Dressage at Devon Perpetual Trophy

In addition to the trophies that are awarded annually by AHS through its comprehensive awards program, AHS is also associated with one of the most coveted trophies awarded each September at Dressage at Devon. Based at the show grounds in Devon, Pennsylvania, Dressage at Devon, or “DAD” as it is fondly known, has grown in stature each year since its inception in 1975. Incorporating three days of breed classes in conjunction with one of this nation’s premier dressage events, DAD is now the most prestigious event of its kind in North America and presents the largest breed show in the western hemisphere.

Each year during the last week of September, breeders large and small from all corners of North America descend upon Devon’s show grounds for three days of exciting and intense breed competition. In 1990, Priscilla Hanford, then AHS vice president, generously commissioned a beautiful bronze of a Hanoverian mare accompanied by an equally exquisite foal to be presented as a perpetual trophy at Devon. This unique work of art created by artist Karin Natsch Leary is entitled “American Hanoverians” and was first awarded in 1992.

The Dressage at Devon American Hanoverian Society trophy is awarded to the highest placing eligible Hanoverian horse in the open breed classes. A word of explanation may be helpful here. An eligible Hanoverian is one that has been either registered by AHS or is a foreign Hanoverian that has been recorded by AHS. In addition the owner of the horse must be a current-year AHS member. The trophy is not necessarily awarded to the Hanoverian horse that attains the highest percentage score during the show, but rather it is awarded to the horse that advances furthest through the first two days of competition (the third day is devoted to Individual Breed Classes). The breed classes are initially divided by age and gender. The winners and reserves of the young horse classes then advance to either the Filly Championship or the Colt Championship which results in the naming of the Champion and Reserve Young Horse Champion of the show.

Concurrently the older horses compete for entry to either the Mare Championship or the Stallion Championship. In head to head competition a team of judges chooses the Champion and Reserve Mature Horse Champion who then compete directly against the two winners from the Young Horse Championship. In a culminating event these four horses (not necessarily Hanoverians) compete against each other for the undisputed title of Grand Champion at Dressage at Devon, the most prestigious honor of its kind.

As stated earlier, the American Hanoverian Society’s DAD trophy is awarded annually to the Hanoverian horse that places highest in the breed show. On a number of occasions a Hanoverian horse has won the ultimate title of Grand Champion, the most recent being Hilton Farm’s Elite Stallion Liberty Gold (Londonderry-Walida/Weltmeyer).

The trophy is lodged safely with Devon show management. The following list of annual winners includes some of the most prominent names in the modern American Hanoverian breed, including four, SPS Wintersong, EM Berlina, EM Capricia and Liberty Gold that were named Dressage at Devon Grand Champion.

Dressage at Devon Perpetual Trophy Recipients