Photo credit: Brenda Carpenter Photography
Known as the place “Where Champions Meet”, the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair heralds in their 126th year of world class competition, May 26th to June 5th, 2022, at the historic Devon Show Grounds. The oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse show in North America, this year once again brings together elite equestrians from varied disciplines in one extraordinary 11 day event. Hunters, Equitation, Jumpers, Saddlebreds, Roadsters, Carriage Driving and Coaching alike will all have their chance to compete for a spot in the famed winner’s circle in the Dixon Oval.
From its humble beginnings in 1896, the first Devon Horse show began as a one-day event that consisted of approximately thirty classes. The fenced-in show ring was constructed on grass and the judges and officials sat in a gazebo in the center of the ring. Today, the Devon Horse show boasts impressive competition rings featuring hundreds of riders competing in over 300 classes.
Elite open jumper athletes who ride at Devon this year will have the opportunity to vie in multiple classes for prizes and awards totaling over $482,000. These highly accomplished equestrians will have the chance to compete in the $37,000 Main Line Challenge, the $37,000 Devon International Speed Stake, the $50,000 Jet Run Devon Welcome Stake and the $74,000 Idle Dice Open. The main event and Grand Dame of Devon competition, the Sapphire Grand Prix, offers $250,000 in prize money for this its 42nd year. With a FEI CSI4 ranking, athletes competing in any of these events will be eligible to earn world ranking points.
2022 will also feature the country’s top hunter riders in high level competition. Recognized for its world-class hunter events, Devon will once again host a variety of hunter divisions, all with a US Equestrian (USEF) Premier hunter rating. A highlight of the week, these skilled athletes will compete for the highly regarded title in the fan favorite $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby which will once again be sponsored by the Wheeler family. Competition for this event kicks off on Thursday, June 2nd at 12 pm.
From Wednesday, June 1 through Saturday June 4th, the graceful Saddlebred and Hackney competition classes take to the Dixon Oval. The $3,000 Five-Gaited Saddlebred Stake brings the elegance of these athletes to the forefront on Friday, June 3rd.
The Devon Horse Show is also proud to announce the return of Devon Arena Eventing. This extraordinary competition features a blend of cross-country and stadium jumps across both the Dixon Oval and Wheeler Rings. Open to 30 of the nation’s top athletes, the technically difficult course will once again be designed by Olympic Gold Medalist, Captain Mark Phillips of Great Britain.
A number of family friendly exhibitions will also take place throughout the show. On Thursday, May 26th, the canines take to the Dixon oval to compete in the Devon Dog Show. Presented by What A Good Dog, the show will include an exciting exhibition and four classes: Walk-Trot with Me, Jumpers, Tricks and the Lead Line Costume Parade. Other must-see exhibitions include the USPC Mounted Games on Friday, May 27th, the always popular Radnor Hunt Hounds on Saturday May 28th and the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase on Sunday May 29th and Monday May 30th.
For more information about the 2022 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair and to purchase tickets, visit www.devonhorseshow.net.