Week two of the Hudson Valley Jumping Tour® at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, came to a close on Sunday, July 28, with the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic 140m-1.45m. It was Mark Bluman (COL) that ruled the day and took first and second out of 43 pairs. Jumper competition also featured the USHJA 1.0/1.05 Jr/Am Zone Championships with individual amateur and junior winners.
Of the 43 to tackle the 11 obstacles comprising the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic 1.40m-1.45m course designed by Ken Krome (USA), 21 advanced to the immediate jump-off. Bluman had three mounts in the class, but it was his ride aboard Kanjer P that was the fastest, completing the short course in 31.948 seconds.
Kanjer P is no stranger to Bluman, who is based out of his family’s, Bluman Equestrian in North Salem, New York. The nine-year-old KWPN gelding (Harley x Orthos) was actually part of the Bluman family’s string until Laura Chapot purchased him about a year ago. Despite the time apart due to the new ownership, Bluman rekindled his relationship with Kanjer P seamlessly in the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic, taking another win aboard his former mount.
“This is a good class to have to bring up a young horse or to get an older horse back in the groove,” said Bluman. “The course was laid out nicely and there were plenty of clear rounds. It played for a fun jump-off!”
Bluman has spent many weeks during the 2024 summer season at HITS Hudson Valley. Most of the time, you can find him competing in the newly renovated Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium.
“It’s a beautiful ring,” noted Bluman. “The new facility all the way around looks very good. Wordley Martin did an amazing job renovating the footing and arena, and it looks beautiful. The jumps are super nice and we’re happy to be here.”
Bluman’s second-place mount, Ireland, was just a fraction of a second behind Kanjer P, completing the jump-off in 32.252 seconds. Ireland has spent many years with the Blumans. Starting when he was five, he was brought along by Mark Bluman’s cousin, Israeli Olympian Daniel Bluman, who competed the 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding (Zambesi TN x Gelha’s VDL Emilion) through the five-star grand prix level. Mark Bluman then took over the ride for Alexa Schwitzer, who purchased Ireland from Daniel Bluman.
Following Mark Bluman was top U.S. rider Ali Wolff and her own Quirie 2. Wolff piloted the 17-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Quadrigus M x Quidam’s Rubin) around the jump-off in 31.992 seconds.
Riders and horses from USHJA zones 1 and 2 spent the 2024 season gathering points in preparation for the USHJA 1.0/1.05 Jr/Am Zone Championship. Those who qualified gathered to compete in individual and team competition during HITS-on-the-Hudson Week V. Charlene Graham (Fairpoint, NY) and Castle Creek’s hard work paid off as their three-day effort gave them the tricolor ribbon during the amateur individual class on Sunday, July 28th.
Graham and the Preferred Stock LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Orchidee x Carthago Z) “Castle” qualified for the championship by collecting 20 points throughout the course of the competition. For Graham, the championship was an above-average opportunity to show during the 2024 summer after her recent break following the winter circuit.
“I haven’t done a lot of competing this summer,” she admitted. “When I found out I had qualified. I sent it right in and was excited to get to a show this year!
“He had some time off from showing so he was nice and fresh to the show ring,” she continued. “He felt great and felt like he was ready to go. He’s the whole reason that we won. He’s super careful and a great amateur horse. He’s sweet and he gives it 110% all the time.”
Following Graham on the leaderboard was Morgan Kaplan (Yardley, PA) and Benicio, her 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. The pair finished the course in a time of 78.169 making them reserve champion in the amateur section of 15 riders. Finishing in third place was Abigail Kazam (New York, NY) and Union star Z, a 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding, with a time of 78.414 seconds, just a fraction of a second behind Kaplan.
Following the USHJA 1.0/1.05m Amateurs Individual Zone Championship was the USHJA 1.0/1.05m Junior Zone Championship where Olivia Manafort (Avon, CT) and Luna went on to take individual championship. Manafort and her partner have been in the show ring together since the winter 2024 season at HITS Ocala, but both the jumpers and the Zone Championship events were something she had not set her sights on until she began her lease of Luna, a 17-year-old Westphalian mare (by Lordanos) owned by Molly Walsh. Their partnership has developed along the way, starting in the .80m height and moving up to the 1.0m.
“It was so fun! I’ve never done something like this so it was really exciting,” explained Manafort of her first time riding in a Jumper Zone Championship. “The first day we just wanted to get the speed out of the way, and she was perfect for that. We just wanted to make sure we went clear the rest of the week and just had fun.”
Manafort is a frequent competitor at HITS. She spends time at both HITS in Saugerties, NY as well as HITS in Ocala, FL.
“I think it’s such a great facility and it’s so good for the horses and they love it. They are always taking time to take care of the facility and it’s always really fun to show here.”
Marilyn Sommerville (South Salem, NY) was the reserve champion aboard Eliza Sommerville’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding, Gizmo (by Campbell VDL), while Madeline Laplante (South Glastonbury, CT) took third on her own 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding, No One’s Quick as Gaston (by Cellestial).
Wednesday, July 24, kicked off one of the busiest weeks at HITS Hudson Valley and featured the debut $5,000 Adequan Open Welcome Stake. Irishman Conor Swail and Fasole du Seigneur started off their week on a high note with a win. Swail and the 13-year-old Belgian Sport Horse mare (Doremi x Ogano Sitte) owned by Hot Horses LLC raced around the jump-off with a time of 32.707 seconds.
The $15,000 STX Open Speed featured on Friday, July 26. Fifty-six pairs competed in the class, but Jad Dana (LBN) and Leonidas were the fastest of the group. Dana galloped the eight-year-old KWPN gelding (Kannan x Negro) owned by Burr Associates, Inc. around the course in 62.778 seconds.
National jumper competition in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium on Saturday, July 27, was highlighted by the $10,000 Alliant Private Client Cup. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) continued her first-place streak, this time aboard Bull Run’s Ruah. Sixteen of 47 duos jumped clear and moved on to the immediate jump-off, but it was Vanderveen and the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Caracho x Quintero) owned by Bull Run Jumpers, Inc. that finished on top with a jump-off time of 34.774 seconds.
Following Vanderveen, Swail and Fasole du Seigneur picked up another top placing, stopping the clock in 35.053 seconds for second place. Rounding out the top three in 36.498 seconds was Mimi Gochman (USA) and Gigi’s Girl BH, a 16-year-old KWPN mare (Vingino x Celano) owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC.
Lindsey Delfiandra and Frybalia SMH were the winning pair in the $7,500 The League/NAL/WIHS Jr/Am 1.15m Classic, presented by Marshall & Sterling. Delfiandra and the 14-year-old KWPN mare (Baltic VDL x Cardento) owned by Caia Watridge raced around the short course in 47.284 seconds for the victory.
Competition during HITS-on-the-Hudson V came to a close on Sunday, July 28, concluding the second of three sold-out weeks of the Hudson Valley Showjumping Tour® Series. Tuesday, July 30, will kick off the final week with the second of two Equitation Tuesdays, allowing riders to collect valuable points toward year-end finals.
