Devon, Pa. – June 4, 2022 – Hunter competition wrapped up at the 2022 Devon Horse Show Saturday, with each section of the Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions awarding the grand championship title to the horse-and-rider pair who accumulated the most points throughout the two days of competition. Following the final rounds of competition in both the Wheeler Ring and the Dixon Oval, it was Martha Ingram aboard Quimby who took the top honors as the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6’’ Hunter Champion, receiving the Bond Street Perpetual Trophy, sponsored by Courtyard Marriott. Stephanie Danhakl and Quest walked away as the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3’’ Hunter Champion, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, and were awarded the The Jenepher Mclean Kelly Challenge Trophy.
Ingram and Quimby, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by John & Stephanie Ingram LLC, earned a total of 34 points to add their names to the Bond Street Perpetual Trophy, sponsored by Courtyard Marriott. The duo made a strong impression on the judges from the start of the Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter 18-35 division, earning blue ribbons in both of their over fences classes Friday, as well as the under saddle. They took a third place finish in Saturday’s stake round, earning them the points they needed to stay on top of the competition and contribute to their overall win.
Ingram was also named the Leading Amateur-Owner Hunter Rider, with the award sponsored by Courtyard Marriott. For earning the highest number of points on a single horse through the division, Ingram had her name added to the Thorndike Duncan Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by The Trophy and Presentation Committee of 1994.
In the Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3’’ Hunter division, sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, Stephanie Danhakl and her own Quest, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding, topped the leaderboard to earn the grand champion title with a total of 27 points. The pair started their division off strong Friday, earning blue ribbons in both their over fences and under saddle classes, and went on to take second place in Saturday’s handy as well as fifth place in the stake round Saturday. Danhakl was thrilled to add Quest’s name to The Jenepher McLean Kelly Challenge Trophy, as she was the reigning champion in 2019 with Enough Said, who passed away earlier in the year.
Chablis, owned by Libertas Farm LLC, was awarded the Sambalino Award, presented by the Gochman Family, given to the Amateur-Owner 3’6” Horse who best exemplifies the classic hunter horse in movement. Chablis, a 14-year-old Wurttemberger gelding, competed successfully in the Amateur-Owner 3’6” Hunter 18-35 division, earning second place finishes in the over fences, under saddle, and stake classes with Kelly Tropin in the irons.
Incorrectly announced Wednesday afternoon, it was Chris Payne and Gratitude, owned by Still Water Farm LLC, who ended up riding to the championship tricolor in the High Performance Conformation Hunter division with a total of 33 points. Finishing on a total of 31.5 points, Victoria Colvin and Gabriel should have been presented with the reserve champion honors.
Competition at the Devon Horse Show will conclude Sunday, June 5, welcoming the Pennsylvania Bred Yearling Colts and Geldings to the Dixon Oval at 8:00 a.m.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Stephanie Danhakl – Devon Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3’’ Hunter champion
On Quest:
“I’ve had him for over nine years now. He’s been a wonderful horse for me, year in and year out. I’ve won this [Grand Amateur-Owner 3’3’’ Hunter] award with another horse, [Enough Said], who was the grand champion three times before. He passed away on new year’s day this year and it was very unexpected, he had a heart attack. He had prequalified and I was looking forward to showing him again, so after he passed I didn’t really even know if I was going to qualify because I just had a baby four months ago so I took a lot of time off from riding and showing. I know Quest is the best horse in the division and he was always neck and neck with Enough Said, so for him to win this is really special. I feel like Enough Said was looking down on us and bringing us good luck. I was hoping to defend Enough Said’s title this year and I couldn’t be more thrilled that everything worked out and that we did it.”
On her rounds:
“It feels great to be back here. I thought everything rode nicely. I just try to stay consistent. Of course I want to win but the most important thing is just riding each jump, so I just try to do that in every round. Quest was great.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“I love the atmosphere here – the fair, the shops, the people, the crowds, it’s really fun to be able to compete in this kind of environment. For me, I’m a little bit of an adrenaline junkie so I love the pressure. There is no horse show that is more pressure than this one just because you have so many spectators. For me that’s really fun to be able to try to test myself when it does matter and the stakes are high. I’m really lucky to have a partner like Quest that can be right there with me and I can count on.”
On what’s next:
“We’re going to Upperville and then maybe Brandywine which is at this venue again, then the Hampton Classic and hopefully indoors after that. This is the first time Quest has been champion and grand champion here, so I’m really proud of him. He deserves it, he deserves all the recognition and I can always rely on him.”
Martha Ingram – Devon Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6’’ Hunter champion
On receiving Grand Amateur-Owner 3’6’’ Hunter champion:
“It’s huge. This is my first time being champion in the Dixon Oval doing the Amateur-Owner 3’6’’ division and first time being back since 2014 so it’s really unimaginable. I know [Quimby] has the talent, and I do, but for it to become a reality is pretty amazing. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
On her rounds Saturday:
“He was amazing. Our handy round was quite good, we just hit the second jump really hard so that knocked us out. His stake round was wonderful and ended up third place to seal it up. The courses rode great all week and it was lovely.”
On the Devon Horse Show:
“It was great to get the reserve champion with Private Practice too, we didn’t have a great day yesterday but it was a blessing in disguise because it made me calm down and realize, at the end of the day, even though it is really special, it’s another horse show. Of course it’s always great to get tricolors and all the awards. I’m just really proud of my horses, myself and my team for buckling down and getting it done. It was wonderful Grace could be here to watch. She’s amazing and rode him unbelievably.”
