Devon, Pa. – May 26, 2019 – The fourth day of the 2019 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair welcomed the tradition of the Carriage Pleasure Drive division to the prestigious Dixon Oval. The popular and time-honored discipline of driving has been part of Devon’s history since 1896, while the Carriage Pleasure Drive has been an established flagship event for over 50 years, entertaining exhibitors and spectators alike on the Sunday before Memorial Day each year.
Crowds filled the stands to watch in awe as the immaculately turned out horses, carriages, whips and passengers gracefully paraded around the Dixon Oval. Immediately following the initial inspection, competitors tackled a 4.5-mile drive through the picturesque neighborhoods of Devon, Pennsylvania, before returning to the showgrounds for the final judging.
The 52nd winner of the Carriage Pleasure Drive was awarded to John White of Newton, New Jersey. White was the winner of the Unicorns and Four-in-Hand horse class and the Third Susan Addis Challenge Trophy with his Heavy Dog Cart, qualifying him for the Championship Drive-Off, where he ultimately claimed the champion ribbon and the Robert & Virginia Weaver Challenge Trophy.
In addition, White also took home the Carriage Pleasure Drive Amateur Whip Award and the Susie S. Buchanan Perpetual Trophy for exemplifying the traditions of carriage driving at the highest level.
Driving competition will continue on Monday at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair with the Pair Horses and Single/Pair Pony championships.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
John White – 2019 Carriage Pleasure Drive champion
On his horses:
“The two in the front are Lipizzan horses from Hungary and we’ve had them for about three months. The wheelers are Kladruber horses from the Czech Republic. They were OK but the leaders are really special.”
On his carriage:
“It’s a dog cart, it’s on the heavy side as a dog cart, which is good for four big horses. It was made in Belgium in approximately 1880. The louvers are all real, which is where the dogs would go in and the cart would take the dogs to a place in Hungary and then they would be taken out to do the hunting and they would be put back in to go home at the end.”
On winning at Devon:
“It’s very nice to win at Devon. This has been a good event for me in the past. I’ve won this particular event before so it’s nice to win again.”
Richard O’Donnell – Double Harness-Pairs-Tandems class winner (horse division)
On his horses:
“The horses are Canadian crossbreds. They’re Hackney and Clydes. We ride and drive them. I’ve had them for about 12 years. They’re about 15 years old right now. We do a lot of fox hunting with them as well as carriage driving, but carriage driving is predominantly what we do with them.”
On his carriage:
“The carriage is a Philadelphia piece. It was built in about 1888. We have records of when it was built and who it was owned by originally. We are the fifth owner of the vehicle.”
On winning at Devon:
“It means a lot to win at Devon. Devon is special. To get a blue at Devon is spectacular!”
Lisa Andersen – Single Harness – Two Wheeled Vehicles class winner (horse division)
On her horse:
“This is a 6-year-old Dutch Harness Percheron cross and I had him bred from a stallion that I liked very much for excellent character. We got that, along with plenty of get up and go, and a good brain so he’s the whole package. Of course, as a grey, he gets lighter and lighter each year and when he shed out this spring, I said, ‘Those dapples are going to Devon.’ He got the Devon dapples this year!”
On her cart:
“This cart it one that I especially love. Not only is it a smooth, great ride but my husband restored it. It’s an 1890 Kentucky Break Cart and it is done right down to the most perfect detail of the pinstriping. The fact that my husband did it and I bred the horse, it’s just such a heartfelt effort and win. We couldn’t be happier.”
On driving through town:
“It was so beautiful and the people were so nice! Everybody was waving and cheering. People were out there with cold water for us — it could not have been nicer. The lakes are beautiful and the houses are lovely. It was really a treat!”
On showing at Devon:
“I showed about 20 years ago in the fall in the in-hand dressage classes and it was a real honor to be in the top ribbons, but we never took home the blue ribbon at Devon so this is a really great day. It just doesn’t get any better than this, does it? The footing is terrific. Last I was here, the barns had not been renovated. It is tremendous. It’s just lovely, every aspect of it. As crowded as it is, it feels like fun, not mayhem. It’s just fun and everyone turns out so well.”
RESULTS
Carriage Pleasure Judging Championship Drive-Off
Cart / Rider / Owner
1. Heavy Dog Cart / John White / John White
Double Harness Pairs – Tandem
Cart / Rider / Owner
1. Spider Phaeton / Richard O’Donnell / Mr. & Mrs. Richard O’Donnell
2. Back To Back Trap / Jody Hess / Linda Weinberg
Single Horse, Two-Wheel Vehicles
Cart / Rider / Owner
1. Kentucky Break Cart / Lisa Andersen / Lisa Andersen
2. Dog Cart / Tanya MacKeand / Tanya MacKeand
3. Country Exercise Gig / Melanie McCartney / Melanie McCartney