But she will have plenty of tough competition, as a number of Olympic medalists, including Joe Fargis and Lisa Jacquin, are also competing at Devon.
Chapot, of Neshanic Sation, N.J., will compete in the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic Grand Prix Saturday evening. She has three horses entered, Carpe Diem, Shooting Star and Umberto, but she said that she hadn’t decided which ones she would actually ride.
Umberto appears to be her hottest mount, having just won three grand prix classes in a row at HITS in Saugerties, N.Y., during the past month.
The $25,000 Devon Fall Classic will be featured Saturday evening, and will be preceded by the High Junior and Amateur/Owner Show Jumping Hall of Fame Classic.
The Zone 2 Jumper Championships on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m., will be competed in the Low and High Adults Classics, Low and High Children’s Classics, Pony Jumper Classic, Low Junior Classic and Low Amateur/Owner Classic.
Also in the Fall Classic show are Open Jumpers and Six, Seven and Eight-Year-Old Young Jumpers.
Chapot also has Zealous and Elizabeth R entered in the Open Jumper division. Zealous and Elizabeth R, both daughters of the great Royal Kaliber, who carried Chris Kappler to a team gold medal and an individual silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics, have been setting the world on fire in Eight-Year-Old Jumper classes, and recently moved into the Open division.
Kappler, of Pittstown, N.J., will also be at Devon this fall and is bringing a number of his students to compete in the Zone 2 Championships.
Another gold medalist, Joe Fargis of Wellington, Fla., who won both team and individual gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, is bringing two young jumpers, Tom Cat and Arturo, plus an undeclared horse, Isabella, and is also bringing students to Devon.
Lisa Jacquin of Wayne, Pa., a team silver medalist from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, will compete in Open Jumpers on Chapel Z.
Callan Solem of Chester Springs, Pa., will have three Open horses, Courage, magic Cruise and VDL Wizard.
Joy Slater of Unionville, Pa., will be one of the favorites to win the Junior/Amateur-Owner Classic Saturday evening.
The Fall Classic will also include a Fall Festival with boutique shopping, live music, food and family fun.
The show is run by long time Devon managers David Distler and Peter Doubleday.
“We’re very excited to bring a Fall Jumper show back to Devon,” said Distler. “Riders and trainers will be able to take advantage of competing at a time honored venue with a modern look,” said Doubleday. “It will be fun, relaxed and competitive.”
“The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair grounds as a venue have enormous potential; it’s a goal of ours to offer more events that bring together not just the equestrian community, but our local community as well,” said Devon Horse Show and Country Fair President, Wade McDevitt. “We want to leverage one of our single largest assets to further the Devon brand, and the Devon Fall Classic is part of that strategy. As we look for this show to grow over the years, the possibilities are endless. That’s very exciting.”
The Fall Classic will also include a Fall Festival with over thirty boutique vendors offering merchandise ranging from equestrian specialties, to art, clothing, accessories, home goods and more.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be a Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A Midway will offer rides, games and treats throughout the four days.
Live music will keep the crowds entertained on Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday will feature a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids.
A fun variety of food vendors will be on hand including Whirled Peace frozen yogurt, made on-site Goshen Donuts, “Cupcake Wars” winner Dia Doce cupcakes, and Hess’s BBQ, winner of dozens of state and national barbecue competitions.
The Fall Classic will benefit the Devon Horse and Country Fair Foundation, whose mission is to support the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the historic show grounds.
Recent projects have included the installation of an all-weather footing in all three riding surfaces, renovations to the Country Fair food service and dining areas, and a new souvenir booth.
Admission on all days is free, and a few boxes, priced at $150, are still available for Saturday evening. For more information, please call 610-964-0550.