While the Dressage at Devon performance show is one of the hottest tickets of the year, those in the know also come to the Breed Show. These classes take place the first three days of the event that is held, September 25-30, 2007. The Dressage at Devon Breed Show is one of the largest and most prestigious sport horse shows outside of Europe. With nearly 70 classes and more than $5,000 in prize money and awards, competitors come from coast to coast to stake their claim for glory.

“Winning at Dressage at Devon’s breed show is considered an important credential on any sport horse’s résumé,” explains Breed Show Chairperson Melanie Sloyer. “Our entries come from as far away as California and Canada. And our spectators for the breed show are knowledgeable horsemen and women from North America and Europe.”

Horses that have competed in the breed show have gone on to the Olympic Games, the World Cup Finals and even the World Championships. In 2006, Idocus became the first breed show champion to win the grand prix. Sloyer continued, “There isn’t another show like Dressage at Devon outside of Europe, so this is definitely the place to be if you want to see bloodlines and offspring in action. It is a great education to sit at the ring during the breed show.”

In addition to the young and mature horse classes, there are 27 individual breed classes, under saddles classes, as well as the Great American Insurance Company/USDF Breeder’s Championship Final-East Coast Series. Another award that is gaining in prestige is the Born in the USA Breeder’s Award, which was developed in 2003 by the Dressage at Devon Committee to recognize and reward the achievement of American breeders. Horses that were conceived and born in the United States are eligible. The highest scoring horse from the open classes is the overall winner, but prize money and special awards are distributed in 14 categories. For all of the rules and for more information, please visit the Dressage At Devon website. The 2007 overall Born in the USA award went to Beaumont ISF, by Rampal.

Judges for the 2007 edition of the breed show include Hilda Gurney, Barnabas Mandi, Jacques Van Daele and Francis Verbeek von-Rooy. The prize list for Dressage at Devon, including the breed show, is available online at www.DressageatDevon.org. The opening date for entries is June 23, 2007; closing date is August 13. Tickets for the breed show are available for $8. Children under 12 are free. For more information on tickets, contact Connie Scholz at (484) 358-5510 or e-mail [email protected].