Legends Rise Again on Eighth Day of 2025 Devon Horse Show
Olympic veteran McLain Ward and La Serra, owned by Marta Mattox soar over a jump in the rain during the $38,700 Main Line Challenge to secure the blue on the evening of Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography for AKSM Equestrian/AKSM Sports)
Day eight of the 2025 Devon Horse Show celebrated returning champions and new victors across hunter and jumper divisions, highlighted by California Love's Grand Hunter title and McLain Ward's Main Line Challenge win.
Article by Maddie Tyler, AKSM Sports
DEVON, Pa. — The eighth day of the 2025 Devon Horse Show was one for the record books, as familiar champions reclaimed their crowns, new names earned historic firsts, and the Dixon Oval came alive with athleticism and tradition. Wednesday marked the conclusion of division competition for Professional Hunters and welcomed the return of international jumpers in the evening’s featured $38,700 Main Line Challenge.
California Love Named Devon Grand Hunter Champion
The star of the day was California Love, the striking bay Holsteiner stallion owned by Dr. Betsee Parker and ridden by Scott Stewart, who was crowned Devon Grand Hunter Champion after accumulating 42 points. The duo also secured the High Performance Conformation Hunter Championship, reinforcing Stewart’s dominance in the hunter arena and Parker’s continued legacy as one of Devon’s most successful owners.
New Heights for Lafitte De Muze
In a long-anticipated victory, Lafitte De Muze, the Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Cheryl Olsten and piloted by Amanda Prescott Steege, earned his first Devon title as High Performance Working Hunter Champion. Having previously held reserve honors, the win marked a milestone for the seasoned pair, showcasing their consistency and excellence.
Prescott Steege was also recognized as the Leading Lady Rider in the High Performance Working Hunter division, a fitting accolade on a day when women’s achievements were front and center.
Top Honors Across the Board
Leading Hunter Mare: Odette, ridden by Nick Haness and owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC
Devon Leading Hunter Rider: Nick Haness
Devon Leading Groom Award: Darwin Caramza
Jumpers Return With a Thrill
The evening welcomed back the excitement of FEI CSI4* competition with the $38,700 Main Line Challenge, sponsored by The Philadelphia Trust. Thirty-five riders from seven nations tackled Anderson Lima’s two-phase course, which demanded equal parts power and precision. Of the 21 double-clear rounds, it was Olympic veteran McLain Ward and La Serra, owned by Marta Mattox, who stole the spotlight with a blazing time of 31.05 seconds.
“We have these horses here at home, and I have Callas, a long-time partner here, so these are important events, and I enjoy them,” Ward said. “For these developing horses, it’s good for them to get the experience, as well.”
Ward’s victory also earned him the G. Thompson Pew Jr. Memorial Perpetual Trophy.
Devon Elegance on Full Display
The spirit of tradition was alive in the day’s non-jumping events. Ladies Day, a Devon hallmark, dazzled attendees with the annual Hat Contest and Ladies Day Luncheon, themed “Hollywood and Horses.” In the ring, elegance reigned as riders took part in the Ladies Hunter, Side Saddle Division, where Kristin L. Schlachter and Como MBF captured the True Blue Challenge Trophy.
As the sun set over the Dixon Oval, the show closed with a celebration of classic equestrian disciplines—from roadsters and harness ponies to the elegance of five-gaited and three-gaited show horses—marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in Devon’s storied history.
Next Up: With hunter divisions concluded and show jumping heating up, all eyes turn to the international field as Devon heads toward its final days of thrilling competition.
The annual headlining show is not the last show for the year; competition returns to the Devon showgrounds on September 11th for the Fall Classic which runs through September 14th as well as Dressage at Devon from September 23rd to September 28th. Tickets are still available for the show’s 129th run - which ends next Sunday, June 1st - at devonhorseshow.net.