Exhibitions
Budweiser Clydesdales
The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales will return to the Dixon Oval in 2010. The beautifully matched 8 horse hitch and the vintage brewery wagon represent the "King of Beers" and take in about 100,000 miles a year spreading the good word of Anheuser-Busch.
There are five traveling Clydesdale teams, based in MO, NH, TX and CA, along with hitches based at Sea World theme park locations across the United States. The hitch dates back to April 8, 1933 and was a gift to commemorate the Repeal of Prohibition, and since then has become a living symbol of the largest brewer in the world.
Equestrian Vaulting
Equestrian vaulting is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, and like these disciplines, it is both an art and a highly competitive sport. It is one of eight competitive equestrian events recognized by the Federation Equestrian International (FEI), along with Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Eventing, Reining, Show Jumping and Para-Equestrian. Therapeutic or Interactive Vaulting is also used as form of treatment for children and adults who may have balance, attention, gross motor skill, or social deficits.
Vaulting has many enthusiasts worldwide, but particularly in Germany, where it is often practiced as part of basic equestrian training. The German vaulting squads are highly ranked and very competitive on the world stage. Vaulting is also especially well established in France (where it is known as Voltige), Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands. Enthusiasm for the sport is also growing in Brazil, Australia, and in the United States. American vaulters have been successful competing internationally and the US has produced several world champions and highly ranked vaulting teams.
Some trace the origins of vaulting to Roman games, including acrobatic displays on cantering horses. Others see roots in the bull dancers of ancient Crete. In either case, people have been performing acrobatic and dance-like movements on the backs of moving horses for more than 2,000 years. The first known depiction of vaulting was from stone painting, dated at around 1500 BC, of Scandinavian riders standing on horses.
Herding Dogs
Over the past twenty-eight years, the herding dogs of Culleymont and Sheepy Hollow in Hop Bottom, PA have made their mark in demonstrations of their abilities in many different venues. The Jagger/Williams family hosts a very entertaining yet informative demonstration of the dogs working sheep as they would on the farm as well as in competition. They will provide a variety of dogs and livestock so the audience is introduced to the different types of Border Collies and breeds of sheep. Cheryl and Richard are respected judges in the U.S. Border Collie Handler’s Association and also manage one of the largest and oldest Sheepdog trials at their farm on father’s day weekend each year.
Carriage Racing
An exciting format from the equestrian world of driving will make a return to the Devon Horse Show. Pair horses and ponies will race against the clock around and over portable obstacles, such as a bridge, triangular hazards, and driving cones, which are normally found in the Combined Driving sport. Each of the competitors will have a musical theme, dressed in typical Cross Country uniform and will drive at breathtaking speeds in the Dixon Oval with a conversion penalty of seconds added on for any mistakes during the round. We hope you will cheer on each and every one of these enthusiastic competitors from all across the Northeast.
