Dobbs rides Marengo to a win, eyes another

Hillary Dobbs of Sussex, N.J., won the $10,000 open jumper, hit and hurry, aboard Marengo at the Devon Horse Show last evening, and announced her aim at the leading open jumper rider title.

"It's not something I can expect, but it's something everyone would love," said Dobbs, daughter of CNN anchor Lou Dobbs. "I brought three competitive horses. They get better and better every time, and they're learning with me. It feels great to win here at Devon."

Dobbs, who is in her first year competing in open jumpers, had a successful winter in Florida at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

She came straight to Devon after finishing her second-year exams at Harvard.

Meanwhile, it was six in a row and a sweep of the major hunter titles for Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J.

Stewart won the leading hunter rider title for the sixth consecutive year. In the process, he rode West Point to the championship in green conformation and the hunter grand championship, and Castlewalk to the reserve championship in first-year green hunters.

Stewart said he thought he had lost the title this year to Sandy Ferrell.

Ferrell, who is from Bernville, Pa., did win the leading lady rider title.

"This is only the second time this year West Point has done green conformation," Stewart said. "His owner, Krista Weisman, has been riding him in amateur owner. He's a very quiet horse, very laid-back.

"He has beautiful conformation and a beautiful way of going," Stewart said. "His only fault is that he has a tendency to be too careful, but that might be good, because I think he can go on to regular conformation."

First-year horses jump 3 feet, 6 inches. Second-year horses jump 3-9, and working horses jump 4 feet.

Ferrell rode Andiamo to the championship in regular working hunters and Wilson to the reserve championship in second-year hunters.

"My horses were great this week, and my staff was great," said Ferrell, crediting the grooms, veterinarians, blacksmiths and others who get the horses to the ring in condition to be winners.

Debbie Stephens of Palmetto, Fla., rode All Star to a win in the $10,000 open jumper, time-first jump-off class, in the afternoon session.

Her time of 46.016 seconds just edged out Alison Robitaille on Pourquoi, who finished in 46.717.