Molly Sorge

It’s hard to come up with adjectives adequate to describe Rich Fellers and Flexible’s performances this spring. Words like “phenomenal,” “incredible” and “unbelievable” are trite and cliché, and honestly don’t convey the true magnitude of his accomplishments.

The Chronicle of the Horse is celebrating its 75th birthday in 2012. For seven weeks we’ll bring you a decade-by-decade look at the history that has filled its pages since 1937.

June 2—Devon, Pa.

There’s a joke out there that says that Murphy of Murphy’s Law was a horse, and the events of the $50,000 Idle Dice Stake seemed to prove the theory.

Devon, Pa., June 1

The crowd packing the stands around the Dixon Oval wiped their tears away and then promptly started cheering. In an evening that no one who witnessed it will soon forget, McLain Ward rode a rollercoaster of emotion right to the top of the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon.

May 31—Devon, Pa.

I have to admit, when I arrived at Devon to start shooting the open hunters, I didn’t take much notice of Rapunzel. I was pretty sure the grand champion would end up being one of the old favorites I’d written about many times before—there usually isn’t much of an element of surprise to the Devon grand champion.

Scott Stewart had his usual arsenal of top contenders—two in each division. Hunt Tosh had Cold Harbor and Rosalynn in fighting form. Jen Alfano was riding her star Jersey Boy there.

Dr. Craig Ferrell, a doctor who served as the U.S. Equestrian Federation team physician and as the Chair of the Fédération Equestre Internationale Medical Council, died from injuries to his neck and spine on Monday, May 28, after falling from a horse while playing polo on May 23. He was 62.

Dr. Ferrell, an avid rider and competitor himself, cared for many top riders, such as Margie Engle and McLain Ward, after their own injuries.

May 26—Devon, Pa.

“It goes without saying that she’s going to win every class unless something blows up,” Don Stewart quipped about junior phenom Tori Colvin.

Show jumper McLain Ward has decided to retire the great mare Sapphire.

Khalid Al Eid and Abdullah Al Sharbatly, two Saudi Arabian show jumpers, faced Fédération Equestre Internationale tribunals for doping offenses on April 18-19.