Devon, Pa. – June 1, 2018 – Following Thursday night’s spectacular performances in the $250,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*, show jumping fans returned to the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Friday afternoon to watch USA’s David Raposa and his own Iliona capture the $35,000 Devon Speed Derby CSI4*, sponsored by Glycogard.
Beth Bidgood and Uprising Rise to the Occasion in Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’6″ Hunter Division
Beth Bidgood and her own Uprising started off with double blues in both over fences classes on Friday afternoon, the first day of the Amateur-Owner Over 35 3’6″ Hunter division at the historic Devon Horse Show, proving they are in top form after having a successful winter season showing in Florida at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).
Misdee Wrigley Miller Conquers Coaching Championship
With the conclusion of the $35,000 Devon Speed Derby CSI4*, attention in the Dixon Oval shifted to the Four-in-Hand Coaching championship, where Misdee Wrigley Miller took home the tricolor ribbon. Miller competed with her Holland and Holland Park Drag coach that was pulled by her team of four bay Dutch Warmbloods.
Equestrian Entrepreneurs
By Veronica J. Finkelstein
To even qualify for the Devon Horse Show, a competitor must be a highly accomplished rider. But when they’re not aboard their trusty mounts, many of this year’s riders are also accomplished entrepreneurs.
Take, for example, Adrienne Marciano from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, the winner of last year’s $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, who’s back again this year competing in the amateur-owner jumpers. Marciano started riding at age 8 when her parents gave her a riding lesson for her birthday. As she says, “I caught the horse bug and never looked back.”
Marciano started out riding in the hunter divisions and then switched to the jumper divisions when a horse that she had bought as a hunter turned out to be more suited for the jumper classes. She’s since had great success in the jumpers with her horse, Laspari.
What you wouldn’t know from watching her ride is that Marciano is also a business owner and entrepreneur. She started the company known as Ruespari when she saw a need for an equestrian-inspired, flexible riding belt. Her beautiful belts, which lay flat, stretch and don’t pinch, are made in a studio located right behind the Devon Horse Show. Marciano is bringing style to the show ring and beyond.
Additionally, so is Amy Jo Magee, but in a very different way. Magee, who hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, shows primarily in the Ladies Side Saddle divisions at Devon. In these classes, riders show while wearing historically accurate clothing and riding in antique saddles. Like most side saddle riders, Magee started off looking for vintage side saddle clothing to wear. However, Magee is tall and had difficulty finding existing clothing that fit her properly. So, she started sewing her own clothing, which then expanded to tailoring clothing for other riders. Eventually, she began creating clothing from scratch for her fellow side saddle competitors.
Today, she not only creates side saddle clothing but tack as well with her Black Diamond Designs business. As Magee explains, “I make all of the pieces that go along with side saddle including the special girths and balance straps. I made my breastplate and bridle too.”
These pieces are not only show-worthy but they’ve brought her blue ribbons. On her mare Little Lady, Magee not only was in the ribbons in the side saddle classes at this year’s show, but she also pinned in a Local Hunter over fences class on Friday. Like Marciano, Magee has turned her love for riding into a successful niche business.
The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is the longest running and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. With the grandeur of Philadelphia’s prestigious Main Line setting the stage, the event features a world-class field that annually ranks among the most prominent internationally. The event also includes the country fair, which benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital and has donated over $14 million to date. The country fair offers world-class shopping, rides, games, multiple dining options and special entertainment events.
For more information about the Devon Horse Show, please click here. To purchase tickets, click here or email tickets@devonhorseshow.org. We look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair!
