Dressage-News

DEVON, Pennsylvania, Oct. 8, 2019–Dressage at Devon on Tuesday launched a campaign seeking donations to fund the event on Main Line Philadelphia that was begun at the current show grounds 45 years ago.

Organizers of the tax-exempt show said that “several hardships” in the past decade required the appeal for contributions to continue the event that is a World Cup qualifier and also hosts one of the largest breed shows.

“To continue the show’s efforts to serve as a mecca for national and international dressage enthusiasts, we are asking for help to continue the tradition of a week of exceptional caliber dressage,” the organizers said in a statement.

Dressage at Devon on show grounds in the midst of upscale suburban Philadelphia draws large crowds mostly from the surrounding communities for traditional Saturday night Freestyles.

Reports over the years have also raised the issue of changing the zoning to residential to capitalize on high property values and the potential for increasing local government revenues from taxes.

The show was one of 17 CDIs of 3* and above in the United States and Canada in 2010. The calendar has expanded to 24 CDIs of 3* and above, including the only 4* and 5*, Nations Cup and four World Cup events at the Global Dressage Festival of seven weeks of CDIs over winter.

Devon expanded the CDI performance division over the past decade but the Grand Prix that totaled 23 entries in 2010 dropped to 12 in 2018 and bounced back to 19 this year.

The show is on the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) calendar for 2020.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair of jumpers and hunters is organized by a different entity and is also on the calendar for 2020.