The 35th anniversary celebration and horse show at Dressage at Devon will once again feature the popular Ladies Hat Day contest on October 1, as well as Dressage with the Experts and the DAD Forum. Aside from being the premier Dressage competition in the country, Dressage at Devon includes many fun activities and educational events during its six-day run September 28-October 3, 2010 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds.
All ladies in fancy hats (no baseball caps, please) will be admitted to the show at no charge on Friday, October 1, and will receive a complimentary bag full of goodies, including discount coupons and tickets for the champagne brunch at the show’s Mimosas on the Midway, while supplies last. The bonnet-bedecked contestants will convene in the Dixon Oval on Friday afternoon where their unusual headwear will be judged by celebrity judges. Categories may include Prettiest, Most Whimsical, Most Likely to Take Flight, Most Tempting to Take a Bite Out Of and more.
Judges for the hat contest will include hat maker to the Dutch Royal Family Boy de Winter. De Winter’s hats are in demand by royals and Olympic dressage competitors alike, and he has been making hats for equestrians at Dressage at Devon for more than a dozen years. Winners will be awarded prizes donated by local businesses and Dressage at Devon vendors. Says Lori Kaminski, President and CEO of Dressage at Devon, “The creativity that the ladies put into their hats is incredible. We are all looking forward to seeing this year’s elegant and unusual creations.”
Another notable opportunity is Dressage with the Experts, a radio broadcast from the performance show. FM radio receivers can be rented Friday through Sunday and used across the show grounds. Listeners will hear live commentary from a select panel of judges throughout each ride during the day, and understand exactly why the judges are giving the scores that they do. This will allow spectators to have a better understanding of the sport, and is also an incredible educational opportunity for the general public and experienced riders alike. In addition to the commentary, a series of interviews with competitors, breeders and other horse industry experts will be part of the programming for the first time. The radios can be rented every day at the show, one day at a time or multiple days for a reduced daily cost. They can also be preordered at a reduced rate, and several convenient payment methods are available.
Another popular educational event is the Dressage at Devon Forum. Held on September 29, with dinner starting at 6:00pm and the lecture beginning at 7:00, this year’s Forum will feature renowned animal communicator Anita Curtis. She will share her insight gained over a lifetime of experiences, helping people better understand the horses and other animals we love. The Forum will be held at the Devon Club, located under the main grandstand. The ticket price includes a boxed dinner, and should be purchased through PayPal on the Dressage at Devon website. PayPal receipts will serve as the ticket onto the show grounds for the day as well as for the Forum.
For more information on all of these events and more about Dressage at Devon’s 35th anniversary celebration and show, see the website at www.dressageatdevon.org.
