Equitation title is split a rare 3 ways

There was an unusual three-way tie for the R.W. "Ronne" Mutch Equitation Championship at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Friday.

The Equitation Championship is awarded on points in 13 sections of four classes, and it seldom results in a three-way tie.

One of the champions, Lillie Keenan, comes by her talent naturally. Her mother, the former Pam Carmichael, showed at Devon in the 1960s, was trained by Ray Francis, and was Junior Hunter Champion and Grand Champion and Best Child Rider at least twice.

Keenan, a 13-year-old New Yorker, is a veteran winner at Devon herself.

She was Best Child Rider on a Pony twice before graduating to horses last year.

"This is the first time I've been Equitation Champion here," Keenan said. "I wasn't expecting it. It's really exciting."

Keenan trains with Andre Dignelli and rode Sir Neel in equitation.

"I've been riding Sir Neel for about six months," she said. "He's really fun. He's always there for you. He's very consistent."

A schoolmate of Lillie's, Karen Polle, also of New York, shared championship honors.

"This show is so big, it's just amazing to be champion," Polle said. "I never even thought it would be possible."

Polle trains with Stacia Madden at Beacon Hill in Colts Neck, N.J.

Hayley Barnhill of Colliersville, Tenn., also shared the Equitation Championship.

Reed Kessler, Junior Jumper Champion at Devon last year, placed first and second in the first Junior Jumper class and Time-first Jump-off, respecitvely.

By placing first for the third time in a row, she retired the Mike Mullen Challenge Trophy that had been in competition for 40 years.