Madison Goetzmann and Alexandra Worthington Shine in Equitation on Opening Day of Devon Horse Show

Madison Goetzmann and San Remo VDL Photo by The Book LLC
Madison Goetzmann and San Remo VDL. Photo: The Book LLC

Devon, Pa. – May 24, 2018 – This year’s famed Devon Horse Show and Country Fair kicked off on Thursday morning in typical fashion with Junior Weekend taking center stage in the Dixon Oval. The country’s leading junior riders went head-to-head for top honors in the opening day’s highly-competitive equitation divisions. This year, it was barn mates Madison Goetzmann and Alexandra Worthington who frequented the winner’s circle to make the team at Beacon Hill Show Stables and head trainer Stacia Madden proud.

For years, the Devon Horse Show has been the place “Where Champions Meet” every May to earn top prizes, leading rider titles and bragging rights. The most talented and discerning riders throughout the United States set their sights on qualifying for the prestigious horse show, which has been running since 1896. Devon also provides equitation riders with the chance to accumulate valuable points toward year-end finals.

Worthington piloted her own Outshine to the blue ribbon and a high score of 94 in Section B of the WIHS Equitation Classic Jumper Phase, which was California split, then rode to another victory in Section B of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal. Her mount, a 2007 Westphalian gelding, has been making the transition to the equitation ring after Worthington purchased him a little more than a year ago. Prior to that, Outshine was being campaigned in the hunters with Greg Crolick.

Alexandra Worthington and Outshine. Photo by The Book LLC
Alexandra Worthington and Outshine. Photo: The Book LLC

For Worthington, showing at the Devon Horse Show was just a dream when she visited the iconic venue years ago while visiting her grandmother at nearby Bryn Mawr Hospital. Being able to come back and ride to great success for the last time as a junior at the Devon Horse Show, which benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, was all the more special to Alexandra and her family.

Alexandra Worthington and Outshine
Alexandra Worthington and Outshine

Goetzmann, who is 18 years old, executed flawless rounds throughout the day riding San Remo VDL. She claimed the win in Section A of the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and also topped Section A of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal, held in the Wheeler Ring.

Madison Goetzmann and San Remo VDL. Photo by The Book LLC
Madison Goetzmann and San Remo VDL. Photo: The Book LLC

Like Worthington, Goetzmann, who hails from Skaneateles, New York, was determined to make sure her last time at the Devon Horse Show as a junior was a memorable one as it marks her final year before aging out. Riding veteran equitation horse San Remo VDL, owned by Elizabeth Benson, Goetzmann was confident that she could pull off a win. The pair’s stellar partnership was demonstrated in October 2017 when they secured the highly-coveted ASPCA Maclay National Championship title together.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that San Remo VDL, a 2000 Latvian Warmblood gelding, was sent to relax in a field in Cazenovia, New York after his incredible performances in the fall. The black gelding returned to Beacon Hill Show Stables, located in Colts Neck, New Jersey, about one month ago to start preparing for Devon. Goetzmann then took San Remo VDL to show at the Old Salem Farm Spring Show in order to practice for Devon. The team was hopeful that they could make Goetzmann’s last experience at Devon a winning one.

After achieving the highest-scoring round of the day in the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, Goetzmann was awarded the Honey Craven Perpetual Memorial Trophy, donated in 2004 by Jane Macelree.

The action is just heating up and Junior Weekend at the Devon Horse Show will resume on Friday morning with the ASPCA Maclay starting at 8 a.m., followed by the R.W. “Ronnie” Mutch Equitation Championship and sections of the Small and Large Junior Hunter divisions. Friday evening will see the best young athletes battle it out in the Junior Jumpers in the Dixon Oval beginning at 7 p.m.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Madison Goetzmann – Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Section A and Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Section A winner

On San Remo VDL:
“San Remo is a very special horse to not only me but to the whole Beacon Hill family and the Benson family, who own him. He is 18 years old this year. I won Maclay Finals on him back in October. Right after Maclay Finals, he went up to Cazenovia, New York and was in a field all winter and he just came back about a month ago. We started working with him again, then showed him a few times at Old Salem so he could make one more comeback at Devon.”

On his performance on Thursday:
“He was super. I couldn’t have asked for a better horse. Obviously, he’s probably the most incredible equitation horse I will ever sit on. After we do the Ronnie Mutch tomorrow, he will go back up to Cazenovia and spend the summer out in the field before coming back for indoors one last time. You could say he is pretty special.”

On why she likes the Devon Horse Show:
“It’s such a prestigious event and to be able to compete here among the country’s best junior riders is such a privilege and to have all the support and horses to do it, I’m very lucky. This is my last junior year, so it is definitely a nice way to end it.”

On her longtime history going to the Devon Horse Show:
“I’ve been coming here probably for eight years. I showed here when it wasn’t Devon, during local shows doing the short stirrup, so I am very familiar with the showgrounds. It gets more special every year.”

Alexandra Worthington – WIHS Equitation Classic Jumper Phase Section B and Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Section B winner

On Outshine:
“He used to be a hunter with Greg Crolick in Michigan. We got him in Florida in 2017 and have been transitioning him into an equitation horse. Having the hunter background has really worked to his advantage. He is able to be so smooth and flow around the courses.”

On her partnership with Outshine:
“I have been riding him for a little over a year now. I had a broken foot for most of the beginning season in Florida, but I was able to get back in time for the George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation class.”

On what it means to show at the Devon Horse Show:
“It is actually really special to me. The hospital [Bryn Mawr Hospital] that the show benefits is where my grandmother died and I visited Devon in 2009 before I was really serious enough to show here. I was visiting her in hospice and then I visited the show grounds on that trip and I knew I wanted to show here one day. It is really, really special to me and my entire family. My dad couldn’t make it here, but my mom is here.”

RESULTS

WIHS Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section A (California Split):
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Class Action / Coco Fath / Hillside Farm LLC
1. Skara Glen’s Prologue / Addison Piper / Skara Glen Stables
2. Campreoll / Ava Ellis / Missy Clark
2. Copperfield 39 / Elli Yeager / Elli Yeager
3. Cobalt / Rachel McMullen / Claudette Yarbrough
3. Carl / Emma Kurtz / Dr. Betsee Parker

WIHS Equitation Classic – Jumper Phase – Section B (California Split):
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Outshine / Alexandra Worthington / Alexandra Worthington
1. Zapfier / Tanner Korotkin / Missy Clark
2. Waldo / Sam Walker / North Run
2. Vanderpump / Augusta Iwasaki / Ashland Farms
3. Caracas 89 / Kaitlyn Lovingfoss / Elvenstar Farm
3. Quax / Annabel Revers / Beechwood Stables LLC

Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search – Section A:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. San Remo VDL / Madison Goetzmann / Elizabeth Benson
2. Zapfier / Tanner Korotkin / Missy Clark
3. Catachi / Coco Fath / Hillside Farm LLC

Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search – Section B:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Copperfield 39 / Ellie Yeager / Ellie Yeager
2. Checkland / Nina Columbia / Nina Columbia
3. C’est La Vie / Sophie Transou / Sophie Transou

Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal – Section A:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. San Remo VDL / Madison Goetzmann / Elizabeth Benson
2. Kori D’Oro / Daisy Farish / Heritage Farm Inc.
3. Contigo 37 / Annabel Revers / Beechwood Stables LLC

Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal – Section B:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Outshine / Alexandra Worthington / Alexandra Worthington
2. Eclipse / Ava Stearns / Missy Clark
3. Small Anecdote / Augusta Iwasaki / Iwasaki & Reilly

Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal – Section C:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner
1. Waldo / Sam Walker / North Run
2. Centerfold K / Rachel McMullen / Henge Hill Investments
3. Copperfield 39 / Elli Yeager / Elli Yeager

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