Veronica Green-Gott
Photos by Erin Gilmore Photography
Caroline Pamukcu wins the Maryland International CCI4*-S this weekend with high hopes to repeat today’s performance at CHIO Aachen next week. She took home the blue ribbon in the division, which is sponsored by Triple Crown Feed, with She’s The One (Jaguar Mail x One to Watch, by Condios), owned by Mollie Hoff and Sherrie Martin, on a score of 45.2.
“I’m super pleased with the day today,” Pamukcu said. “I’ve been working hard with my coaches. I’ve been training with Samantha St. Jacques in dressage, and then my longtime friend, coach, and mentor Anne Kursinski in the show jumping.”
Having competed in France at the 2024 Olympics, it’s fair to say that Pamukcu has ridden on some world-class courses. Local to Loch Moy Farm, Pamukcu got to try something new– a course on her home turf, designed by Andrew Heffernan. The optimum time proved extremely influential with the new course– no one in the four-star division finished inside the time.
With hot weather hovering over Maryland, many riders prioritized getting their horses home safely over speedy cross country rounds. The show schedule was also adjusted to end earlier in the day to avoid the worst of the heat.
“I was really pleased with today,” Pamukcu said. “They did an amazing job with the footing. This time of year, it’s so difficult to keep galloping and keep the horses fit—especially with the rain—but Carolyn did a really, really good job seeding the course and getting the turf top-notch. So I would bring my top horses here every time, this time of year.”
“Andy Heffernan did an amazing job with the course,” she continued. “I’ve been coming here since I was about seven years old, and he followed a different track this year. I thought it flowed quite nicely. He asked good questions, and it was very interesting because a lot of the questions were very forward-riding, which actually suited the course.”
She’s The One was one of three horses Pamukcu brought to the event this weekend. A seasoned upper level horse, Pamukcu has had the ride on “Gemma” since 2023. Together, they’ve pulled off top-ten performances at the Morven Park CCI4*-L and in the CCI4*-L at Ireland’s Millstreet. According to Pamukcu, her packed competition schedule has only been to her benefit.
“I feel good when I’m competing a lot,” Pamukcu said. “When I won the Pan Ams, I was six weeks on the road leading up to the games. So I’m trying to get myself back in the swing of things, especially with this one [her daughter, Blake]! So it’s good for me to go into next week feeling competitive. And it’s always good to win a four-star. Hopefully I’ll go and win another one.”
Lisa Marie Fergusson and her own Trinity Thank Q finished in second place with a score of 51.4. Jennie Brannigan rounded out the top three on a score of 54.4 with Tim and Nina Gardner’s Connery (Conrato x Hocaponta, by Lauries Crusador).
Meanwhile in the CCI3*-S, sponsored by Land Rover West Columbia/Defender, Isabelle Bosley held onto the lead across all three phases to finish in first place with Karen Martin’s Connor (Casiro 3 x Monique, by Concetto). With a final score of 37.3, Bosley had no obstacle faults over either jumping phase, but did add some time penalties to her score. As in the CCI4*-S, no one in the field of 12 riders caught up to the time.
A naturally hot horse, Bosley said her goal for the weekend wasn’t to go for speed– but more to boost Connor’s confidence. She’s been producing the now 8 year old Oldenburg gelding since he was just five years old and moved him up to the Preliminary level last year.
“He’s always phenomenal,” Bosley said. “Connor just got better and better as he went along. I think it was a really good confidence-boosting round to move forward with for the rest of the year.”
“I pinch myself every day that I got this horse,” Bosley continued. “He’s absolutely unreal. He jumps. He gallops. He’s so careful in the show jumping, and he feels like a Thoroughbred on cross country.”
In regards to why Bosley chose this particular event for Connor, she said it’s great timing for those up-and-coming horses who need an additional FEI run, but aren’t quite ready for an earlier test in the spring.
“I love this FEI for horses like him who aren’t ready for a spring long,” she said. “But then you realize—oh wait—if you look at the calendar, it’s actually kind of hard to get enough FEI runs in, especially ahead of a fall long. So this was the perfect second three-star to get him into.”
Vanessa Stevenson was closest to finishing inside the time on cross country in the division with her own FE Black Ice (Stakkato’s Highlight x Co-Co, by Compliment), a feat that moved her into second place with a score of 40.7. Laine Ashker and Lovedance (Quality Time TN x S-Nodence, by Great Pleasure), owned by Lovedance LLC, finished in third place with a score of 48.6.
Jennie Brannigan is on the podium once again in the CCI2*-S, sponsored by The Baldwin Group, but this time she’s in the winning position with her own Royal Scandic (Revolution x Schatzi, by Contender). Brannigan also claims the title of low score of the day with her final score of 29.4.
“He was just beautiful in the show jumping, and then he’s such an amazing cross country horse— bold and a great galloper,” Brannigan said of “Louie.” “He handled it really easily, which is what I was hoping it would feel like. This is the first event where everyone really noticed him. It was just really neat to have him show everyone how classy he is. He’s just the kind of horse that makes you want to keep going on the tough days.”
Like many riders, Brannigan brought some of her up-and-coming horses to the Maryland International this weekend. As such, she didn’t push for the time on the cross country, but instead prioritized Louie’s education and confidence.
“Honestly, I didn’t even start my watch on these horses today,” she said. “I just wanted to give them good rounds.”
Brannigan was followed in the standings by Valerie Pride and her own Excel Star Je T’Aime (Je T’Aime Flamenco x Brookeville, by Touchdown) with a score of 39.4. Isabelle Bosley and Constanzehof’s Stitch (Stakkato Gold x Game of Throns, by Casall), owned by the rider and Karen Martin, finish up the top three in the CCI2*-S, with a score of 40.6.
Winning the CCI1*-S, sponsored by Overhead Door of Frederick, is FEI rookie Raelyn Snyder and her own American Thunder with a score of 33.6. New to the sport overall, this weekend’s win is special on many levels for Snyder and “Chief.”
“This is my first FEI ever, and I’ve only been eventing for a few years,” Snyder said. “So I really went into this show— and this ride— just aiming to have a good experience and build confidence for both myself and my horse.”
“And I mean, we did that and a lot more than I expected,” she continued. “It was absolutely incredible. Chief was perfect in stadium, he was perfect on cross country, and the partnership we’ve developed over the past couple of years is just amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better ride.”
Chief and Snyder have a unique story. Snyder has a strong background in equestrian vaulting and runs a vaulting team out of her home state of Florida. For his part, Chief is partially blind in one eye after an incident with a nail as a young colt.
“He’s a 10-year-old Off-the-Track Thoroughbred,” Snyder said of her horse. “I bought him about four years ago when I first started eventing. He’s actually half-blind in one eye. He put a nail in it when he was a young colt. He can still see out of it—it’s not fully functioning, but he still has the eye. It just doesn’t work quite right.”
While there are unique pressures that go along with riding in your first FEI event, Snyder said her weekend was most importantly, fun.
“The course rode so smoothly,” Snyder said. “Everything was set up really well. It was just a flowing, confidence-building course. I was able to breathe and enjoy myself, and my horse really enjoyed himself out there, too. It was so much fun— probably the most fun I’ve had riding a horse yet.”
Alexa Hellenthal and her own Calavera finished in second place with a score of 38.8. They were followed in the standings by Mia Valdez and Perfect Storm, owned by the rider, with a score of 49.3.
Those competing in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship this weekend completed their cross country runs this morning and will wrap up the final phase of competition tomorrow.
In the CCI3*YRC-S, Maya Clarkson and Maks Mojo C (Mighty Magic x Winter Morning, by Ramiro’s Bube) are leading the division with a score of 36.8. “We’ve spent a lot of hours just teaching him to stay with me and follow me wherever I go, not just for dressage but also for the jumping,” she said. “And I feel like it really paid off today. He was totally with me. I didn’t have to take many half-halts, and when I did, he listened.”
Maks Mojo C, owned by the rider, is an experienced event horse, having competed at the three-star level since 2020. “I wasn’t really even trying to go that fast, but he’s a really quick horse on cross country,” Clarkson said. “I was going, but I wasn’t, you know, pushing it. It’s his first run back at the level after just two Prelims, and I thought, ‘I’m just going to see how he feels.’ Like, it’s Young Riders—of course I’m going to try to go for it if I can, but if it doesn’t feel great, I’m not going to push him. I landed and just kind of let him go. He’s just a fantastic cross country horse.”
Clarkson is feeling the pressure going into the final phase tomorrow, but hopes that her hard work in show jumping will pay off with a blue ribbon.
“We’ve done a lot of work on the show jumping too,” Clarkson said. “Cross country is definitely his best phase. The connection has been something we’ve really been focusing on in both the dressage and show jumping. It felt better today, and we’ll see how it pays off tomorrow. He can jump clear rounds, but every once in a while… there’s one.”
She’s followed on the leaderboard by Kelsey Seidel and Lexi Scovil’s Chico’s Man VDF (Chico’s Boy x Chardonnay Z, by Caretano Z), who is holding onto second place with a score of 42.8. Luciana Hackett is in third place with a score of 52.2 aboard her own As Good As Cash (Cash and Carry x Almoretta, by Almoretto).
Kate Bell and FE Velvet Black are leading the biggest division in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships, the CCI2*YRC-S. Bell pulled off a score of 33.4 with FE Velvet Black (Vagabond de la Pomme x Cleo, by Cantoblanco), who is owned by the rider.
“I had a phenomenal ride today,” Bell said. “My horse was super keen, super brave, and super rideable. It allowed us to go fast and stay safe. He really gave me a great feel out there, and I’m really happy with it.”
“I’ve had Axel for about two years now,” Bell continued. “He’s a coming eight-year-old, and I’ve produced him myself. So it’s really rewarding for him to come out here and do that well on such a hard track.”
Axel and Bell have only one point separating them from second place Katelyn Smith HSH Henry, which means they face a lot of pressure to ride a double clear round in the show jumping tomorrow morning.
“He’s pretty careful,” Bell said. “Honestly, he’s great—he’s super honest. It really just depends on the ride I give him. I can definitely make mistakes in show jumping, but he’s always going to try his hardest.”
Lyman Ordway and Exces de Folie (Canabis Z x Darcy de Coraimont, by Orlando), owned by Winnett Ordway, finish out the current top three with a score of 35.7.
Charlotte Schaef is lucky enough to hold onto the lead in the CCI1*YRC-S with a horse she describes as her best friend, Tinraher Diamond (Jack of Diamonds x Lucky Mermaid, by Prospect Pride). Schaef and her horse go into the final phase with a score of 30.5.
“[Cross country] was really good,” Schaef said. “I was very pleased with how she went around. She saved me at some of the jumps, but she was so game and made it feel easy. I just couldn’t be happier with her.”
“I feel like once a mare starts to trust you, she gives you her heart,” she continued. “I feel like we’ve finally gotten to the place where she trusts me and I trust her. She even neighs when I come to the stall. It’s just like we’re best friends.”
Tinraher Diamond has a solid show jumping background. With no time faults on her FEI show jumping record, clever and fast footwork will come in handy tomorrow.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Schaef said. “She’s generally a good show jumper, so I’m excited to see how tomorrow goes. I’m just going to control what we can control and try to get it done.”
Only a couple tenths of a point separate the top three scores in this division. Second place Carolyn May rode Patricia Luttgen’s Sky Moon (Sixtus 33 x Sky Lady, by Cadeau) to a score of 30.8 today. James Power and Brambleridge Ponder the Truth (Patrick) (TBS Declan Pondi x Brambleridge Truth or Dare, by Salute the Truth) are hot on her heels with a current score of 30.9.
Your USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship team standings are as follows…
CCI1*YRC-S
#1 – Areas 3 / 8 – 93.8
#2 – Area 5 – 106.3
#3 – Area 2 – 231.8
CCI2*YRC-S
#1 – Area 3 – 122.5
#2 – Canada – 125.2
#3 – Areas 1 / 2 – 137.6
Tomorrow will be an action-packed day filled with highs and lows for those in the USEF Eventing Young Rider Championships. A horse inspection kicks off the day at 7:30 a.m., while all Young Rider divisions will wrap up their competition with the show jumping phase. The National levels begin their competition tomorrow, starting with the Advanced division first thing in the morning.