August/Septemer 2026 Issue

August/September 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 5 From First Steps to Freestyle: Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon 2026 Carl Hester, international competition and Devon’s distinctive atmosphere make Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon a destination event in 2026 Dressage at Devon returns September 22–27 to Penn- sylvania’s historic Main Line, bringing together a breed show, competition, education, shopping and six days of equestrian community. There are dressage shows, and there is Dressage at Devon. The difference becomes clear after dark, when the blue grandstands close around the Dixon Oval, and an international Grand Prix horse enters beneath the lights. The setting feels important but never remote: you hear the footfalls, see the horse breathe and watch each communication between horse and rider. Yet Grand Prix is only the culmination. Devon is two competitions woven together: breeders, handlers, foals, ponies and young horses first; national and international performance horses second. Visitors see the entire devel- opmental arc—from a foal beside its dam to a finished athleteperformingpiaffe,passageandone-tempichanges to music. Tuesday andWednesday: Where the future begins Tuesday begins at 8 a.m. inboth arenaswithMateriale, young breeding stock and Individual Breed Classes for Highland Ponies, Arabians, Trakehners, Knabstruppers, Lusitanos, Oldenburgs, Welsh Ponies, Thoroughbreds, Morgans, Westfalens, Hanoverians, KWPN horses and others. The Parade of Champions, presented by Select Breeders Services, highlights the winners Tuesday afternoon. Young horses shown in hand are evaluated for confor- mation, movement, overall impression and dressage or breeding potential. Look beyond the most dramatic trot for balance, rhythm, shoulder freedom, and a hind leg stepping actively beneath the body. Handler and breeder classes follow, including Adult Amateur Handler, Produce of Dam, Get of Sire, Youth Handler and Breeder’s Group. That evening, pony classes culminate in the Dressage at Devon Pony Grand Championship. Wednesday features ProElite/USDF Materiale Cham- pionships for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds alongside foal, filly, colt,gelding,stallionandmaredivisions.Materialehorses work under saddle in groups, revealing movement, balance, rideability and willingness. The day culminates with the Breed Show Championship and the Born in the USA Ceremony, a highlight for followers of American sport-horse development. Thursday: Devon’s best learning day Thursday bridges the breed show and international competition.The ProElite/USDFEast Coast Series Finals are followed by the Unionville Equine-sponsored FEI horse inspection, or ‘jog’. International horses are pre- sented in hand to confirmfitness, offering a close look at condition, movement, and temperament. Young-horse tests include the FEI 5-Year-Old Final, USEF 4-Year-Old Test and FEI 6- and 7-Year-Old Finals. These can be more instructive than Grand Prix because the training questions remain visible: Does the horse maintain rhythm through transitions? Can it lengthen without losing balance? Is the rider showing what the horse can do now? Thursday admission includes Centerline Success, a free USDF University Program sponsored by Team Tate Academy, from 2–4 p.m. in the Hope Scott Memorial Room. With all USDF tests changing December 1, 2026, and USEA tests already updated, “S” judges Jeanne McDonald and Heather Gillette will explain how tests are designed and how riders canmaster their sequences. Attendees receive USDF educational credits; RSVP to krobertson@usdf.org by September 22 with “Dressage at Devon” in the subject line. The annual Fashion Show begins at 4:30 p.m. at the FantasiaWinesPubandPicnicGrove.This is always a fun time! Horseswarmup at 5 p.m., and at 6 p.m. seven-time British Olympian Carl Hester leads the Capital Square Masterclass in the Dixon Oval. Hester’s reputation rests not only on medals but on developing horses and riders over time. His approach emphasizes correct basics, patient progression, and horsemanship. Working with se- lected combinations, he will explain his exercises, adjustments, and training decisions. Friday and Saturday: International sport takes over Friday begins with young-horse finals and Fourth Level before the CDI1* Prix St. Georges and CDIJ Junior Teamcompetition. Hester signs autographs at noon.The eveningbringsthefanfavoriteDance-Off,whentopriders and horses, in costume, wow the crowd with their dance moves set to funmusic. It’s amust see! Then follows two GrandPrixqualifiers:theCDI3*GrandPrixforSaturday’s Special and the Quarry View Building Group CDI-W Grand Prix determining the Musical Freestyle field. Withoutmusic shaping the impression, Friday reveals balance,straightness,transitions,technicalexecutionand whichhorsesthriveinDevon’satmosphere.OnFridayand Saturday evening spectators can use the free Horseflight Spectator Judging App, with audience scores posted beside official marks. Saturday morning belongs to juniors, young riders, amateurs, and small-tour horses. Free lectures run from noon–3 p.m. in the picnic grove, covering bits, rider balance, supplements, tack and equine-inspired art.The CDI3* Grand Prix Special follows, thenDevon’s signature class: the Kingsview Partners CDI-W Grand Prix Musical Freestyle. The best freestyles use choreography and music to express character, disguise weaknesses, and increase difficulty without sacrificing harmony. For first-time visitors—or anyone attending one session—Saturday nightisquintessentialDevon.Arriveearlyandallowextra time for parking and entry. Sunday: Freestyles and family day Sunday offers Fourth Level and FEI competition, fol- lowed by Dressage Explorers at 10:00 a.m. in the picnic grove and midway. Children can enjoy horse-themed activities and ride stick horses down centerline in the Dixon Oval. The new Dressage4Kids $5,000 Youth Challenge combines Dressage Seat Equitation and Junior Handler scores, rewarding riding and ground horsemanship. Junior and Intermediate I freestyles follow, with the StickHorseRide at about noon. Sunday is the best family choice and a relaxed look at future international athletes. Plan the trip The Fall Festival fills the grounds with tack, apparel, jewelry, gifts, and equestrianbrands.The FantasiaWines Pub and food court support an all-day visit; newClydes- dale Corner offers charcuterie and beverages Thursday through Saturday. The grounds are at 23 Dorset Road in Devon. SEPTA’s Devon station is across the street on the Paoli/Thorndale Line. Drivers should allow extra timeThursday through Saturday evenings. Bring layers, comfortable shoes, and a raincoat. For the fullest experience, attend Thursday through Saturday. Breeders and buyers should prioritize Tuesday through Thursday; newcomers should choose Saturday night; families will get the most from Sunday. Kingsview Partners Dressage at Devon showcases the full circle of the Dressage journey, from foals to FEI. With Carl Hester as the Masterclass clinician, spectators can understand what they are watching and appreciate the progression. Information is current as of August 1, 2026. Please check the Events Page and Competition Schedule on the Dressage at Devon website for updates. Skip the line and buy your tickets here: Image Courtesy of Susan Stickle