Ceil Wheeler competing at the 2015 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair (Brenda Carpenter)

Devon, Pa. - The 120th Annual Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is set to get underway on May 26 and will continue through June 5, 2016, at the famed show grounds on the Main Line. Devon, which began in 1896 as a one-day show, is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. The show is internationally recognized and globally respected. The rich history, style and ambiance of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair are unmatched.

One of the most popular attractions at the horse show each year is the high-stepping American Saddlebreds. At Devon, the American Saddlebred is exhibited in several different divisions including five-gaited, three-gaited, fine harness, pleasure, park and western. An incredibly versatile breed, the American Saddlebred excels at every division, and it is the only breed that walks, trots, canters and can be taught to perform two additional gaits, the slow gait and the rack. These two additional gaits are incredibly smooth, and the American Saddlebred performs the gaits with only one foot on the ground at a time. The slow gait is slow and animated, and the rack is fast and exciting!

Added to the roster of American Saddlebred classes this year is the English Pleasure Saddle Seat division. This new division is open to all breeds, so for the first time, the Morgan Horse will be on display at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

The Hackney ponies, already one Devon's most popular spectator classes, have an exciting new addition, the Roadster Pony Under Saddle Class and Championship. This gives Devon a chance to highlight a growing division in the Hackney world. The fast paced action and brilliance of the ponies always draws the crowds to the Dixon Oval. One of those showing in this new section this year is Abigail Tate from High Tail Acres in Newbury, MA. Abigail is the UPHA Chapter 14 Saddlebred Junior Exhibitor of the Year.

Another junior exhibitor, Danny Hicks, the 2015 American Hackney Horse Society Junior Exhibitor of the Year and Canadian Hackney Horse Society junior award winner, will be making a return trip to Devon. "I love showing in big ring at Devon, with the huge crowds," he said. "It's more fun to show with the other breeds, in front of thousands of people. The people are really friendly, too."

Competing in the Saddlebred Adult Pleasure Driving once again this year is My Time To Dream, driven by Tina Griesseier and trained by Terri Jones. "Devon is definitely a unique experience; there is no other show like it!" Jones said. "The horses love that big ring and the great footing. We really enjoy making the trip from Canada every year."

Many of the top stables from the Northeast will be returning in 2016. Cater Stables will have a large contingent this year, including World Grand Champion Spread the Word, owned by Amanda O' Keefe Murcheson. Mercer Springs Farm will be coming from West Virginia. Trainer, Smith Lilly, wrote the book on saddle seat riding, literally. Smith is the author of Saddle Seat Horsemanship.

Some new stables include Chestnut Lane from North Carolina, with trainer Matlin Lightner, and Reiser Stables of Simpsonville, KY. Erin Obenauf, of Reiser Stables, shared their stables' eagerness in competing at Devon, "We are so excited to be able to come to Devon for the first time and exhibit our American Saddlebreds at this iconic show."

The American Saddlebred and Hackney have a rich history at Devon. Many of the legends have shown at Devon over the last 120 years. Wing Commander, Chief of Greystone, Apollo Sand, Skywatch, and Tashi Ling, the greats of the breeds were a part of Devon's history and will be a part of its future. Today, the level of competition at Devon is as strong as ever. The champions from all across the United States and Canada will meet in the Dixon Oval for the 120th anniversary.

The knowledgeable crowd at the Dixon Oval really gets excited when the American Saddlebreds come into the ring and cheer for their favorites. The horses love the cheering and applause and work harder for it.

While the American Saddlebreds are the peacocks of the show ring, their attitudes are just as endearing. During the show, spectators have the opportunity to visit the American Saddlebreds back at the barns. Wentz Stable, of Orefield, PA, will be educating the tour on the Saddlebred this year. American Saddlebreds love attention and are very easy to fall in love with.

So easy to fall in love with, that even some of the world's most famous celebrities are American Saddlebred enthusiasts. Currently, William Shatner and Carson Kressley both own and show American Saddlebred horses.

Kressley, of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame, has long been a supporter of the Devon Horse Show, and is a popular exhibitor every year and is one of the judges for the popular Ladies Hat contest. 

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

For tickets to this year's show, http://www.devonhorseshow.net/tickets/dhs-tickets/.

And for exhibitor information visit: http://www.devonhorseshow.net/exhibitors/.