Paradise Knoll sixth grader Devon Owen is a national equestrian champion

BY GINNY PRIVITAR
RINGWOOD — Eleven year-old Devon Owen accomplished quite a feat for someone her age. She won a United States Equestrian Federation National Championship, as well as a New Jersey State title, for her riding division (Hunt Seat Pleasure) in 2015. The accomplishment is even more impressive since she competes in an open division against adults and professional riders. And she didn’t even start training for this division until October, 2014.

Devon felt good about her win.

“Before I won it, I thought, ‘I’m not gonna win because I’m going against adults and professional people.’ When I heard I won, I thought my pony did good and I did good and we came a long way since the beginning of the year,” said Devon, who is a sixth grade student at Paradise Knoll Elementary School.

Devon comes from a horse training and showing background. Her grandmother, Theresa Francia, and her mom, Donna Owen, purchased a single mare back in 1991 and in 2004 they established Ponies Unlimited, LLC, in Ringwood. The business has grown into a successful horse show training and leasing program with occasional Thoroughbred breeding, racing and sales. Owen gives classes in English riding, geared for kids who want to show.

“Devon’s been riding since she was in a onesie and showing since she was three,” said Owen.

Owen herself has been riding since age seven and training since she was 15 or 16; she has more than 20 years experience in showing, teaching, training and breeding.

Devon’s pony, Skys the Limit, a 17-year-old Quarter Horse pony, was originally trained as a jumper. Devon had trained and competed in that division. Ponies jump heights of from 3’6” to 3’9". But jumping wasn't for Devon.

Now, according to her mom, she’s getting back in the show ring and it’s worked out pretty well at competitions.

Devon decided to try something different and began training and competing in hunt seat pleasure riding in October of 2014.

“We had to retrain the pony to do the pleasure stuff,” said Owen.

If she had her way, her mom would like her to compete with their champion jumpers too. That's not what Devon is doing, and Owen is supportive of Devon’s ambition to try something different.

Hunt seat pleasure riding involves what is known as “flat testing,” where jumping is not involved, but the pony or horse is judged on its movement, manners and form; on its mastery of different gaits, including walk, trot, and canter and execution of other commands.

Owen takes care of the business and the ponies, and says Devon is a big heIp. Every morning before school and after she returns, Devon helps feed the ponies, turns them out to the paddock and cleans their stalls. She also helps around the house.

Devon and her mom both say she’ll complete in the pleasure division for another year and then they’ll re-assess their plans.

When she is not riding, Devon enjoys being with her friends and watching “Jessie” on the Disney TV channel. She also admits that she plays with her “phone and computer half the time,” when she’s not in school or training.

“I want to do this when I get older,” Devon says.

Chances are, she’ll be adding more ribbons to her collection.