Devon Horse Show facts for kids
Sydney Shulman competing at the Devon Horse Show in 2016
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| Location | Devon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Held | Annually, late May–early June |
| Inaugurated | 1896 |
| Breeds shown | Multi-breed |
| Total purse | $1 million |
| Attendance | 120,000 |
| Slogan | Where Champions Meet |
The Devon Horse Show, also known as The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, is a super exciting annual horse show. It takes place every year in late May and early June. You can find it in Devon, Pennsylvania, USA. This amazing event has been happening since 1896! It's the oldest and largest outdoor horse show in the United States. Plus, it helps raise money for Bryn Mawr Hospital.
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What is the Devon Horse Show?
The Devon Horse Show is the oldest and biggest outdoor horse competition in the United States. It started way back in 1896. The event helps promote great horsemanship and horse breeding. This means showing off horses for their looks, how well they perform, and how fast they are.
Over the years, the show has changed a lot. Today, it brings people from all over the world. They come to compete with their horses or just to watch the amazing events. The show features many different types of horse competitions. These include in-hand classes, jumpers, hunters, carriage driving, and gaited horse events. There's almost $1 million in prize money up for grabs!
Where the Action Happens
The Devon Horse Show grounds have two main areas for competition. These are called the Dixon Oval and the Wheeler Ring.
- The Dixon Oval is the main arena. It's surrounded by grandstands where spectators sit. Above the main entrance, you'll see the famous words: "Where Champions Meet."
- The Wheeler Ring is a bit smaller. It hosts classes with more entries. This includes pony breeding classes and events for younger riders. It also features Regular Pony Hunters and Local Hunters.
An international dressage event also takes place here. It's called Dressage at Devon. This event happens every year from September 26–30.
How Many People Attend?
The Devon Horse Show is a huge event! About 2,000 volunteers help make it happen. The show lasts for ten to twelve days. Each day, between 8,000 and 14,000 people visit. In 2023, over 100,000 visitors came to the show grounds.
You can even watch the show from home! It's live-streamed to 57 countries. You can find it on the USEF Network and ESPN.
History of the Devon Horse Show
The very first Devon Horse Show was a one-day event. It happened on July 2, 1896. It took place at the Devon Race Track and Polo Grounds. That first show had thirty different classes. The biggest class only had ten horses competing. The show ring was covered in grass. Judges and officials sat in a special gazebo in the middle.
The Country Fair
A fun country fair was added to the event in 1919. The fair has lots of cool things to do. You can find vendors selling goods and a classic carousel. There's also a big Ferris wheel and carnival games. The Devon Tea Cart is a very old tradition. It has been serving tea and sandwiches for over a hundred years!
In October 2015, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission honored the show. They placed a special historical marker outside the show grounds. This marker celebrates the show's long history.
Why the Show Helps Others
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is the biggest fundraising event for Bryn Mawr Hospital. This hospital was founded in 1893. Since 1919, the Devon show has raised over $18 million for the hospital. This money helps support many important programs. It helps the emergency department and programs for new mothers and babies. It also supports the outpatient diagnostic center.
In December 2017, the Devon Country Fair gave the last part of a $2 million promise to Bryn Mawr Hospital. This money helped the hospital with its big modernization project.
