Avery Faye Smith Keeps Calm to Win Flat Phase of Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East
September 24, 2025 – Upper Marlboro, MD – The flat phase of the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East took center stage on the first day of the 2025 Capital Challenge Horse Show Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com, at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Avery Faye Smith accepts her first-place ribbon with Sue Bopp of Marshall + Sterling Insurance. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Over 200 horse-and-rider combinations, split into 17 groups, worked at the walk, trot, canter, and counter-canter on the rail in The Show Place Arena throughout the afternoon. It was Avery Faye Smith riding Terrapin Hill Farm’s Keep Calm that most impressed judges Ginny Edwards and Mark Jungherr to earn a score of 91.5, taking the lead after the first phase of the class.
The 18-year-old rider from Wallowa, OR, shared that this is her third time competing in this class at the Capital Challenge Horse Show, and all pieces fell into place for her this year. “I really wanted to win the flat because I know I excel there. In past years, it hasn’t gone as well, so I really, really wanted to do well this year,” she admitted.
Smith, who trains with Hunter Holloway, Don Stewart, and Caroline McLeese, believes that her sharp turnout is what helped her stand out from the competitive field of riders, revealing a three-step care routine to get her boots looking extra shiny ahead of entering the show ring.
Avery Faye Smith and Keep Calm rode to the top of leaderboard. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
This class also marked Smith’s first outing with Keep Calm, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding, and she shared that she was glad for the opportunity to get to know her mount better on the flat before the next two phases of competition. She added, “It definitely took me a second to get to know his canter. He has a really big canter, but I felt comfortable with him today, so I felt ready going into the class. I am really excited to see how it goes this weekend.”
Macy Kate Young is presented with the award for Best Turned Out by Sue Bopp of Marshall + Sterling Insurance. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography
Macy Kate Young and Montesso Van Perscheroven Z were presented with the Best Turned Out award for their impeccable appearance during Wednesday morning’s horse inspection ahead of the flat phase.
The Equitation Showcase, presented by BIGEQ.com continues Thursday, September 25, and will feature the gymnastics phase of the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal Final - East and the North American Adult Amateur Equitation Championships.