Elkton, Md.—Oct. 20— It’s not deja vu—the 5-year-old Zangersheide gelding Shmick (Luigi d’Eclipse x Winter Lady), owned by Anne Hennessey, has claimed another Young Event Horse Championship title. Last year’s Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse 4-year-old East Coast Champion returned to this year’s finale at Fair Hill and amazed the judges for a second time to add the title of 5-year-old champion to his growing resume.
Piloted by Boyd Martin, the young horse, bred by Chris Brems, had the highest score for his cross-country efforts of the field of 53 horses and also received a perfect 15 on his overall jump evaluation and a perfect 10 for general impression which resulted in his cumulative score of 92.82.
“This is a horse which you can ride in all three disciplines and up to the highest level,” said judge Christian Schacht. “It’s a trainable horse, it has a kind eye, and a lot of balance. Of course, if you give a 10 every time then it might be questionable, but there may be one stride that is maybe not perfect, and then it’s not a 10. But we have the score of 10, and this horse was just outstanding.”
Since winning the 4-year-old championship, Martin stated that nothing has changed in Shmick’s training regimen. The young horse’s preparations included a few outings at Novice earlier this year, a second-place finish in the YEH Qualifier at Loch Moy Farm (Adamstown, Maryland), and a move-up to Training at the end of the summer.
“He’s really developed over the last 12 months,” Martin commented. “He’s just spectacular in all phases. Obviously, he’s a beautiful type. He could be a straight dressage horse or a pure jumper, and he gallops like the wind. And I’m thrilled that Anne Hennessey’s backed this horse and owns him for me. The sky’s the limit with him. We’re very, very proud to be the 5-year-old champion, and what an honor and a credit to a spectacular, spectacular horse.”

Madison Temkin and Fernhill Bertus. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
Just shy of two points behind Shmick to bring home Reserve Champion honors was Beth Brown’s Hanoverian gelding Fernhill Bertus (Balou Peggio x Celine) with Madison Temkin in the irons. Temkin first met “Bertus” last spring while on a shopping trip in Ireland, and the pair made their USEA debut at the start of the year. Their record leading up to this result has been pretty impressive with five wins, which Temkin attributes to Bertus’ disposition.
“He is the funniest kid in the classroom—I’ve actually never met a kinder, more sweet horse,” said Temkin. “He’s absolutely lovely on the ground. We joke that he’s like a Labrador Retriever. But at the same time, we know he loves to perform, and he loves to show. I always joke that he’s much better when he’s braided.”
This is not Temkin’s first time in the YEH ring, however, this season was the first time she’s given the division a go on the East Coast.
“It’s kind of always been a goal of mine,” she said. “I actually haven’t done this since I used to live on the West Coast in California and did this with my now 10-year-old mare MVP Madbum, who won the West Coast 5-year-old championship in 2018. I think it’s a great experience for these young horses. In Europe, you see how they develop young horses, and they do a lot of this not only just at the championship level but in young horse classes and stuff. It’s been my goal since I got him last year as a 4-year-old so it’s special to be here, and it’s very special that he did so well.”
Fellow judge Marilyn Payne was wildly impressed with the quality of the field of horses in this year’s 5-year-old Championships.
“Compared to where we started, or even compared to last year—easy, two or three times the quality. I was just looking at the results in the top six horses; their general impression scores were 9, 9.5, or 10, and if we ever got a 9 in general impression, maybe one horse would get it. This year, they were so good. So if you were in 20th place, you still have a really good horse. I was so impressed with the quality of the 5-year-olds and the obedience. They were so confident and calm and so rideable. The rideability was so good. I don’t know how you get a 5-year-old that obedient. They’re just so willing. They just love it. You want to see that the horses love it, and it just puts a smile on your face to watch them go, and it just makes it perfect.”
Anita Antenucci’s Warmblood gelding Arden Augustus (Jaguar Mail x Juneau) was this year’s Born in America Award recipient. Arden Augustus was ridden by Sharon White and finished 10th overall.
The American Thoroughbred Award was given to this year’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program Champion for the 5-Year-Old Championship, Frijole (Shaken It Up x Homespun Beauty), owned by Kiki Osbourne, and ridden by Gabby Dickerson.
Finally, Raise the Barr Syndicate LLC’s Irish Sport Horse gelding Quantum Cooley (Dakar VDL x Ming Dynasty) was recognized as this year’s Safe Harbour Award recipient. This award is presented to the horse with the most graceful and rider-friendly performance throughout the championship.
HSH Afterglow is “One-of-a-Kind” in 2023 Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse 4-Year-Old East Coast Championships
MARS Maryland 5 Star: [Website] [Entries, Schedule & Times] [Live Scores] [Live Stream (North America)] [Live Stream (Outside North America)] [Tickets] [5* Form Guide] [Digital Program] [XC Maps] [5* XC Order of Go] [3* XC Order of Go] [EN’s Coverage]
- Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Afterglow (right) and Jennie Brannigan and Blacklist (left). USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Jennie Brannigan and Blacklist. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Madison Temkin and Fernhill Bertus. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Shmick and Boyd Martin – 1st place. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- HSH Hooligan and Caroline Pamukcu – 3rd Place. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Shmick and Boyd Martin. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo.
- Kimberley Keeton and Contendro’s Prinz – 4th place. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Caroline Pamukcu and her first and third place horses, HSH Afterglow and After Hours. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Afterglow – 1st Place. USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo
- Caroline Pamukcu and After Hours. USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo
- Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Afterglow. USEA/Lindsay Berreth photo