Fifty Years of Dressage at Devon
What began in 1975 as a regional show is now both a World Cup qualifier and a last-chance stop on the road to the U.S. Equestrian Open Final.
A crisp chill hung in the autumn air as a 14.2-hand Connemara–Thoroughbred cross trotted into the famed Dixon Oval. Far smaller than his competitors, not that he knew it, Seldom Seen commanded attention. The flashy grey was about to dance his final Grand Prix freestyle. Piloted by Olympian Lendon Gray, the superstar in a pony’s body rode to victory, sweeping Devon’s top classes that year. He was then honored with a retirement ceremony, stepping away as a crowd darling who proved heart matters as much as size.
These moments, the ones that become legendary stories, are why Dressage at Devon carries a special weight in American dressage. Each autumn, careers are tested, champions are crowned, and Olympic horses are made against the pale blue grandstands of the Dixon Oval.
Dressage at Devon (DAD) was founded in 1975 by the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA). As the show grew in popularity, it began adding breed divisions, exhibitions, and larger classes. The show became a World Cup qualifier in 1990 and quickly became the biggest stage for East Coast dressage.
Turning 50 this year, DAD again hosts a week-long dressage festival, with vendors, masterclasses, and of course, the most elite classes in the sport. This weekend’s Performance Division not only kicks off the 2026 World Cup Finals qualifiers, but it also hosts one of the final qualifiers for the U.S. Equestrian Open of Dressage Final.
This is a destination show, a bucket list item. For U.S. riders, riding Devon’s Saturday Night Freestyle is not unlike running cross-country at Kentucky. It’s iconic, with the crowds close, the lights hot, and the atmosphere electric. For international riders, it’s a chance to experience U.S. dressage at its most iconic. Six-time dressage Olympian Robert Dover called Devon, “the standard by which all American horse shows should be judged.”
As one of the last three qualifiers in the U.S. Equestrian Open, Saturday’s Freestyle will have lasting effects on who makes it to the Final. With 17 riders entered, it is the largest qualifying class we’ve seen all season, and the list is stacked. Kevin Kohmann, Charlotte Jorst, Camille Carier Bergeron, Benjamin Ebeling, Eline Eckroth, and of course, series leader Anna Marek on Fire Fly. A big freestyle here could push a rider into qualifying territory… or knock someone out.
In the coming days we’ll break down the data on the field of competitors. For now, tune into the breed division and get excited because CDIs are back on American soil.
