Devon Horse Show begins Thursday with junior events

The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair is scheduled to begin Thursday with junior riders competing in equitation in the Dixon Oval and pony breeding classes in the Gold Ring.

In equitation, riders are judged over a course of fences on their position and control of their mounts.

Victoria Colvin, 15, of Loxahatchee, Fla., rewrote the record books at Devon last year by being the first junior to win both the Best Child Rider on a Horse and the Leading Junior Jumper Rider titles in the same year. She will open the defense of her titles in two equitation classes Thursday.

Colvin has four horses entered in large and small junior hunters and two entered in junior jumpers.

Juniors will compete in hunter, jumper, and pony hunter classes on Friday and Saturday.

The Carriage Pleasure Drive, which arrives at the Dixon Oval about 2 p.m. Sunday, will open eight days of adult competition in jumpers, hunters, four-in-hand coaching, Saddlebred, harness, roadster, and Friesian classes.

No evening classes are scheduled Thursday, but for the first time Devon will offer live music in the fair area.

Doug Hill, a singer-songwriter and guitar player, will perform from 5 to 7 p.m., and the Concrete Charlie Band will play from 7 to 10 p.m. on the Sycamore Stage in the picnic grove.

Concrete Charlie performs a mix of dance, pop, rock, and country.

The Garden Cafe menu for the evening will feature "Philly Food," such as cheesesteaks, snapper soup, and Italian Market-inspired fare, and Philly-brewed beer.