Crowd Wowed by Chris Hickey’s exhibition Freestyle at Dressage at Devon Preview Party
RELEASE: September 11, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Sally Silverman
The theme for the Dressage at Devon Preview Party was "Be Part of the Magic," and a magical evening it was. The affair took place in the lovely gardens of Jane MacElree’s historic Fairy Hill estate in Newtown Square, PA. The weather was perfect, the flowers were blooming in a riot of color, and guests were treated to a stellar musical freestyle by Chris Hickey on Bugatti Hilltop. Approximately 150 supporters of Dressage at Devon were on the guest list.
To boogie woogie music that was well-matched to his powerful presence, Bugatti showed off his talents on the temporary arena set up on the grassy lawn behind the MacElree home. Hickey, a Pan Am Games Gold medalist and head trainer at Hilltop Farm in Colora, MD, has been riding the stallion for less than a year, but the pair are clearly in sync. “This horse never says no!” said Hickey.
Hickey joined Hilltop Farm in January 2007, eight months before the farm imported Bugatti. During the 2007 season he continued to build on a long and successful competitive career, earning the U.S. Intermediaire I Championship on Regent. He competed very successfully in the Pan American Games, winning both the dressage Team and Individual Gold medals with Regent, a horse he trained since it was imported as a four-year-old.
Bugatti Hilltop is a black 1998 Hanoverian stallion measuring 16.3 hands. He brings together the bloodlines of some of Germany’s greatest dressage sires and has captured top FEI competitive honors in Europe. His impact as a sire is just beginning to prove itself.
“It was a magical, memorable evening,” said Preview Party Chair Dr. Eileen Johnston. “Chris and Bugatti were an elegant team, treating our guests to the best that our sport has to offer. It was a wonderful preview for the thrilling competition that Dressage at Devon will showcase.”
Hickey and Bugatti were introduced to the guests by Susan Springsteen of Morgan Stanley, a sponsor of the event. An equestrian who will be competing at Dressage at Devon with her own two horses, Springsteen said, “To many, riding at Dressage at Devon is a dream come true. At Morgan Stanley, we are all about helping our clients pursue their dreams. It’s a good fit."
Generous cocktail fare was provided by J. Scott Catering of Malvern.
Dressage at Devon, presented by Horseworld Ltd. and DressageClinic.com, brings top competitors, horses, trainers and judges from across the continent and around the globe together for one of the highest-rated international dressage competitions, and the most complete sport horse breed show, outside of Europe. This year, the 34th annual Dressage at Devon Horse Show will be held September 23-28 at the Devon Horse Show grounds in Devon, PA. Olympic medalist Robert Dover calls Dressage at Devon “the standard by which all American horse shows should be judged.” More than 700 horses are expected to compete with an anticipated 35,000 spectators. The event benefits Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Inc., in Malvern, one of the oldest and largest therapeutic riding facilities in the nation. Since 1991, Dressage at Devon has raised more than $1,070,000 for Thorncroft.