As the sky parted for the sun to shine through on the morning of Friday, August 29, 2025, a field of international competitors gathered at the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium for another day of FEI CSI2* competition. In addition to national hunter, equitation, and jumper competition at the Saugerties, New York, venue, the seventh week of the summer series also boasts a stacked list of top-tier athletes competing across three days of international show jumping. As the penultimate day of FEI action, Friday saw athletes from four nations vie for the win in the $31,020 CSI2* Winning Round. On a hot streak of success, young rider Mia Bagnato (USA) piloted her own Florida N to victory.
FEI Level 3 course designer Catsy Cruz (MEX) was once again saddled with the task of crafting the course for the starting field to contend with. Per the winning round format, the top ten combinations were invited to return back for the short course in reverse order of qualification based on their first round result. Despite being the youngest in the class at 19 years old, Bagnato led the charge following the first round after clearing the course quick and fault-free in a time of 67.44 seconds.
As the final to return in the second round, Bagnato held the pole position. She maintained her lead by posting yet another impressive round to accomplish the only double-clear effort in the class and produce the fastest time of the jump-off in 45.86 seconds.
“I’ve had Florida N for about two and a half years now, and when we first got her we weren’t expecting too much from her,” explained Bagnato of her self-owned 12-year-old Holsteiner mare (Clarimo Ask x Lavall II). “She’s just kept progressing and getting better, and I’ve now been lucky enough to show her in some FEI classes. I knew that she could do it, but I just didn’t think it was actually going to happen. It’s still a shock to me that I own my own horse that I can do these types of classes on.”
Florida N is one of multiple impressive mounts Bagnato rides and the only one she owns herself, with the others being a part of the Elan Farm.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have them supporting me over the past five years now,” she stated of the partnership. “They are very generous and help me so much and have given me incredibly nice horses to ride. The two that I ride the most in FEI right now are Cordiamo and Ballyskill Big Bucks. At first they were a lot of horse for me and I spent a lot of time just getting to know them, but now we have a lot of fun.
“Anything is possible,” continued Bagnato of her climb into international competition. “If someone had told me five years ago that I would be doing this, I probably would’ve laughed in their face. I think things happen for a reason and everything will turn into what its meant to be. If you work hard, you can get there.”
In the runner-up position, Steven Bluman (ISR) and Cachemire de Braize, the Over The Top Stables LLC’s 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Nissan Quality Touch Z x Jaguar Mail),tallied one time fault in the first round and returned for a clear effort in the jump-off in 48.09 seconds for second place. With Hadj Des Fontaines, the eight-year-old Selle Français gelding (Captain Semilly x Oncle Pol*hn) co-owned by Gracie Allen LLC and Koryo Equine LLC, Gracie Allen (USA) rounded out the top three in a time of 53.39 seconds.
International show jumping during HITS Hudson Valley VII culminates on Saturday, August 30, as elite combinations vie for the ultimate prize in the $80,000 Great American Insurance Group CSI2* Grand Prix. For full results from today’s events, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
