The $24,500 Horseflight 1.40m-1.45m Jumper Classic closed out the first week of the HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on Sunday, July 21, 2024. A field of 26 horse-and-rider combinations competed, but Colombian athlete Mark Bluman and Alpha de Ternoire were the quickest of them all.
The class ran with an immediate jump-off, testing riders on their ability to move from the first round to the short course without leaving the arena. Bluman was the final competitor in the class. Using this to his advantage, he got a close look at previous riders, studying where he could cut time. He then raced through the timers in 36.192 seconds for the decisive victory.
Tori Corts followed in second with a time of 38.650 seconds aboard her own Semi Automatic, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Amaretto d Arco. Ali Wolff and Quirie 2, her own 17-year-old German Sporthorse gelding (Quadrigus M x Quidam’s Rubin), claimed third in 39.237 seconds.
“I saw Tori’s jump-off and I knew exactly where I could take a couple bigger risks than she did and it paid off,” explained Bluman.
While Alpha de Ternoire is normally the mount of Bluman’s student Alexa Schwitzer, Bluman took the reins for the week, and what a week it was. They scored wins in the 1.30m on Wednesday, the $15,000 STX Open Speed on Friday, and finally the cherry on top with the $24,500 Horseflight 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic on Sunday.
“He is quite the easiest horse in the barn,” said Bluman of the 14-year-old Selle Français gelding (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Olisco) owned by Over the Top Stables LLC. “He’s just a competitor and he’s always been great. He is very experienced, and the course rode pretty easy for him.”
Competition buzzed all around the facility during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV, and the action-packed schedule continues heading into two more sold-out weeks. For Bluman, the crowd is one of the many perks of competing at HITS Hudson Valley.
“The HITS management team has done an unbelievable job and more people want to come here,” said Bluman. “This week was busy, but the next couple of weeks are going to be even busier, and we’re looking forward to that.”
On Wednesday, July 17, jumper competition kicked off during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV with the $5,000 Adequan Open Welcome. Daniel Bluman finished on top out of 36 pairs with Ladriano Z, a 16-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Lawito x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Over the Top Stables LLC, after stopping the clock in 42.642 seconds. Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z are slated to represent Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and made the most of their final preparations at HITS Hudson Valley.
“HITS has made a great investment in this facility,” noted Daniel Bluman. “The competition rings and warm-ups are excellent and the jumps are beautiful. I wanted to simulate championship conditions over smaller fences as our last training before heading to Paris.”
The $10,000 Alliant Private Client Cup opened jumper competition on Saturday, July 20. Thirty-eight pairs attempted the course, but it was Carly Anthony, who took her third win of the week, this time aboard Fayuri. Anthony piloted the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Larissa x Lombard) owned by Skyline Sporthorses LLC to the fastest clear jump-off time of 38.295 seconds for the victory.
Following closely behind Anthony was Kamille Marcussen and Miracle, an eight-year-old Anglo-European gelding (Iceman de Muze x Calando I) owned by M. Michael Meller. Marcussen and Miracle were just a fraction of a second off the pace of Anthony, breaking through the timers in 38.621 seconds. Lola Head and Cheilane de Blondel completed the top three. Head steered the 12-year-old Selle Français mare (Non Stop x Kassidi) around the short course in 38.904 seconds.
Competition in The Pond Ring on Sunday, July 21, featured the $5,000 Pyranha National Jr/am 1.25m Classic. Allison Coleman and Otello de Kalvarie were the pair to take home the blue ribbon. Coleman and her mount, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Gemini and owned by Steven Bluman, secured the top spot with a speedy round of 38.716 seconds
In Jumper 1, the $500 The League/Dever Jr/Am .90m Jumper Classic was the highlight. Jessica McGrath and Lord Quality, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Lordanos owned by Christina Coronios finished first. The pair had a double-clear round with a winning time of 34.162 seconds.
The 2024 Hudson Valley Jumping Tour® will continue for two more weeks, featuring Equitation Tuesdays, as well as two additional FEI weeks highlighted by the $116,050 Douglas Elliman CSI3* Grand Prix and the $116,050 Purina Animal Nutrition CSI3* Grand Prix.
