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Sunday to Feature Cross-Country, Awards, and Peter Chesson Memorial Classic Car Show 

On Saturday, Far Hills, New Jersey — June 3, 2023 — The Essex Horse Trials returned to the historic Hamilton Farm, home of the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, with a packed dressage and show jumping schedule. Among the busy competitors in multiple divisions was Caroline Pamukcu of Riegelsville, PA, who piloted her 8-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake to top honors in the Advanced Combined Test.

 

The Essex Horse Trials has become a tradition for families looking to spend an exciting and fun-filled weekend in their own backyard. Featuring some of the nation’s top riders with their Advanced and Intermediate horses competing in the thrilling sport of eventing, the two-day sportfest concludes Sunday with the exhilarating cross-country phase at historic Moorland Farm in Far Hills. 

Caroline Pamukcu (USA) and HSH Blake won Saturday’s Advanced Combined Test at the 2023 Essex Horse Trials © AK Dragoo Photography 

Pamukcu, 28, rode HSH Blake to an early lead in the Advanced Combined Test with a dressage score of 30.7, giving her one rail in hand over the 34.8 earned by Shannon Lilley of Kennett Square, PA, aboard Ideal HX, Alex Lilley’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, and Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, PA, aboard Christa Schmidt’s 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding Capitol HIM. Pamukcu’s lead helped tremendously in the show jumping phase, as a dropped rail at the second fence didn’t keep her from claiming victory.

 

“I wasn’t coming here to win, but I knew he had a good dressage test and that we had a rail in hand,” Pamukcu said. “I wasn’t nervous going in today, and I didn’t do any of my normal prep work because I wanted to make it a bit more challenging for me and not such a big deal for him. We’re just using this as training before we hopefully win the gold medal in Poland later this month.”

 

Pamukcu and “Blake” are heading for the Nations Cup event in Strzegom, Poland, for their next competition, with their biggest goal to make the Pan American Games in October. After they competed in the Ocala CCI3*-L in April for their last required Games qualification, Blake had a few weeks to rest in the field, and this was his only third jump back.

 

“I think he’s really ready to rock and roll,” Pamukcu said. “He did the Arena Eventing at Devon last week, and then we set him up for this. At home, we do a lot of fitness work focusing on trot sets and long gallops, but this had been great for those final finishing touches before the rest of the season.

 

“Blake is only 8 and still young,” she added. “He did do the Young Horse Championships in France last year and finished in the Top 10, so he doesn’t mind the atmosphere too much, but any opportunity we have to get him exposed to more without putting too much stress on his legs is always great. The team and I brought 18 horses with us this weekend; it’s one of our most favorite venues.”

 

Lilley maintained second place with a fault-free round in show jumping, finishing on her dressage score of 34.8, while Hollberg’s rail at Fence #8 dropped her into fourth on 38.8. Taking third with 35.7 was Matthew Brown of Kennett Square, PA, aboard Shelley Onderdonk’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Alderwood. 

Pamukcu and HSH Blake © AK Dragoo Photography

With her Billy Be Jolly and Cascadella 8, Pamukcu also finished 1-2 on her dressage scores of 24.3 and 25.5 (respectively) in the Open Training division, giving her the overnight lead going into Sunday’s cross-country phase.

 

“There aren’t a lot of places in this country to get this kind of atmosphere at a venue that’s so historic,” Pamukcu said. “You ride around here, and you almost pinch yourself because you know all the greats of eventing culture have been here before you. It’s just so cool. And I’m a huge fan of Chris Barnard; he’s such an amazing course designer. He’s fair in the stadium, but it’s always hard. For me, it was a no-brainer to compete here, and I’m looking forward to the cross-country tomorrow.”

 

Other overnight leaders include Erin Kanara of Cochranville, PA, and Claudia Schultze’s Windchase Lionstar in Open Intermediate (28.6); Hollberg and Tricia Arnold’s Rockster in Open Preliminary (27.3); Sierra Lesny of Camp Hill, PA, and Edith Rameika’s Sebastian in Training Rider (28.1); Lee Maher of Springtown, PA, and Redfield Farm’s Redfield Lennon in Open Novice(18.6); Peyton Brienza of Califon, NJ, and their The Brave Little Toaster tied with Ingrid Johnston of Whitehouse Station, NJ, and her Resplendence in Novice Rider (27.2); Kylie Stangle of Flemington, NJ, and Janina Parmelee’s Redfield Mikke in Open Beginner Novice (24.7); and Jenny Morris of Gladstone, NJ, and her Laugh Out Loud in Beginner Novice Rider (25.9). 

Hannah Sue Hollberg (USA) and Rockster lead the Open Preliminary division following their dressage and show jumping tests © AK Dragoo Photography

The event’s talented horse-and-rider combinations weren’t the only ones to take to the arena on Saturday, with the Essex Fox Hounds also making an appearance. Founded in Essex County in 1913, the Essex Fox Hounds is a subscription pack of American Fox Hounds. The iconic hunt has been sustained and treasured by local landowners, farmers and equestrians of every discipline for more than 110 years. 

The Essex Horse Trials also welcomed the Essex Fox Hounds at historic Hamilton Farm on Saturday

© AK Dragoo Photography

In addition to Sunday’s thrilling cross-country finale, Far Hills’ Moorland Farm will also host the popular Peter Chesson Memorial Classic Car Show with nearly a century of eye-popping automobiles on display, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. General admission is $20.00 per car/cash at the gate.

Additional information on the Essex Horse Trials is available at www.EssexHorseTrials.org. Full results are available at EventEntries.com. 

Proceeds from the Essex Horse Trials benefit the Greater Newark LifeCamp in nearby Pottersville, which provides an enriching day camp experience for approximately 300 Newark-area youths per day for six weeks during July and August.

 

The Sport of Eventing

Eventing, often referred to as an “equestrian triathlon,” combines the elegance of dressage, the thrill of cross-country, and the precision of show jumping. Eventing provides a rare opportunity for spectators of all ages and interests to witness a discipline that highlights the unique trust and bond between horse and rider.

 

About the Essex Horse Trials

For three decades, the famed Essex Horse Trials has been a major highlight on the equestrian calendar, attracting top American and international competitors as well as thousands of fans who enjoyed its social aspects in addition to the thrilling competition. The event was originally conceived in 1968 by the Haller Family at Hoopstick Farm.

 

Hamilton Farm, the iconic site of the former Olympic Equestrian Training Facility, currently serves as the headquarters of the USET Foundation as well as prestigious qualifying US Equestrian Federation events.

 

Moorland Farm, a picturesque 230-acre property, provides the breathtaking setting for the event’s current edition. It is the home of the annual Far Hills Race Meeting, a nationally prestigious steeplechase race meeting held each October.