Saugerties, United States – July 16, 2025 – When Olympian Daniel Bluman (ISR) canters into the ring with longtime partner Gemma W, spectators and exhibitors alike know there is a good chance they are watching the start of a class’s winning round. In the $62,480 Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Hits Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on Thursday, July 16, that was exactly the case.
International show jumping competition resumed at the kickoff of the 2026 Hits Hudson Valley Jumping Tour™ bright and early Thursday morning as the second FEI class of the week debuted a busy day of competition. The hugely popular three-week series is highlighted by a weekly CSI 3* division, as well as a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation during the second week. Eager to make his mark, Bluman brought out the big guns in mounts Gemma W and Hummer Z to take home the top two spots in Thursday’s featured event.
Once again, FEI Level 4 course designer Anderson Lima (BRA) was the mastermind behind the track for the $62,480 Welcome Stake CSI 3*, which featured a technical track designed to artfully challenge the 32 horse-and-rider combinations’ strengths and weaknesses. A total of 10 entries in the starting field found their way through a fault-free first round, while only one pairing were kept from the jump-off by a single time fault, and an impressive 11 additional duos suffered the fate of a single downed rail. Bluman put forward two entries and punched his ticket to the jump-off on both, giving himself good odds against the other eight contenders.
“We love the horse show here at Hits Hudson Valley; this is a place that, for us, feels like home,” enthused Bluman. “Gemma and Hummer are in top shape, and I’m super happy with the result. First and second is as much as you can hope for, and this was a class with a lot of good riders and horses.
“The role of the course designers and having a world-class venue when preparing for championship events, such as the upcoming FEI World Championships in Aachen, [Germany,] is everything,” he continued of his carefully crafted competition schedule. “For those of us in North America that have families and businesses and homes here, it’s very important to have shows like this at HITS because we want to feel we are ready to go to Europe and compete and win. If we didn’t have events like this, it wouldn’t be possible.”
Bluman first stepped back into the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium for the short course on Abigail Wexner’s 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (VDL Harley x Hemmingway), Hummer Z, a partner he has found immense success with after taking over the reins from U.S. Olympian Beezie Madden. Together, the duo set the new standard to beat as they stopped the clock in 37.67 seconds. However, if anyone could beat his winning time, it was Bluman himself with his iconic, superstar mount, Gemma W.
“I think in the last two years with Gemma, there has only been two classes that we didn’t finish in the top 10,” commented Bluman of his seasoned horse.
Adding to the plethora of wins for the pair, the Over The Top Stables 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) mare (Luidam x Unaniem) crossed the timers in 36.680 seconds, shaving almost a full second off of her stablemate’s previous leading time and taking her place in the front of the victory gallop once again. For Bluman, the win is one of many in a strong season of sport that has seem him skyrocket into ninth place in the FEI world rankings.
“To hit that milestone is huge for any rider, and it shows huge consistency, not only for me personally, but for the entire team,” expressed Bluman. “This is not possible to do without an extensive team that works with me every day, so this is huge for us. It’s very rewarding. Having the Israeli flag amongst the top ten in the world, and to show the world, ‘I’m Israeli and I am Israel’ when people know me and that I stand for good values, is a testament, and I’m extremely proud of that.”
Yesterday’s FEI winner Roberto Teran (COL) rounded out the top three with a time of 37.930 seconds aboard Dez’ Ooktoff, the 18-year-old Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) stallion (Colandro x Lys Rouge) he co-owns with Lola Teran and Maria Camila Gonzalez.
International show jumping and national-level jumper, hunter, and equitation competition resumes Friday, July 17. The action-packed week continues from one highlight to the next, including Saturday’s $116,050 Maria Mendelsohn/Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI 3*, as well as qualifying opportunities for the prestigious ClipMyHorse.TV Hunter Classic Final, and the $5,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby.
Final Results – $62,480 Welcome Stake CSI 3*
1) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Gemma W – 0 / 0 – 36.680
2) Daniel Bluman (ISR) & Hummer Z – 0 / 0 – 37.67
3) Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) & Dez Ooktoff – 0 / 0 – 37.930
Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows
Photos: © Hits Horse Shows / ESI Photography
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