Devon, Pa. - When the all-star cast of the world's best horses and riders arrive at the 2016 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, they will be met by an equally talented panel of judges.

The judges will be tasked with one of the toughest jobs of all, picking the winners from the very best of the best. It is a challenging task, but the management of the Devon Horse Show goes nationwide to provide the most highly rated judges, year after year.

This year, scoring the hunters, hunt seat equitation, side saddle, hunter derby and hunter breeding classes will be Mr. Daniel Robertshaw of Camden, South Carolina, making his sixth Devon Horse Show appearance and Mr. Scott Williamson from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, coming to Devon for the fourth time in his career.

"Historically, it's such a grand place, and everyone places so much importance on doing well at Devon," Robertshaw said. "You have the setting, with the Dixon Oval, the Country Fair and the ambiance and the history behind it, and that creates a very, very special environment, so that all makes it very exciting to begin with. Then there's the fact that there aren't a thousand rings going at one time, so that gives the very best horses a chance to be showcased there from every aspect."

Williamson agreed, saying, "It's one of the finest horse shows in America. The quality of the horses, the quality of the facility, the long history, the great crowds they get, just everything about Devon makes it unlike any other show in America. It's one of the few special horse shows left in America."

"It's a place where, if you come away with a champion or reserve, it's very special," Robertshaw continued. "For a lot of folks a ribbon is just a ribbon, but at Devon it's something you'll always feel great about. Having won a class at Devon, or a champion at Devon or even just winning a ribbon at Devon, it's is a major honor for everyone."

Robertshaw added "Also, Devon is an early season mile marker, a chance to gauge where you are after a long winter showing in Florida. It's a chance to see which horses, and in the equitation, which riders, are moving up, showing really well and ones that could be contenders the rest of year and into indoors."

"I get very excited to judge a great show," smiled Williamson. "There's excitement in being able to watch and separate the best from the best. I judge so many horse shows and in some cases, it's just a matter of separating things, you're not really judging quality. It's really nice to go to a show like Devon where the riders are at their very best, they are riding the best horses in America over great courses in front of big crowds. It's just the best of the best and it's a very special horse show."

"For the breeding classes, winning a ribbon at Devon is also very special," Robertshaw said. "There's an entire day reserved just for breeding classes and for those people. Devon is the standard, so winning a ribbon there is extra special."

For the pony hunters, hunt seat equitation, pony hunter breeding, amateur-owner hunters, local hunters and hunter derby, it is Mr. James Clapperton home based in Morriston, Florida and from Rancho Santa Fe, California, Mr. Chance Arakelian, a top west coast horseman, will be making the trip east.

All of the Jumper sections will be scored by Mr. Ralph Alfano of Wellington, Florida, Mr. John Ammerman, of Waitsfield, Vermont, and Mr. Hendrick Nijenhuis from Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.

The saddlebred, roadster, fine harness, Friesian, Hackney horses & ponies, harness ponies divisions will be judged by Mr. Randy Harper from Shelbyville, Kentucky. Harper is the former pesident of the United Professional Horseman's Association (UPHA) and a world-class lifetime trainer of top hackney and harness ponies and has developed numerous Saddlebreds to the World Championship level over the course of his stellar career.

The coaching judge this year is Mr. Steve Holm of Southern Pines, North Carolina. Holm is a leading authority on coaching, a judge for most of his life, top clinician, and a member of the ADS and CAA.

The world-famous carriage pleasure drive will be scored by Mr. Steve Holm (horses) and Mr. Craig Kellogg (ponies). Both judges are from Southern Pines, North Carolina.

The Devon Horse Show will be offering added prize money and three exciting FEI CSI4* rated classes, beginning with the $50,000 Devon Welcome Stake on Tuesday night, May 31. The $40,000 Devon International Speed Stake takes center stage on Wednesday night, June 1. The show's biggest jolt is with the huge boost in the prize money in Devon's most popular class, the $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix on Thursday night, June 2. That's a $125,000 jump in prize money in that class alone.

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is the longest running and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. With the grandeur of Philadelphia's prestigious Main Line setting the stage, the event features a world-class field that annually ranks among the most prominent internationally. The event also includes the Country Fair that offers world class shopping, rides and games for kids, multiple dining options and special entertainment events.

For more information on the Devon Horse Show, visit the website at: http://www.devonhorseshow.net/.

For the 2016 Prize List, check in at: http://www.devonhorseshow.net/exhibitors/exhibitors-info/.