McLain Ward, riding Pjotter Van de Zonehoeve, won the first Open Jumper class of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair on Tuesday night, beating Laura Chapot on Umberto.
Ward and Chapot have dominated the jumper divisions at Devon, trading Leading Rider titles over the last seven years. Ward has won the Grand Prix in three of the last five years.
Ward's time of 43.785 seconds was the fastest in the six-horse jump-off, while Chapot finished in 45.696.
"Pjotter is very careful," Ward said. "I really like him. He always tries."
Chapot went after Ward in the jump-off, which is an advantage because then the rider knows what time to beat.
"I don't know my horse that well; I only got him in midwinter," Chapot said. "So I didn't watch McLain [to try to beat his time]. I just rode to my plan."
Ward also has his top horse, Rothchild, entered in the $100,000 Wells Fargo Devon Grand Prix on Thursday night.
Chapot won the Seven-Year-Old Young Jumper class in the afternoon on the royally bred Zealous.
Zealous is by Royal Kaliber, the team gold and individual silver medal winner at the Athens Olympics, out of a mare by Good Twist, who will be inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame before the Grand Prix on Thursday.
"Doing the young-horse classes here is a good introduction to the Devon grounds," Chapot said. The Dixon Oval can be intimidating to a horse because of the crowd and noise. "I was pleasantly surprised by Zealous."
When:Through Sunday
Where: Lancaster Pike and Dorset Road, Devon.
Scheduled exhibitions:
Thursday: carriage racing, singles and pairs racing through hazards and cones. 6 p.m.
Wells Fargo stagecoach appearing during afternoon and evening performances.
Tickets: advance sales, 610-688-2554; country fair office: 610-525-2533. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $50, depending on the performance.
Web site: www.thedevonhorse
show.net.
Wednesday's schedule:
Dixon Oval
Starting at 8 a.m.
First Year Green Hunter Stake
First Year Green Hunter Ch.
Green Conformation Hunter Stake
Green Conformation Hunter Ch.
Second Year Green Hunter Stake
Second Year Green Hunter Ch.
Regular Conformation Hunter Stake
Regular Conformation Hunter Ch.
Regular Working Hunter Stake
Regular Working Hunter Ch.
Regular Working Hunter Leading Lady Rider Award
Leading Mare Award
Devon Grand Hunter Championship
Devon Leading Hunter Rider
Ladies Side Saddle Hunter Hack
Ladies Side Saddle Over Fences
Seven Year Old Young Jumper -II, 2(b)
Eight Year Old Young Jumper - II, 2(b)
Open Jumper - II, 2(a)
Gold Ring
Starting at 9 a.m.
Five Year Old Young Jumper - II, 2(b)
Six Year Old Young Jumper - II, 2(b)
Dixon Oval
Starting at 7 p.m.
Open Jumper - Hit & Hurry
Ladies Side Saddle U/S
Ladies Side Saddle Championship
Harness Pony - Open
Five Gaited - Lady to Ride
Western Country Pleasure
Fine Harness - Open
Park Horse - Amateur
Roadster Pony - Open
Three Gaited - Lady to Ride
Coaching
Three Gaited - Open
Saddlebred Pleasure Driving
Hackney Pony - Open
Friesian Pleasure - Open
Roadster Horse - Amateur
Five Gaited - Open
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