Devon, PA - All three top open jumper winners will defend their titles at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, ensuring thrilling competition among top jumpers in afternoon and evening classes.

Capitano, the horse that last year won the featured event of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, the $75,000 Budweiser Grand Prix of Devon, Laura Chapot’s Little Big Man, Open Jumper Champion for four of the past five years, and McLain Ward, Leading Open Jumper Rider for four of the past six years, lead a stellar list of jumpers competing for the honor of winning at Devon.

Devon, May 24 through June 3, benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated more than $12 million since 1919.

One major change in the schedule moves the Grand Prix from the first class of the evening on Thursday, May 31, to the final event, beginning at approximately 8:30.

Following a day devoted to Breeding classes, the evening begins at 5 p.m., with Saddlebred and coaching competitions.

This ensures that all the jumpers will compete with identical conditions, under lights at night. Previously, the horses that went early in the class, while competing under lights, had the added advantage of going while there was still daylight.

In a dramatic finish to last year’s Grand Prix, Danielle Torano was preparing to ride her Capitano in the competition when she decided that, as she was three months pregnant, it was too dangerous for her unborn child.

Danielle and her husband Jimmy enlisted the help of their friend McLain Ward, who agreed to ride Capitano in the class, despite the fact he’d never ridden the horse before and had only a very few minutes to prepare.

The rest is history – Ward got on with only five riders to go before him, rode a first clean round and returned to win the seven horse jump-off.

Danielle had a baby girl Dec. 8, and they named her Natalia Mills Torano, but she is now back to riding, so Danielle will compete Capitano herself at Devon this year.

“I get along with him” said Danielle. “He’s totally straight-forward to ride.”

But she’ll have plenty of tough competition, including Ward himself, who is taking his Athens Olympics team gold medal mount, Sapphire, plus additional horses, to Devon. Other top contenders for the title include Chapot’s Little Big Man and even her own husband.

Jimmy Torano Competes Flyer and Vaillant for Devon Vice President Harry R. Gill

Both horses are competitive, although Flyer has more experience, but Vaillant won a 1.50 meter class during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., in a class in which only Torano and Athens Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa rode clean rounds.

Chapot is taking seven horses to Devon, including four horses for the Young Jumper competitions held Sunday, May 27 and Monday, May 28.

She has Little Big Man, Samantha and speed demon Sprite for the major classes, with Sabrina and Skye for the 5-year-old jumper classes and Face Value and Silver Lining for the 7- and 8-year-old classes.

Jumper classes are held daily throughout the 11 days, culminating in two grand prix classes, held Thursday and Saturday evenings, but there is also a potpourri of equestrian disciplines, from hunters

to elegant side saddle competitions, high stepping gaited horses and carriages of all types, plus numerous, exciting exhibitions.

Open Jumpers begin competing Tuesday in the last class on the afternoon schedule, and continue with the first class Tuesday evening, the last class Wednesday afternoon and the first that evening.

The $75,000 Grand Prix of Devon is the final class Thursday evening, the $15,000 Gambler’s Choice is the last class Friday evening, and the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake is the last class Saturday evening, followed by the awarding of the prestigious Open Jumper Championship and the Leading Open Jumper Rider.

Amateur Owner Jumpers compete Friday and Saturday.

Paige Johnson of The Plains, Va., was Leading Amateur Owner Jumper rider last year, and her Salamander Farms’ was Amateur Owner Jumper Champion. This pair also returns to defend their title.

Along with the jumper classes, which include speed classes, in which the fastest, cleanest horse wins in the first round, and the power classes in which every horse clean in the first round returns to compete against the clock, there is a great variety of competitions featuring horses of many various breeds.

Junior weekend opens the 11 days of competition on Thursday, May 24 and includes hunter, jumper, equitation, pony hunter and pony breeding classes.

The Carriage Pleasure Drive on Sunday opens a week of adult competition in hunters, jumpers, three- and five-gaited horses, Friesians, hackney and harness horses and ponies, roadsters and four-in-hand coaching.

Ladies Side Saddle classes are featured Wednesday afternoon, and Thursday, June 1, is devoted to Breeding classes featuring yearlings, 2- and 3-year olds.

Four-in-hand coaching is scheduled during the evenings of Monday through Friday, and the Friday night schedule includes a number of Saddlebred championships.

The final evening of the show includes three- and five-gaited, Hackney Pony, Fine Harness Horse and Roadster championships, building up to the $50,000 Idle Dice Stake, the Open Jumper Championship and the Leading Open Jumper Rider award.

A number of exhibitions are scheduled for the 11 days, including dressage exhibitions, pairs competing in carriage racing and border collies.

The Country Fair features boutique shopping for sporting clothes, often sporting an equestrian motif, paintings and prints, gorgeous gold and silver jewelry, garden accessories, furniture painted with horses and dogs, fancy hats, leather goods and antiques, collectibles and souvenirs.

Food is available for every taste from hamburgers and hot dogs to gourmet dining in the Cafeteria, and the famous Devon fudge. And don’t forget the lemon sticks.

General admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12 and $5 for seniors. Reserved seating is available. Call for ticket prices.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at the ticket office at the show grounds or call 610-688-2554.

The ticket office at Devon is open April 9 to May 18, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.