October 29, 2023 
Low ball offers are the bane of a horse dealer’s existence.
In Caroline Pamukcu’s case, it was the stroke of luck that landed her HSH Blake. The 8-year-old gelding was sourced by Pamukcu’s business partner, Kelley Hutchinson. The pair run a thriving sales program in the U.S., selling 60 to 80 horses a year.
HSH Blake is a product of that program and was intended to be a high performance sales prospect.
“He got vetted to be sold a few times and we got low balled,” said the American eventer.
The U.S. team’s rising star took the opportunity to secure the ride for herself, recruiting Mollie and Andy Hoff and her mom Sherrie Martin to help her purchase the horse in 2022. In 2023, Deniz Pamukcu bought in too.
“He’s just very special,” said Pamukcu.
At just 8-years old, HSH Blake is proving that confidence is well founded. In five FEI appearances this year, they’ve only missed the podium once. That consistency earned Pamukcu a spot on her first senior championship at the Pan American Games, where they’re now poised to take home not one but two medals.
The team gold is USA’s to lose on a team score of 86.2 after cross country. Brazil lies second on 101.5 while Canada holds third spot on 105.2.
Pamukcu is poised to take the individual gold as well. On Saturday in Chile, the pair rose to the top of the individual leaderboard with a double clear cross country run. They were one of only six pairs to manage the feat.
“It’s a 3* track with 4* questions, so it’s quite difficult,” said the newly crowned CCI3*-L National Champion. “I made sure on the galloping tracks I moved along, and then I had to set him up more than normal because the fences are smaller than what he’s used to jumping. It’s a championship course, very fun to ride, the ground was unbelievable, they did such a great job and each jump is so perfectly decorated—it’s kind of what you dream of!”
With no penalties added to their dressage score of 26.8, Pamukcu edged ahead of EquiRating’s favorite Liz Halliday, who sits in second on 28.8 after collecting four time penalties on cross country.
“I wish I could have gone a little bit faster but that’s what we had today. He was a good boy, very brave and very honest. He just got a bit backed off by the turning questions at the beginning and it took us about half the course to find our galloping momentum. Quickness is not his forte,” said Halliday.
USA’s Sharon White sits in third on 30.6, putting the Americans in position to sweep the individual podium.
All medals will be decided Sunday at noon, local time.
There are two team qualifying spots on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. USA has already booked their ticket. Brazil and Canada are poised to make the cut.
