The marquee event of the day on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, was the $62,480 CSI3* Welcome. HITS-on-the-Hudson IV marks the first of three weeks of international show jumping competition as part of the Hudson Valley Show Jumping Tour® Series. After two exciting rounds of sport, Megan McDermott (USA) claimed the top spot with her super partner Nintendo.

In a field of 42 elite horse-and-rider combinations, a total of 19 found the clear path over the course designed by Megan Rawlins (CAN). Of those, three elected to withdraw from the jump-off to save their horses for the rest of the week, leaving 16 to race for the win.

“I liked today’s course a lot,” commented McDermott. “There were a lot of rollbacks and other areas that could have been challenging, but I’m lucky because I know my horse really well and he has a wonderful canter, so everything was really smooth.”

Megan McDermott and Nintendo stand for presentation. Photo © ESI Photography

As the time to beat got faster and faster, riders took chances to shave even more time off the clock, causing rails to fail across the short course. McDermott put the pedal to the metal, racing through the timers in 43.92 seconds. The penultimate combination to contest the jump-off track, Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar and his trusted mount Igor van de Wittemoere, a 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cooper van de Heffinck x Orlando) owned by Evergate Stables LLC, gave it a good shot with but when the clock stopped at 44.26 seconds, Nassar would have to settle for second place. Daniel Bluman (ISR) and his superstar Gemma W, a 13-year-old KWPN mare (Luidam x Unaniem) owned by Blue Star Investments and Over the Top Stables LLC, completed the top three in 44.53 seconds.

“The jump-off was a little tricky and it was definitely a precision round,” detailed McDermott. “I know my horse is really quick, and I took advantage of the long gallops. I almost overdid the long gallops so that I could slow down to be slow in the turns and then keep going. I know Nintendo is so reactive, so I’m able to do that with a lot of confidence.”

Nayel Nassar and Igor van de Wittemoere. Photo © ESI Photography

McDermott began riding the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Nintender x Chaco Blue), owned by Counter Balance LLC, after Bluman sent him to her from Europe. While both Bluman and McDermott always agreed on Nintendo’s impressive talent, they also knew that his quirks meant McDermott would really need to develop a relationship with him. Now three years later, the pair have gone from strength to strength, including a win earlier in the season in the $75,000 CWD Grand Prix during HITS-on-the-Hudson II, and the day’s $62,480 CSI3* Welcome.

“I give him a lot of treats,” shared McDermott. “He’s a really high-stress horse and he’s traffic-shy and super spooky. Because he’s so sharp, sometimes it’s hard to train him, so we try to relax him a lot. At home he’s in the field as long as he can be every day. We try to just focus on the basics. He really is the best horse, and I love him so much.”

Daniel Bluman and Gemma W. Photo © ESI Photography

International competition continues Friday, July 19, with the $40,000 Go Rentals CSI3* Winning Round and culminates on Saturday, July 20, with the $116,050 Core Specialty Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix.

For full results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.

Carly Anthony and Jet Blue Earn Blue in $31,020 CSI3* Jumper Classic at HITS Hudson Valley

Carly Anthony and Jet Blue. Photo © ESI Photography

International show jumping competition during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, kicked off on Thursday, July 18, 2024, with the $31,020 CSI3* Jumper Classic. The week marks the first of three comprising the Hudson Valley Jumping Tour® Series. The lead-off class set the stage for the elite sport to follow, and in the end, it was Carly Anthony (USA) who piloted Jet Blue to the first win of the week.

Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations contested the faults-converted speed course designed by Meghan Rawlins (CAN). The challenging course featured several option fences where riders could decide on different track options. Fallen rails were converted from jumping penalties to seconds, yielding a final time for the rider’s overall result. With speed and carefulness at the utmost importance, it was Anthony and Jet Blue that left the poles in the cups in a blazing time of 78.25 seconds for victory.

“I really enjoyed it,” said Anthony of her tour around the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium. “I think Meghan [Rawlins] did a wonderful job with her creativity, giving options, and setting every line on a nice, forward stride, which is inviting for a speed class. It gets you going on the right foot, so I thought it was great.”

Carly Anthony stands for presentation. Photo © ESI Photography

Anthony has had the ride on Jet Blue for more than three years, with numerous impressive placings through the five-star level. As their partnership has grown, she has been able to call on the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by VDL Zirocco Blue, owned by Porfolio Horses LLC, for a variety of class types, but recently, they have excelled in the speed classes.

“He’s having a lot of fun, and I think when your horses are having fun, you get the most out of them,” shared Anthony of Jet Blue. “We found his sweet spot and he really enjoys it. I’m really proud to see him thrive.”

Stella Wasserman and Kamiel van het Langwater. Photo © ESI Photography

With the first triumph of the week under her belt, Anthony is looking forward to the rest of the Hudson Valley Jumping Tour ® and enjoying her time at HITS Hudson Valley.

“Now, I love it and I really look forward to coming here,” she expressed. “The footing is great, and the hospitality is fantastic. The HITS team has really gone above and beyond in making improvements, and making the show enjoyable for horses and riders. Rain or shine, they do a wonderful job, and I think this is a new standard that is being set for horse show management and horse shows in this country.”

Philip McGuane and Edgard de Prefontaine. Photo © ESI Photography

Just off the pace of Anthony was Stella Wasserman (USA) with her own Kamiel van het Langwater, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Wiensender x Beaujolais). They crossed the timers clear in 80.55 seconds for second-place honors. Philip Mcguane (IRL) completed the top three with Edgard de Prefontaine, the 14-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding (Contact van de Heffinck x Orlando) owned by Evergate Stables LLC, stopping the clock in 81.56 seconds.

For full results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.