Potter and Spencer Claim Sunday Championships at the 130th Devon Horse Show

Monica Spencer and her New Zealand Warmblood mare, Valkyrie, take a triumphant victory lap around the Dixon Oval after conquering the challenging track to win the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing on Sunday evening. (Olivia Airhart/Mane Source Media for Phelps Sports/Phelps Media)

The 130th Devon Horse Show and Country Fair showcased a thrilling mix of equestrian tradition and high-stakes competition on Sunday, highlighted by Mary Jane Potter's victory in the historic Carriage Pleasure Drive and Monica Spencer's exciting win aboard Valkyrie in the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing.

Article by Alex Zimmerman, AKSM Sports

DEVON, Pa. - The 130th Devon Horse Show and Country Fair showcased a thrilling blend of time-honored traditions and top-tier competition this past Sunday in Devon, Pennsylvania. The day featured the historic Carriage Pleasure Drive followed by the highly anticipated $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing class, bringing both elegance and high-stakes jumping to the Dixon Oval.

Local traditions were on full display during the annual Carriage Pleasure Drive, an established flagship event for over 50 years that celebrates the discipline of driving, which has been part of Devon's history since 1896. Carriages of all shapes and sizes paraded through the picturesque neighborhoods of Devon before returning to the show grounds for final judging. Immaculately turned out horses, carriages, whips, and passengers gracefully circled the Dixon Oval in hopes of claiming the coveted Devon blue ribbon. Ultimately, the 2026 Championship title and the Robert and Virginia Weaver Challenge Trophy went to Mary Jane Potter and her Spider Phaetom Potter. On her way to the championship, Potter topped the Horse Double Harness, Pairs-Tandems-Opportunity class and was crowned the winner of the Pleasure Drive Amateur Whip Award, earning the Susie Buchanan Perpetual Trophy. Susan Redden-Bailey and Jessica Tanglao's 2002 American Saddlebred gelding, Dance Dance Revolution Dancer, claimed Reserve Champion honors in their Single Harness, Four Wheel Vehicle class.

Later in the day, the Dixon Oval transformed for the $50,000 Devon Arena Eventing, sponsored by B&D Builders and Goshen Hill. Spectators packed the stands to watch the country’s top eventing talent tackle a unique course designed by Captain Mark Phillips. Spanning both the Wheeler Ring and the Dixon Oval, the challenging track combined cross-country obstacles with traditional show jumps. Monica Spencer of New Zealand, riding her Warmblood mare Valkyrie, navigated the demanding course with precision to claim victory and The George O. Davidson Trophy. Arielle Aharoni riding Notorious and Boyd Martin aboard Miss Lulu Herself rounded out the top three.

Spencer was thrilled with her mare's performance in the electric atmosphere of the Dixon Oval during their Devon Arena Eventing debut. "This is our first time at the Arena Eventing at Devon," Spencer shared after the event. "What a cool class to come to, and these classes are so much fun and great for the spectators. Thank you to the sponsors for keeping these classes going."

Preparing a horse for such an intense environment comes down to hands-on experience, according to Spencer. "I think the horses just need to be comfortable in an atmosphere, and the only way to get comfortable is to get into an atmosphere. You find out how they’ll react when you get here, really, and she was great," she noted.

Despite posting one of the fastest rounds of the evening, Spencer admitted she was unsure if her time would be enough to secure the win. "Oh, I had no idea," Spencer said. "And when I heard that I’d won, I was like, ‘Oh wow, that’s pretty cool.’ Mark Phillips built an awesome track for us, and it was fun to ride."

Spencer has developed Valkyrie from a young age and is optimistic about the mare's future in the sport. "I’ve had her since she was three, and she’s rising nine now. I’m the only one that rides her, and she came over from New Zealand with us. I always believed in the horse, and I think she’s going to turn into a great four-star horse. She’s doing three-star at the moment, and she’s shown a lot of promise."

After watching the event on television the previous year, Spencer had made it a goal to compete. "We watched it on TV last year, and I thought, ‘I’d like to do that next year,’" she explained. "Devon is such a special venue. I’ve been here to show jump before, and I loved it. The locals and the spectators, the crowds — they really support this show, and it’s one of our favorites. I’d like to come back here as much as I can."

You can stream all live and past coverage of the 130th Devon Horse Show on USEF Network, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV.