Wednesday September 25, 2002

M'Ecloir, Grand Champion at the 2002 Devon Breed Show

While the Dressagedaily team has barely recovered from a Jerez 2002 WEG jet lag, and just picked up euro-correspondent Astrid Appels, who blew in from Brussels today, for the 2002 Dressage at Devon CDI, the team made it in time for the award ceremony of the Curtis Paul Cheyney Jr. Memorial Trophy of the Grand Championship at the 2002 Devon Breed Show in Devon, PA.

Taking over the title of Hilltop's Capricia and the overall reign of Hilltop farm last year, are M'Ecloir and owners Richard Caplan and Mary Huwaldt of Foal's Paradise Farm. The gorgeous chestnut Dutch warmblood mare beat three other candidates for the Grand title: Contigo (by Contucci - 2nd place), Silvio (by Silvio - 3rd place) and Florette (by Festrausch - 4th place).

Born in 1994 in the Netherlands and sired by Amethist our of J'Eclair (by Boreas), M'Ecloir was imported as a yearling by Richard Caplan and Mary Huwaldt. "We got her in a package deal," Caplan confessed. "We were looking for a stallion prospect and bought a young colt, a good mare and the breeder threw her in for a cheap price. She turned out to be the best one of three," Kaplan grinned proudly.

The elegant M'Ecloir, who is bred by Mr. Beijen, has a correct streamlined conformation, a large walk and a very energetic, engaged trot. "We actually entered her foal for the breed show but just put her in a few classes so that she wouldn't be too bored," Caplan said. Vivace is the mare's 2002 colt by Le Byou P, Foal's Paradise Farm's privately owned stallion.

"My wife was interested in horses and we decided to buy one. We now have 17." Caplan, a lawyer by profession, explained. Foal's Paradise Farm has been extremely successful over the years at the Devon Breed Show. M'Eclair has been the USDF/Cosequin East Coast Mare Champion three times.

The individual breed classes and the under the saddle divisions will be contested on Thursday September 26, 2002. Still functioning on European WEG mode, we will catch up on the Devon Breed Show scores tomorroz. Tune into our websites regularly to view the latest coverage of America's oldest horse show which now celebrates its 102nd year of competition.

by Astrid Appels

Related Link
Horsesdaily "On the Scene" at 2002 Dressage at Devon