Devon Dreams Realized: Shared Equitation Title and Rising Stars Steal the Show

JJ Torano heads into the Dixon Oval after winning blue on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Andrew McKeough/AKSM Photography for AKSM Equestrian/AKSM Sports)

Ties, Triumphs, and First-Time Glory on day three of the 2025 Devon Horse Show.

Article by Maddie Tyler, AKSM Sports

DEVON, Pa. - The third day of the 2025 Devon Horse Show and Country Fair delivered a blend of elite equestrian competition and heartfelt moments, from early-morning equitation rounds to the electric atmosphere of junior jumpers under the Dixon Oval lights.

The day opened with the prestigious ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Classes, culminating in the crowning of co-champions for the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Championship, one of the most sought-after titles in junior equestrian sport. Emi Richard of Middlefield, Connecticut and Clayton Farrell each earned identical points across multiple classes, sharing the title in a rare and celebrated tie. Both riders demonstrated consistency and composure throughout the week, clinching their spots atop the leaderboard with standout performances in Friday’s Maclay sections.

Richard, riding Heritage Farm Inc.'s Kingsroad, also won her Maclay section earlier in the day. “It’s a long day, kind of like waiting around, but it worked out great,” she said. “Obviously, Heritage is the best at preparing them. I’m always prepared.” Farrell, equally meticulous in his preparation, added: “I polished my boots probably more times than is necessary. But I didn’t overthink it, and it went well.”

Additional winners in the Maclay included Baylee Rowan of Little Compton, Rhode Island, who rode North Run’s Watermelon to a blue ribbon in Section A and received the Hannah Micayla Serfass ‘Best Overall Performance Award’. Emily Jurnovy of Connecticut won Section B aboard Favorit Julius, while Taylor Cawley earned the William Cooney Jr. Style & Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive year.

As the sun set, junior jumper competition brought the crowd to its feet. JJ Torano scored his second win of the week in the $3,750 1.40m Junior Jumper Class, this time aboard Lyon 50, a Hanoverian stallion owned by North Run. Torano, already victorious on Thursday with Vitus K, returned under the lights for the week’s first jump-off, besting a competitive field of eight to edge out Alexa Elle Lignelli and XO Zadora. Parker Peacock and VDL Cagaro rounded out the top three.

Junior jumper action concludes Saturday night with the $20,000 SJHF 1.45m Junior Jumper Classic, promising a thrilling finale to Junior Weekend.

But amid the technical brilliance and competitive drama, the day’s most touching story belonged to Stella Rumanes, a first-time Devon competitor from California who captured a championship on her debut ride with Goodnight Moon. The journey from West Coast to Pennsylvania was years in the making—a dream nurtured by Stella and her mother, Michelle Decker-Rumanes, who once rode the same horse herself while pregnant with Stella.

“I was kind of hoping I’d just get a ribbon,” Stella admitted. But after winning her first round, confidence bloomed. “Maybe I do kind of have a chance,” she thought—and that chance turned into victory. “It’s not really that I’m riding a horse,” she reflected. “It’s that we’re going around together.”

For Michelle, the moment was as emotional as it was triumphant: “I tried to not be the ‘momager’ and just enjoy watching,” she said. “It’s not every day you get a first-time Devon participant… who is also a first-time Devon champion.”

From top-tier competition to generational triumphs, Day 3 at Devon showcased not only the sport’s finest young talent, but the stories and dreams that make the Devon Horse Show a one-of-a-kind tradition.

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.