Those controlling the reins of the 2015 Devon Horse Show have seemed to be more rodeo cowboys than refined equestrians, as the wrangling over leadership has thrown off seven or more staff members, board members or volunteer leaders, according to a Philly.com report this week.

Former President Sarah Coxe Lange called it a “hostile takeover” that threatens the future of the world-renowned, 119-year-running Devon Horse Show.

“Just prove to the community that Devon is not at risk by easing the land in perpetuity,” she said in the article.

While the controversy stirs, new President Richard O’Donnell and Chairman Wayne Grafton have redirected attention to making this year’s show go, including promotion of the slogan, “Our tradition continues”.

“We’ve never heard anybody advocate the selling of the grounds or doing anything that would impede the horse show,” Grafton said in the article. “So the discussion is not a discussion within the Devon Horse Show. It’s a discussion that’s being created outside the Devon Horse Show for reasons that I don’t know.”

Read more about the debate over what’s at stake with the 11-day, $4 million-plus annual event on Philly.com here.