Devon, Pa.-With a first, a Second and a third in the three Pony Jumper classes, Brittni Raflowitz, 11 of Palm City, Fla., won the Championship in that division last evening. “I’m excited to be at Devon,” said Raflowitz. “But I felt confident coming here. I was in it to win.”
Raflowitz, who is home schooled, said she had competed Tallyman for two years. “He’s kind of easy,” said Raflowitz, who admitted he had been a little difficult when she first got him.
The antique fire engine representing the Malvern Fire Co., was the clear spectator favorite in the Light Commercial and Farmers section of the Please Carriage Drive.
Drawn by three dark grey Percherons, the authentic 1903 fire engine, which had been refurbished in 1963, also obviously pleased the judge, as it won over a depot wagon (a horse drawn taxi) and a dog catcher cart, complete with a black lab in the cage on the back.
The whip on the antique fire engine was Phillip Yohe, with his brother Henry and Laurie Naugle riding on the back, all volunteer Malvern firemen.
Beautifully turned out with red, white and blue ribbons braided into their manes, one of the Percherons is a 3-year-old and two are 5, and all three are owned by Phillip Yohe.
“I used three horses abreast today because of the distance on the course,” said Yohe. One more horse helps to pull the engine.”
“In the old days, these pieces were meant to come out of the fire house and go straight to the fire,” said Yohe. “In the old days, they used to add horses, too, for long distances.”
“This engine still works,” said Yohe. “We use it at least once a year, and we go to other fire conventions and to Harisburg with it.”
“Two years ago we came to compete in the Pleasure Drive, but we brought only two horses, so we couldn’t finish,” said Yohe, explaining that he had had to pull up on the course from St. David’s Church to the Devon show grounds because pulling the engine was too much for just two horses.
Louisa N. Plummer, 75 of Zionsville, Pa., won her division of the Drive, the Single Harness, four wheeled vehicle, driving Perot, and was awarded the championship in a drive-off between the winners of each section.
“I’ve began driving when I was unable to ride, about 25 years ago,” said Plummer. “I’ve been driving at Devon about 20 years. This is the fourth year I’ve won the Single Harness, but it’s the first time I’ve won the Championship.”
“My wife Tara and I have trained this horse from the ground up,” said P.J Crowley of the 10-year-old Dutch harness horse, Perot. “He was imported from the Netherlands as a 3-year-old. He is an amazing worker. He’s very, very sensitive. He’s a special horse.”
“I never drove this horse in company before,” said Mrs. Plummer, nattily dressed in a light green jacket over black trousers, a black hat trimmed with orange roses and an orange rose in her lapel. “I’m just satisfied I got through the show and that the horse went well for me. As long as my mind is still good, I guess I can continue doing this.”
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