Blue skies welcomed the Pennsylvania natives as they took center stage at the Brass Ring Horse Show, a local competition included with the Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Riders from the surrounding area gathered for a chance to compete at the prestigious Devon Horse Show Grounds.

The equitation competitors were the first to be seen this morning in the historic Dixon Oval. Avery Cox of Doylestown, Penn., and Port of Call emerged victorious in the Equitation 14 to 17 division, garnering championship honors. After working hard this past year on improving her equitation on the flat, this young rider won the walk/trot flat class and took home a third in the over fences. Earning the reserve champion award was Megan Gehret out of Eagleville, Penn., riding Rembrandt.

“I didn’t think I was actually going to do that well, but I tried to equitate as nicely as I could because last year my equitation was pretty bad. I think I’ve improved a lot from last year, I’ve done a lot of flat lessons with my trainer, and all those lessons definitely helped a lot in my flat class,” explained Cox. “I came to the Brass Ring Horse Show last year, but on a different horse. I love showing in the ring here because the footing is so good.”

The Novice Equitation division proved to be very competitive, ending in a hack off between Katie Diaz and Jenny Miller for championship and reserve titles. Both competitors earned a first and a second on the flat, but in the end, it was Katie Diaz of Doylestown, PA who came out on top. This talented rider’s skills were evident to the judge when she was awarded the tricolor after the hack off. Jenny Miller aboard Music Man received the reserve award for her efforts in the division.

“The flat classes were very busy, you definitely had to keep your space in there in order to stand out. I think I really stood out because I used my quarter lines to be seen and my trot was very good. I’ve never been to a show this big, but I really like how competitive it is,” commented Diaz.

In the Pre-Children’s Hunter Horse division, Kerra Goldstein and Krystall of Berwyn, Penn., claimed the championship honors after winning both over fences classes. Taking home reserve was Avery Cox aboard Port of Call, a duo that had already received a tricolor earlier today in the equitation.

“My trips were pretty good, I was a little bit nervous but we were able to work through it. Krystall is a 12-year-old Trakehner that I just got two months ago, so we are still figuring each other out, but he’s pretty easy going. You just have to give him a long rein and he goes. This is my first time at the Brass Ring Horse Show; I like that it is at Devon because you get to ride in the big ring,” noted Goldstein.

Goldstein and Krystall were also announced as the two-round Children’s Hunter Championship winners for their impressive scores of 76 and 83 in the two rounds of the classic. Their total score of 159 points set her ahead of the nearly 40 entries in the class. The win earned them a wooden tack trunk, embroidered show scrim, and many other exciting prizes.

The Children’s Hunter exhibitors were the last of the junior riders to compete in the Dixon Oval today. Alexandra Bukowski of Wapwallopen, PA and One More Time jumped to the top of the standings in the Childrens Hunter Horse division to cinch top honors. The talented duo received a first and fourth over fences in addition to a first under saddle, earning them the championship tricolor. Bukowski was also named Best Child Rider at the Gold Ring Horse Show. Gabrielle Calvert rode Davy Crockett to a reserve championship finish in the division.

“My trips were all really good and pretty consistent. In the second class he was jumping really well and we got all of the right distances,” commented Bukowski on her rides. “One More Time is a seven-year-old Hanoverian. He’s pretty easy, I don’t have to use a lot of leg or hand, but I need to keep him balanced. This is my first time at this show, but I like how it’s a really fun horse show and there are a lot of great prizes, and you get to be around lots of fun people.”

In the Low Hunter division, Master Plan claimed the championship tricolor with Susan Sisco in the irons. The pair won the under saddle as well as an over fences class. Capital Blue and Rachael Tennyson-Gallagher took home a first and third in the over fences, good enough for the reserve championship.

Today marked the final day of competition at the Devon Show Grounds for the second annual Brandywine Valley Summer Series, presented by Taylor Harris Insurance Services. Local riders enjoyed having the opportunity to compete at the prestigious facility for exciting prizes, and are looking forward to next year.

For more information about the Brandywine Valley Summer Series, please visit http://brandywinevalleysummerseries.com.