_(Project Marketing) - Devon, PA – Today’s show featured a number of in-hand classes
in which winning can be as much a function of the handler as the horse.

While the handlers sometimes go unnoticed, Phil Silva caught the eye this year as the
Dressage at Devon’s first helmeted-handler. Silva’s unusual head gear was the
result of his discovery through the school of hard knocks that horse-handling
can be hazardous to the health.  In August he was kicked in the head by a horse he was showing. The impact left
Silva not only with black and blue bruises, but also with a dose of fear he’d
never experienced before.  He knew he needed to find a way to conquer the fear.

Then one day at a show he saw helmets for sale and bought one on an impulse. “I
never thought I’d have a helmet, but it’s given me a second chance, and allowed
me to continue to pursue my passion.”  As he sported the helmet for the first time, other handlers asked him about
it.  If interest remains at this level, it’s possible Silva’s safety gear is going to be a trendsetter.  His feeling about safety may also influence children since he teaches handling to young riders including Dressage4Kids.
Christine Smith, another handler and long time Dressage at Devon veteran, took home both the Draper
Therapies and the John Perry handler awards. Smith’s path to becoming a handler started when she was given a mare
that was not sound. She bred her and in 1995 started showing her foals at Dressage at Devon.  When she showed them
in hand, she noticed there were people bringing one horse after another into
the ring to show them.  She guessed they could not own every horse they handled, asked a few questions, and discovered
that handling was a paid job.

Ever since, she’s been
offering her services as a handler. “I love handling because I feel the horses’
power.  I’m so close to their big
movement. It’s like riding from the ground.”
Over time she says the horses have taught her how to be a good
handler.  She’s learned where to touch
them to show them at their best — something that varies with every horse.  After all these years she’s still
passionate.  “People hand me these
beautiful horses, let me go into the ring and do what I love, and when I
deliver the horse back, they hand me money,” she smiles.

Championships

The
competition in the championship classes was stiff.  The Mature Horse Championship was won by
Beatrice VDL (Prestige VDL/L’Actrice), a KWPN bay mare from Lancaster PA.  Beatrice VDL was also the proud winner of the
Dressage at Devon Grand Champion.  The
Materiale Championship was won by Don Frederic HVH (Don Frederico/EM Wruffian
Q), bred
by High Valley Hanovarians. Sir Wanabi (Santorini/Lily Germaine) took home
first place honors in the USDF/Great American Insurance Group Stallion
Championship. 

Results
for all classes will be posted on Thursday at
www.dressageatdevon.org.

Thursday

Day 3
will feature a combination of breed and performance classes.  The day will start with judging of 20 unique
breeds including Oldenburgs, Andulusians, Knabstruppers, Gypsy Vanners,
Halfingers and many more.  FEI and USEF
Fourth level tests will round out the day and offer a great introduction to the
performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Day sheets can be found at www.dressageatdevon.org.

Photo Courtesy of Dressage at Devon by Hoof Print – Materiale Champion Don Frederic HVH