Caroline Pamukcu and She’s the One. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Olympian Caroline Pamukcu has claimed the role of early leader in the CCI4*-S, sponsored by Triple Crown Feed, at the end of day one at Maryland International. Pamukcu is part of a small but mighty field of 10 pairs at Loch Moy Farm in Adamstown, Maryland, including an international contingent with representatives from Belgium and Canada competing this weekend.
Pamukcu is riding Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin’s She’s The One (Jaguar Mail x One to Watch, by Condios), a 10-year-old Warmblood mare. “She was very relaxed,” Pamukcu said, noting that she had three rides this morning, creating an abbreviated warm-up. “We’ve been working hard on her changes and her way of going and relaxation, and she put in a very good, steady test. There’s lots of room for improvement, but it was nice that we can go in and put in a good test with a 10-minute warm-up where normally I would have a couple of pre-rides and a little bit longer of a warm-up.”
Loch Moy Farm has made some big improvements to the property ahead of the Maryland International, including upgrading all of the rings with TRUTEX Footing. “I’m really impressed with Carolyn [Mackintosh, owner of Loch Moy Farm],” Pamukcu said. “She redid all the surfaces here with TRUTEX, so it’s a world-class event with world-class footing and world-class sponsors. As you can see, I’m sitting on the Defender, which is a new sponsor they have, and we have other big sponsors like Triple Crown sponsoring the cross country, and they sponsor my horses, so it’s great. It’s a fantastic place to be.”
Pamukcu is preparing to leave for CHIO Aachen shortly and is using The Maryland International as a jumping off point to lock in for the competition ahead. “I thought it would be really good to use this show,” Pamukcu said. “It’s the same dressage test that we’re going to have at Aachen, which is Dressage Test D in the Four Star. So it’s a shortened version of the FEI test, and I thought it would be good practice to bring a few horses here and just kind of get me in the mindset, in the groove, going into Aachen next week.”
With a score of 32.9, Leslie Lamb and Banjo are tied for second place in the CCI4*-S with Arden Wildasin and Billy Beaufort. Jennie Brannigan and FE Connery are holding onto third place with a score of 34.0.
Isabelle Bosley and Conner. Photo by SDH Photography for Erin Gilmore.
In the CCI3*-S, sponsored by Land Rover West Columbia / Defender, Isabelle Bosley is leading the way aboard Conner (Casiro 3 x Monique, by Concetto), who finished the dressage phase with a score of 27.7. Bosley has had the ride on Karen Martin’s 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding since he was imported from Germany at the age of 5. “I’ve never done that test on this horse before, and he’s pretty green at the level and can get a bit hot,” Bosley said. “So it’s kind of a lot— one movement right after another. But I think he just kind of settled into it more and more. It actually almost suited him better than I thought it would. He really relaxed in there and just gave a really nice test.”
When Bosley first took over the ride on Conner, the gelding was a blank slate with no background in either eventing or jumping, and had never been to a competition of any type. “He just moved up to Intermediate level this spring,” she said. “He’s still quite green, but he’s super talented. He’s lovely on the flat, he jumps great, and he’s just a really special horse. I’ve kind of just been taking my time with him, and he’s all of a sudden just blossomed into this big, mature horse.”
Bosley and Conner clicked from the first moment she sat in the saddle. “He’s really special. Every day I’m like, “How did I get this horse?” Because he’s just such an incredible horse. The moment I sat on him, I was sold. Then I felt his jump and thought, ‘I have to have this horse,’” Bosley said.
Laine Ashker and Lovedance, owned by Lovedance LLC, are starting the weekend in second place in the CCI3*-S with a score of 29.0. In third place, Lynn Symansky and Bounce 6, owned by Linda Graves and Alice Lawaetz, round out the top three with a score of 30.5.
Kelsey Seidel and Chico’s Man VDF Z. Photo by SDH Photography for Erin Gilmore.
The USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships are also taking place this weekend, injecting the competition with a dose of even more enthusiasm than usual. After a welcome ceremony punctuated with water balloons and a golf cart decorating contest, the riders kicked off the competition today. Kelsey Seidel is leading the CCI3*-S Young Rider Championship division aboard Chico’s Man VDF Z (Chico’s Boy x Chardonnay Z, by Caretano Z), owned by Lexi Scovil.
“Sprout was just absolutely beautiful in the ring. He really came in and wanted to do a good job.
We got caught in a little bit of a rainstorm, so the pictures will be interesting—I think we both came out soaked in water. He did such a good job, put his head down, and went to work just like the champ he is,” Seidel said of her dressage test.
Seidel took over the ride on “Sprout” from owner Lexi Scovil, who competed him through the five-star level. “He’s a dreamboat. He and I have been partnered together for exactly a year now,” Seidel said. “He’s so lovely. He’s got a bit of a spook in him, but he wants to come out and do a good job— and do it with a little bit of sass, a little bit of Sprout flair.”
It’s Seidel’s first year riding in the Young Rider Championship, which is an event like no other. “It’s just been such a great bonding experience,” she said. “We don’t always get to see so many younger riders who are as passionate about this sport as we are. So to have all of us at one show, in one venue. It’s really exciting to see the future of the sport right in front of you.”
Chelsea Lowe and Donna Pledge’s Fernhill Malito Park are holding onto second place in the CCI3*YRC-S with a score of 32.8. In third place is Maya Clarkson with her own Maks Mojo C with a score of 34.4.
Jennie Brannigan and Royal Scandic. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Jennie Brannigan is leading the CCI2*-S, sponsored by The Baldwin Group, with her own Royal Scandic (Revolution x Schatzi, by Contender), an up-and-coming 7-year-old. With a score of 24.2, the pair gets to claim the title of lowest score of the day. “He’s such a talented, special horse,” Brannigan said. “It’s just really exciting to have him coming along. And it’s not like he’s totally settled in the ring yet. He’s a really, really exciting horse for the future, and he just makes me happy to be doing the job and to have something that talented.”
“I think his balance is so much better. There’s actually a little bit going on here. I think I’ve only run him at this venue once before, and he was so distracted by everything,” Brannigan continued. “He still whinnied a couple times in the ring, but overall, he’s just so much more consistent. His balance is better, he’s really holding himself. I think he’s started to look like the horse that he is.”
Brannigan is trying to take her time producing Royal Scandic. The Maryland International marks the geldings third competition at the CCI2*-level, and while Brannigan hopes it will be his last, she says she’s not in a rush.
“He’s been schooling at such a higher level, especially on cross country. So this is hopefully his last two-star,” Brannigan said. “But I’m just letting him have the time. When Peter was talking to me about that two days ago, he said, ‘You know, this horse is so special. Just really give him the time. Don’t be in a rush.’ So I’m not in a rush to do a three star this fall.”
Brannigan is followed by Isabelle Bosley and Karen Martin’s Constanzehof’s Stitch with a score of 27.4. In third place is Valerie Pride, who is riding her own Excel Star Je T’Aime, with a score of 28.2.
Devon Tresan and Zavallo. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
Devon Tresan and her own Zavallo (Zavall VDL x Ava, by Quicksilber) are gunning for that championship title in the CCI2*YRC-S. They currently hold the lead with a score of 24.4. “He’s a really, really lovely horse to ride on the flat. So usually I just go in with anticipation of being a little better than I was last time and getting a little more from him, and he was just really great and happy and easy going today,” Tresan said.
While proud of her whole test, Tresan says the most exciting mark for her was her 10 point harmony score from dressage judge Peter Gray. “I feel like if I’m going to get a 10, that’s probably the best place that I would want to get it,” Tresan said. “It’s really near and dear to my heart, because Zia is really my best friend, and I feel like the partnership we’ve built together has just created the way that we can ride a dressage test together.”
Tresan purchased Zavallo four years ago as a young horse with little experience under his belt. “I got him as somewhat of a young horse,” Tresan said. “He was quite inexperienced, and he was a little bit wild, but he’s really settled into himself in the past couple years, and he’s just a great partner. And he’s really an incredible event horse. Honestly, he’s great in all three phases, and he could go into any arena and do any discipline. He’s just a wonderful, wonderful partner.”
Looking ahead to cross country tomorrow, Tresan says that her number one goal is to get herself and her horse home safely. There may be a lot of pressure riding on her shoulders to hold onto her number one spot, she believes that pressure is a privilege.
“I always just want to finish, have a good ride, and come home safe,” Tresan said. “As I have been getting more competitive, I’m trying to hopefully keep my placing. But obviously, you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow. My coach actually just told me that pressure is a privilege. That’s a better way to think of it as I leave the start box tomorrow and put a little more pressure on myself, because I am thankful to be in the position. And it’s really great to feel those nerves because I have something to look forward to, hopefully.”
Berkley Gardner and her own In Vogue are holding onto second place with a score of 27.9. Rounding out the top three is Chelsea Lowe aboard her own King Edward of Barrells, who finished the dressage phase with a score of 28.8.
Maggie Carter and Invito. Photo by SDH Photography for Erin Gilmore.
Maggie Carter and Invito (Advance x Vegannie, by Karlstad) are leading the final FEI division of the weekend at the Maryland International– the CCI1*-S, sponsored by Overhead Door of Frederick. Owned by the rider, the pair laid down a great performance for a score of 27.0.
“She was really great. I feel like we’re finally starting to kind of put it all together and she just felt really rideable and happy,” Carter said. “Her left canter is always a little bit of a challenge, she’s a lot harder to the left. That’s always something that we struggle with, but she was pretty good about it today. I was really happy with her.”
The Maryland International is Carter’s first FEI competition since 2010. A mother of two, Carter took a long break from the sport, but has returned with a vengeance. She credits Vita with motivating her to return to eventing.
“I bought her from Jan Byyny, who I have ridden with for years,” Carter said. “I had completely taken time off riding. I have two kids and my daughter started riding so I made a trip to Middleburg just to visit and we ended up seeing Vita and I said, ‘OK, I need a horse. I need to do this again.’ So she really got me back into the sport and it’s been really fun. She’s just such a pleasure to sit on every day and just such a confidence-building horse. It’s been really fun to ride again.”
Emma Tuit and Call Me Joe are three points behind Carter with a score of 30.0. In third place is Raelyn Snyder, riding her own American Thunder, with a score of 33.6.
Reese Dellangelo and Carlson 119. Photo by SDH Photography for Erin Gilmore.
In the CCI1*YRC-S, Reese Dellangelo is leading the way aboard Carlson 119 (Camarque 3 x Palma, by Phantomic). The pair finished their dressage test with a score of 28.3. Carlson 119 is a former Advanced horse, who had a substantial career at the top of the sport with Amanda Beale Clement. While Dellangelo said her dressage score took her by surprise, she was thrilled with the result.
“It was an awesome surprise, but I definitely wasn’t expecting it.” Dellangelo said. “I had a horse who took me to Novice, and then we got [Carlson 119]. He’s taken me up through everything and taught me so much about how to be a good rider. I really owe everything to him.”
Dellangelo is also reaping the rewards of riding with upper level eventer Susie Beale, who is also Amanda Beale Clement’s mother. “It’s awesome to have somebody who knows him so well and has everything thought out for me,” Dellangelo said. “It’s awesome to be selected [for the Young Rider Championship]. I didn’t think I would get here, and again, I owe it all to him. It’s a learning curve, and there’s a lot to learn.”
Your USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship team standings are as follows:
CCI1*
#1- Area 2 – 92.1
#2 – Areas 3 / 8 – 93.8
#3 – Area 5 – 100.8
CCI2*
#1 – Area 1 / 2 – 92.5
#2 – Canada – 96.4
#3 – Areas 4/5/6 – 101.2
The jumping phases begin tomorrow with riders completing Chris Barnard’s show jumping course prior to cross country, starting with the CCI4*-S at 8 a.m. The FEI divisions will also tackle Andrew Heffernan’s cross country course beginning at 8:30 a.m., again starting with the CCI4*-S division. While all FEI riders will complete the cross country phase tomorrow, Young Riders will show jump on Sunday.
Young Rider Games, sponsored by US Performance Academy, will take place tomorrow within an hour of completion of competition. Spectators can enjoy the Vendor Village by both the show jumping and dressage rings, as well as by the competition barns. Highland Club ticket holders can enjoy front row seats to the action on both the cross country course and in the show jumping ring, as well as food and drink, sponsored by Scotty’s Handcrafted Vodka.
The Maryland International CCI & H.T. (MD): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
