DEVON, Pa.—Caroline Moran, a top amateur owner competitor who has been champion at Devon for four of the past five years, has been invited to join the Horse Show Committee of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
The innovative Devon officers are always looking for ways to improve the show, so adding a highly respected exhibitor to the committee gives them an immediate insight into the show from the point of view of a competitor.
Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, May 24 to June 3, has donated over $12 million to Bryn Mawr Hospital since 1919 and with its on-going improvements expects to continue donating well over a quarter of a million dollars to the hospital annually.
“They do a great job with the show,” said Moran. “Every year they put in more and more improvements. They’re very receptive to suggestions.”
Although Moran now lives on her farm in Wellington, Fla., she has deep ties to both Chester County and the Devon Horse Show.
She was brought up in Malvern, and her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth R. (Betty) Moran, whose Brushwood Stable is a major player in thoroughbred racing and breeding, is also a member of the Devon Board of Directors.
Caroline has been showing at Devon since she was a junior and has countless championships to show for it.
Her Ring Bearer was Grand Hunter Champion in 1995, ridden by Moran in amateur owner and by Holly Orlando in regular hunter divisions.
She rode St. Nick, a big grey stallion, to the Amateur Owner Hunter Championship, 18 to 35, in 2002 and 2003, and she won the Championship in the over 35 section on In Return in 2004 and on Pave in 2005.
Both St. Nick and In Return are now retired, and St. Nick stands at stud at Rigby Farm in Maryland.
Keeping it all in the family, In Return just dropped a filly by St. Nick
This year Moran will show Just Jack in the Amateur, over 35, section.
“I’ve had Just Jack for a couple of years,” said Moran. “Havens Schatt will show him in Regular Working Hunters, and I’ll show him in the Amateur division.”
Green and Regular Working Hunters, along with Green and Regular Conformation Hunters, show Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 28, 29 and 30.
Scott Stewart, who has been Leading Hunter Rider at Devon for the past four years, is returning to defend his title, and off a very successful show circuit at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington and Tampa, Fla., this past winter, he is touted to be the overwhelming favorite to defend his title.
Side saddle classes, an under saddle, an over fences and a hunter hack, follow the pinning of the Devon Grand Hunter Champion and Leading Hunter Rider Wednesday afternoon.
Amateur Owner Hunters compete Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2.
Devon has added an 11th day this year in honor of its 111th year, and Sunday, June 3 will feature Local Hunters with an owner to ride and a stake class.
Local Hunters begin competing the day before, Saturday, June 2, at 8:30 a.m. in the Gold Ring, but on Sunday they become the center of attraction in the Dixon Oval.
Junior weekend opens the show on Thursday, May 24 with equitation, hunter and jumper classes.
The Carriage Pleasure Drive on Sunday opens a week of adult competition in hunters, jumpers, three- and five-gaited horses, Friesians, hackney and harness horses and ponies, roadsters and four-in-hand coaching.
Thursday, May 31, is devoted to Breeding classes featuring yearlings, 2- and 3-year olds.
Four-in-hand coaching is scheduled during the evenings of Monday through Friday, and the Friday night schedule includes a number of Saddlebred championships.
The final evening of the show includes three- and five-gaited, Hackney Pony, Fine Harness Horse and Roadster championships, building up to the $50,000 Idle Dice Stake, the Open Jumper Championship and the Leading Open Jumper Rider award.
A number of exhibitions are scheduled for the 11 days, including dressage exhibitions, pairs competing in carriage racing, barrel racing and border collies.
The Country Fair features boutique shopping for sporting clothes, often with an equestrian motif, paintings and prints, gorgeous gold and silver jewelry, garden accessories, furniture painted with horses and dogs, fancy hats, leather goods and antiques, collectibles and souvenirs.
The fair offers many diversions ranging from a merry-go-round and more adventurous rides to all kinds of games like shooting metal ducks marching across the stand for prizes like enormous stuffed bears.
The Ferris wheel dominates the fair, towering over the Dixon Oval, and is visible for miles away on Route 30.
Food is available for every taste from hamburgers and hot dogs to gourmet dining in the Cafeteria, and the famous Devon fudge. And don’t forget the lemon sticks.
General admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12 and $5 for seniors. Reserved seating is available. Call for ticket prices.
The ticket office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., until May 18.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at the ticket office at the show grounds or call 610-688-2554.
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