost ten years. The atmosphere is just so cool, and the people are wonderful. We all have a shared passion for the sport, and the young horses are great to watch. We’ve all kind of become a little bit of family, knowing each other for such a long time. It’s great seeing the young horses, learning about pedigrees and their potential, and then being able to watch them under saddle later.”
Sayyidah RZ, a 2023 mare owned, handled, and bred by Angela White, placed first in the Purebred Arabian class sponsored by the Arabian Horse Association. She has been bringing horses to Dressage at Devon for many years and was excited to return this year.
White said, “I think it’s been almost ten years since I started competing at Devon. So I’ve been bringing a lot of horses down for this show. This is the third purebred that I’ve won this class with. Devon is just a very beginner-friendly show. Everybody’s here to help each other out. It’s a great way to highlight your youngsters. It’s the oldest show in the world, and you’re competing with some of the best breeders in the country. So it’s incredible to have that opportunity.”
Bruce Griffin III was seen running between arenas as he handled numerous horses throughout the day.
“When I come to Devon, everyone’s here. I’ve been coming since I was a kid with my dad; he did the same thing, and now I’ve taken over for him. I love seeing the young horses and working with them in the beginning and then, towards the end, seeing the greater outcome,” said Bruce.
Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon Breed Competition continues tomorrow with day two of the 2024 qualifying event for the ProElite/USDF Breeders Championship East Coast Series and East Coast Series Championship Final.
