Dressage-News

DEVON, Pennsylvania, Apr. 7–The centerpiece Dixon Oval at the historic showgrounds that hosts Dressage at Devon on Wednesday received its promised new footing that will make it one of the finest competition arenas in the United States.

Belgian footing expert Bart Poels and his American partner, Brett Raflowitz, began installing the new all-weather footing after preparing the base in the arena that is in the heart of Philadelphia’s Main Line.

The footing being installed by the Bart Poels company, Equestrian Services International, LLC is the same as that at the 2008 Olympic Games venue in Hong Kong and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center that is home to the Winter Equestrian Festival.

The Devon Horse Show that organizes hunter/jumper competitions was begun in 1896 and has operated from the current show grounds for more than a century. Its intimate setting and ability to raise substantial sums for nearby Bryn Mawr hospital attracts large crowds for both hunter/jumper and dressage shows.

In recent years the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, Inc. that operates the show grounds has extensively rebuilt the permanent stabling.

The 114th annual Devon Horse Show that begins on May 27 and runs for 11 days will be the first event on the newly installed all-weather footing.

Another major improvement to be undertaken next year is a new hospitality complex to host receptions.

Dressage at Devon is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. It is a World Cup qualifying competition and the largest open breed show.

The event this is scheduled for Sept. 28 to Oct. 3, in direct conflict with the dressage competition of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.