Devon, Pa.—May 31

Initially Irene Neuwirth didn’t think that showing at Devon would be in the cards for Holland Park. She just purchased the 6-year-old Westphalian (Dior—Lotta Kann Alles) last September, and she started showing him this winter, so he was light on points, and when the qualifying lists came out for Devon, he was 14^th on the waitlist.

When Holland Park made it into the show, Neuwirth figured he’d just be coming for the experience. He’d never shown at a show with so much atmosphere, and it was a long trip from California.

“I was hoping [it would go well], of course, but I really didn’t have any huge expectations,” she said. “But I’m very hard on myself, and I’m competitive with myself, so in the back of my head, I was like, ‘I feel like we can kind of bring it,’ and I was very glad that we did.”

But it proved to be much more than a learning experience for the gelding. He topped the stake class and the under saddle and was second in the over fences and the handy to take the grand 3’3″ amateur-owner hunter and 3’3″ amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, championship over Stephanie Danhakl and Quest. This is Neuwirth’s fourth time in four trips to Devon that have ended with a division championship.

“I was laughing so hard when I had won the stake earlier, and you’re sitting there, and you’re so excited, because everything has to work,” she said. “It’s so hard to be good, and for the horses to be good, and the judges to like you, and just so much goes into doing well, and then you’re sitting there taking a picture, and they have, like, the little neighing horse recording [to get their ears forward], and I was like, ‘This is so silly and hilarious and also enjoyable at the same time.’ It’s nice to do your best and enjoy it, and it’s also extra exciting to win.”

MTM Plus One Gets His Devon Cooler

When Katie Robinson came to Devon this year, her attitude was simple: Whatever happens, happens. While she’s normally riding MTM Plus One consistently throughout the week, this year, he’s been in New Jersey with trainer John French while she’s been in Long Island. She knew French would have “Jordan” well-schooled, but it was still a deviation from their typical routine.

“It’s been a little bit of playing catch-up,” she said. “The first day out here I was a little rusty, but we fell into sync pretty good. But I just wanted to go have fun, so I really didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself.  Last night, however, I did feel like I really wanted to win.”

The source of the pressure? Having a good day on the first day of the division. With a second and third over fences and a third in the under saddle, she and the 12-year-old Westphalian gelding (Captain Jack—Cantonia) were in good shape to contend for a tricolor. They delivered again today with a second in the handy and a win in the stake class.

“I really liked my stake round, and I was glad that I was rewarded for it. That made me feel really good,” she said. “Those long bending lines are hard. It’s hard to make them look matchy and simple and easy, because they’re not, so he was right in front of my leg, his head was at a perfect height, and it all just sort of flowed. So I was very happy with that, because that was challenging, very challenging.”

But even with the strong results, Robinson thought fellow competitor Margot Peroni might still take the amateur-owner hunter, 36 and over, championship with Just Apple. But in addition to taking the division championship, Robinson also won the grand amateur-owner hunter and leading amateur-owner hunter rider titles.

“I was really very surprised, and thrilled, obviously,” she said. “Being champion at Devon is really special for us. It means a lot. So I’m really happy for him, because he’s such been such a good boy for me for so long.”

While this isn’t Robinson’s first Devon championship—she’s won with both Amarillo and Rock Steady—it is the first time she’s won with “Jordan,” a horse she’s had for four years.

“He’s a really good boy,” she said. “He’s very sweet. He’s just licking everybody and just loves everybody.”

She described him as mellow under saddle.

“He’s big and long, and he’s very comfortable,” she said. “He’s a really nice, nice ride. I enjoy it very much. You know, I got him when he was green, so I could have him the way I want him.”

The Chronicle has a pair of reporters at Devon bringing you photos, stories from the competition and more at coth.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to make sure you don’t miss a thing. You can see a full report from the entire competition in the June 20 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine.

Important Links: Devon Horse Show website / Detailed schedule / Results and orders of go / All the Chronicle’s coverage