For Immediate Release for more information, contact Ginny Simon, Project Marketing, 610-889-2036, [email protected]

September 24, 2019 (Devon, PA) - It doesn't get much cuter than watching foals as they first experience the Dixon Oval. But it's especially fun when it's under the shining sun!

Individual Breed Classes From the adorable Haflingers to the impressive Hanoverians and Oldenbergs, more than 15 breeds showed attendees what careful breeding can do to develop and strengthen a breed. They were all winners but the top three scorers were:

Kandyvrowe (Glocks Toto Jr. x Fergievrouwe), a 2015 bred by M.Hendrikden-de-Rijk, and owned by Iron Spring

Hanoverian

Farm, earned the high score of 81.850

Gypsy ISF (Tjalbert 460 x Goaitske fan e, a Friesian bred by Iron Spring Farm, scored a 80.60

Sophistikate, a Hanovarien handled by Francine Gentile, was third high scorer with a score of 79.250.

Many of the breeds - - Hanoverians, Oldenburgs, Dutch are familiar favorites. Others, while well-loved an appreciated by their owners and breeders, are not so well known. Take the Dutch Harness for example. Also known as “Tuigpaard," Dutch Harness are a breed of fine horses that began in the Netherlands after World War II. These work horses primarily worked in farms and fields; however, horse owners became intensely competitive and desired to breed the finest and most elegant horse as horses were a status symbol to farmers when they would visit the town.

As a result, breeders aimed to produce a refined, high-stepping horse that are easily recognizable. With only 40 sires and less than 2,000 broodmares there are not many of this breed. Characteristics of the Dutch Harness Horse are: high carriage, long moment of suspension in , broad foreleg movement with high knee action and powerful carrying ability.

When Aaron Jay Fisher, six-year breeder of Dutch Harness Horses was asked “why this breed?” he answered, “this breed is one of my favorite to work with because of their easy going nature and movements. Their happy character makes training and working with them easy.” And they do well in the world because of their unique movement, specifically their strong hind end working to push their front end into an extension, according to Fisher.

Of course, every horse has a story but some are a more unusual than others. Aurora, who showed in the Filly of the Current Year class with her adopted mom Cara Mia. Aurora (know as Ora) is the third filly by Luminere, a PMU filly adopted by Mary Ann Luke of Silver Fern Farm. (see story below for more details). Wednesday’s forecast looks great. Classes will feature three, four and five year old Materiale, Foal, Filly, Colt, Mare, , and Mature Horse championships. See if you can pick the Grand Champion! Plus join Jonathan Clark from Select Breeding Services during the dinner break in the picnic area. Stop by the Silent Auction and sample some of the great food!

The 2019 Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.org) will take place September 24-September 29 at the Devon Grounds in Devon, PA. For reserved seating, visit dressageatdevon.org/box-office.

Please note: Photos are available. [email protected]

About Dressage at Devon

Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.org) has been a premier North American Equestrian event since its founding in 1975. It combines world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show with the international Fall Festival show and special activities for the entire family. The six- day event attracts hundreds of riders from around the world and thousands of spectators. Dressage at Devon is a 501(c) (3) PA non-profit organization, benefitting equine education. Please note: photos are attached to the release.

The Story of Aurora

MaryAnn Luke of Silver Fern Farm in Earleville, MD had been thinking about breeding (after braiding at Hilltop's Inspections). The night prior to a scheduled repro exam on a mare she currently owned, she came across an adoption page for PMU babies and thought it was something she could get behind. So the following day, she decided to adopt the grey PMU filly instead. The rest as they say was history. She brought the six-month old filly home from Alberta, Canada in 2001 and thought she may name her Aurora as her current competition horse was "Northern Lights".

From the onset of their partnership she followed many fateful that lit the path. With the new filly in tow and while listening to the radio her next “fate” event took place. The day she arrived the Northern Lights were going to be visible from her home. Solidifying her name was meant to be Aurora, show name "Lumiere" which means light.

Fast forward MaryAnn bought her farm in 2012 and had two fillies from Lumiere, each of which were special and encouraged her to keep going. The decision to breed her was difficult as she was not your typical choice to create a fancy . This is a true rags to riches story of the filly with no bloodlines, who became a lovely Dressage horse and would go on to compete in multiple disciplines even taking on an occasional up down lesson.

Her great character spoke for itself and MaryAnn knew it was a great match for Riverman so decided to push forward once again with her dream of breeding. Once SF Rama arrived in 2015 she knew she had made the right choice. Then came Silverfern Rakaia in 2017, who was a Premium foal. MaryAnn says her foals fool everyone who meets them including judges. You see Aurora was a Percheron x QH cross, so her foals are actually 1/4 draft! This mare certainly bettered herself each time.

Then on April 1, 2019, Silverfern Rangiora (a/k/a Ora) (Riverman/Lumiere) was born.

Mary Ann knew from day 1, that she had something special. “Ora came out so balanced, exhibiting everything she needs to be a dressage horse within a couple of weeks – she knew where all her feet were and had gloriously wonderful movement.”

Tragically Lumiere died suddenly three months later.

MaryAnn’s plans for the filly were now very up in the air. Enter Cara Mia, another Oldenberg at Mary Ann’s farm. Cara Mia had not had a foal this year, but was always an auntie to Ora from birth. Cara Mia started lactating within three days of Luminere’s death and became a full foster mom purely by her choice.

MaryAnn took her to the Oldenberg Inspection at Hilltop but with some trepidation. Ora had been depressed for the 5 weeks between her Dam's passing and her inspection. Much like her father, said MaryAnn, she “played for the crowd” once she got there she ended up as the high scoring filly, but also the high score of the day, beating the colts as well.

A true tribute to Aurora's quality are her 3 fillies. Three Premium type foals from a PMU mare who would have otherwise ended up bound for a slaughterhouse.

Both Cara Mia and Ora are competing in the prestigious Dressage at Devon in the Breed Division.