September 2023 Issue

Page 6 September 2023 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 26 - October 1 Special Events Dressage at Devon 2023 Photo credit: Conklin Photography Fall Festival: Food There is fashion, there is fun, and then there is the food. Boasting an honor of similar magnitude to the shopping experience at the Fall Festival, the food is not to be missed and has been deemed by com- petitors nationwide as some of the “Best Food on the Show Circuit.” Offering a variety of delicious food choices as well as custom-made espresso drinks, the food vendors offer the chance to refuel for more shopping or to take a minute to relax. The Pub, centrally located to the boutique shops, is the best place to enjoy a beverage, mingle with friends and make new ones. You won’t miss a moment of the competi- tion as the Pub televisions will provide closed-circuit coverage. Grier School DRESSAGE EXPLORERS (KIDS) DAY Dressage at Devon is excited to showcase the Grier School’s Dressage Explorers Day on Sunday, October 1st--it is the ultimate kid’s day! Horse enthusiasts of all ages are welcome to participate in many fun and educational events starting with the Blessing of the Animals. Join us for the Make-N-Take Stick Horse and ride your new Grand Prix stick horse in the Dixon Oval Centerline ride with ribbons for all. The Barn Day Spirit Competition with the theme of Dancin’ in the Dixon will feature numerous horse groups, including Pony Club and the Montgomery County 4H, who will organize the Model Horse Competition. Dressage Explorers Day will also host a variety of educational opportunities. The Uni- versity of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center will allow kids of all ages to ‘Meet a Vet & Vet Tech’ and provide valuable information on what it’s like to be a vet, and the path to a career in Equine Veterinary Medicine. Check out the Dressage at Devon webpage for a list of exhibitors and latest updates. Hilary Clayton Biomechanics Seminar Thursday September 28th, "Training Your Eye to Evaluate the Horse’s Biomechanics” with Dr. Hilary Clayton BVMS, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, FRCVS This state-of-the-art lecture offers USDF University Credits and will focus on training your eye to evaluate a horse’s biomechanics with a lecture format and live stream footage of the show. Tickets are available on the website. The Dressage at Devon Forum is Back! Wednesday, September 27th, New Bolton Center experts will present a two-hour evening lecture from 7-9 pm on the showgrounds. The presenters will be speaking on two exciting and groundbreaking topics: 1. “What is Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM)? Find out what we're learning from head to tail.” Presented by: Sarah F. Colmer, VMD, DACVIM-LA Neurology Fellow, New Bolton Center, Amy Johnson, DVM, DACVIM-LA, DACVIM-Neurology, and Marilyn M. Simpson Associate Professor of Equine Medicine Section/Service Chief, Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology. 2. “Want to compete your mare and breed her too? Learn the Ins and Outs of ICSI (Intracy- toplasmic Sperm Injection)!” Presented by: Tamara Dobbie, DVM, DACT Associate Professor, New Bolton Center, and Katrin Hinrichs, DVM, PhD, DACT Henry Werner Professor of Equine Medicine Chair, Department of Clinical Studies – New Bolton Center. This event is free to attend with General Admission; please reserve your seat by registering online on the Special Events page on the website. “Positive Reinforcement for Dressage Horses” Presented by: Shawna Karrasch Friday, September 29th, from noon-3 pm Karrasch’s highly successful training techniques have been proven to improve the performance of many species, and she is excited to expand the tools riders have for training dressage horses in harmony. This event is free to attend with General Admission; please reserve your seat by registering online on the Special Events page on the website. Dressage at Devon DANCE OFF Friday, September 29, 2023, Evening Elite Grand Prix dressage riders “battling” to live music will be sure to bring new meaning to com- peting under the lights in the Dixon Oval! Imagine a head-to-head breakdancing competition – for horses. Horse and rider combinations will duel against one another to contemporary, LIVE music, with a panel of celebrity judges providing numerical marks and live commentary to determine the victor. Each round will result in a winner who will proceed to a one-tempi challenge, which will determine our 2023 Dance Off Champion. Unofficial spectator judging will also be offered, so you can benchmark the crowd’s marks vs those given by the four-person judging panel of equestrian stars and non-equestrian celebrities. Dressage at Devon HAT DAY Calling all Fashionistas! Bring your creative flare, put on your best “show day” hat, and come enjoy the fun of Dressage at Devon’s Hat Day on Friday, September 29th, at lunchtime. Those voted to have the best hats and the best outfits of the day shall be crowned the winners. All ages are welcome to participate. Shoppin' in the USA Presented by Horses 4 Your Consideration Thursday, September 28th, Shoppin’ in the USA, presented by Horses 4 Your Consideration takes the main stage in the Dixon Oval at the lunch break. Spectators are treated to a ringside view and presentation by top US breeders showcasing select sale horses. Program participation is only open to horses competing at Dressage at Devon. For more information, please visit dressageatdevon.org . Photo credit: Bob Conklin Photography (Continued from page 4) Photo credit: Phelps, Emma Miller Photo credit: Bob Conklin Photography