Form & Functionality, Artfully Combined
I'd heard great things about DevonWood Equestrian Centre, seen sketches of the mural by Joanne Mehl, and photos of the grounds. So, as I arrived to watch a few rides at the Dressage at DevonWood Show in Sherwood, Oregon, I was prepared to be impressed.
DevonWood Equestrian Centre is beyond impressive. As I passed through the front gate, my jaw dropped. The eye is naturally drawn to the barn and indoor arena perched atop the hillside. The road winds its way toward the barn, past a man-made pond and stream, terraced dressage arenas and well-manicured lawns. This is dressage heaven.
With a show in progress, the facility hummed with well-organized activity. Tents shaded spectator and sponsors' tables. Competitors from up and down the West coast showed their best to judges such as Hilda Gurney (S), Jonathan Burton (S), Jane Weatherwax (S), and Cara Witham (I). With comfortable seating incorporated into the slopes and a sound system that's built into the landscape, spectators were kept informed of the competition schedule at all times. I watched some wonderful rides and sighed over horses that were the very definition of elegant.
When hunger finally forced me to take my eyes off of the competition, I made my way to the "little village" a vendor area nestled among the trees. Offerings included everything from top-notch lunch options, to tack, clothing, jewelry, and artwork. A $500 repair bill for my hot tub prevented me from delving too deeply into the shopping, but I did take in a wonderful lunch and a quick look around the barn and indoor arena. To say that the stalls are more attractive than my house is depressing but no exaggeration; everything is first class.
When owner Ginny Rattner graciously invited me back to DevonWood for a tour, I jumped at the chance. It's easy to be overwhelmed by the scale and grandeur of DevonWood, but what makes it really special are the details. Ginny's specialty is pointing out the details, which she beautifully incorporated into the facility for the benefit of both horse and rider.
We began at the clubhouse, currently under construction. When finished, it will serve as a meeting place with a view of the arena. A freestanding fireplace, dining area and facilities for food preparation will provide creature comforts for those attending clinics or simply observing lessons.
DevonWood's main indoor arena is a sight to behold and must be a pleasure to ride in. Artist Joanne Mehl was commissioned to do a mural, placed over the North entry. It is a truly beautiful work of art, featuring dressage horses and riders in a moment of "dance." Joanne's mural, which measures 12 feet high by 47 feet long, was recently featured on the cover of The Chronicle of the Horse.
Add to this the well-thought out functionality of the arena (beautiful lighting, superb ventilation, a raised ceiling that creates a feeling of spaciousness) and you have a facility that is not only beautiful but highly functional.
In fact, "Form follows function," is Ginny Rattner's summary of DevonWood's design. She points out the suspended roof design with a three-inch "breather," which adds insulation from the elements; a built in sound system to allow the trainer to communicate with the rider and spectators; and permanent bleacher seating. The steel frame of the arena has been covered with sheet rock, to prevent horse and/or rider collisions with the beams. Wooden kick walls were added to keep the horses a safe distance from the walls, for rider protection.
Ginny credits the overall design to resident trainer, Teri Emrich. The pair took the design of the original Clark Hill facility and incorporated ideas garnered from visits to Holland, Germany, France and top-notch facilities in the United States. Together, they have created a barn that any horse would be proud to live in.
Stalls on both sides of the arena are well-ventilated and allow the horses to see one another when in the barn. Every other stall features access to a paddock. Continuous rubber mats run down the entire length of the barn, eliminating upturned edges and uneven flooring. Boarders appreciate the sub-floor heat system which heats the stall aisles, offices, tack room and blanket closets. Heat lamps have been installed in the cross-ties to speed up winter cool downs.
Great lengths were taken to create a mouse-proof grain room, featuring concrete walls and drawers with a 200 pound capacity to hold oats, cob, and so on. Medications and supplements are carefully labeled for each horse and dished out to the specifications of the owners.
Other amenities include a specially ventilated and equipped area for the farrierwho can drive his vehicle into the building to shoe horses. Likewise, the veterinarian has a work area designed to facilitate the reading of x-rays and other medical procedures.
Boarding a golf-cart we headed cross-country for a tour of the grounds. DevonWood is situated on 44 acres with beautiful views of surrounding hillsides and valleys. We headed along a one mile trail that loops through wooded trails, taking in DevonWood's outdoor arenas along the way. Certainly the most impressive is the full court sand arena, which was excavated, lined, and floored with a conduit system that removes water from below in winter; adds it in summer as needed. "I was really hesitant to include a sand arena," Teri Emrich said, "But now I absolutely love it."
Ginny used her experience as a competitor to making showing at DevonWood as comfortable as possible. The show office is placed near the competitor's barn, for easy access. The air-conditioned office also houses a comfortable competitor's lounge. With computerized scoring, competitors can receive their marks within minutes. Competitors can choose between permanent stalls and "temporary" stalls housed under permanent roofs, complete with lighting and gutters. A paved parking area built to accommodate 60 trailers is part of Ginny's attention to detail.
The main warm-up ring has been divided into two rings with shaded areas in between for trainers. "It helps with traffic control," Ginny said. Indeed, having well-run warm-up rings definitely contributed to the calm demeanor of both horses and riders. For those who needed a little extra help to get the bucks out, a lunging area is available next to the competitors' stalls.
For those competitors who need a break from the activity, Ginny created an oasisa landscaped stream that meanders down the hillside. True to her "form follows function" mindset, the stream captures runoff from the barn and arena's one acre of roof space. The water is recirculated into the facility's pond, which doubles as a fire suppression system.
I'm not going to tell my horse about DevonWood, because he'd probably run away from home to live there. The artful combination of functionality and aesthetics makes it a wonderful addition to the Northwest's riding community. That it is run and managed by people who truly care about horses and riders makes it priceless.
For more information about DevonWood Equestrian Centre, visit their website at www.devonwoodec.com. Upcoming events include a Conrad Schumacher clinic, USDF Instructor Testing and, in 2002, USDF demonstration rides.