Press release from Tryon International Equestrian Center

Mark Bluman (COL) and Cartouche claimed the win in a competitive $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on Thursday morning, stopping the jump-off timers at 31.402 seconds. Abigail McArdle (USA) and Victorio 5, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion (Uccello x Graf Top) owned by Victorio Equine Group LLC, took second place on a clear jump-off performance of 32.459 seconds, while Todd Minikus (USA) and Calvalou, a 2007 Oldenburg gelding (Calvaro F.C. x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Todd Minikus LTD, claimed third-place honors on a double-clear effort in 33.314 seconds.

Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) set the track to test the 55 entries in the class with a total of 24 pairs to return and navigate the jump-off track. “The course was very friendly,” Bluman continued on to explain: “This week [Tryon Summer 5] is a 2* and it is also the first day, so there are a lot of people bringing young horses along. It was a good class and honestly, it’s never nice to have that many go in the jump-off, but I understand the course designer. He’s trying to build up riders, trying to build up the horses so I’m very happy with the course designer. It worked out well for us today!” 

Bluman revealed that the 2007 Argentine Warmblood stallion (Unknown x Unknown) is not one of his usual mounts and is owned by his cousin, Daniel Bluman, and Over The Top Stables LLC. “[Cartouche] is a horse that my cousin Daniel rides, but he’s in Europe right now, so I got to take him! I’m lucky I got to ride him. He’s a super fast horse and very careful. I literally can just sit there and let him do his job. I know every time I go in the ring he’s going to try everything not to have any jumps down so I can go as fast as I can and it worked out today.”

Bluman continued: “I didn’t pay much attention [to the other riders],” Bluman shared on his strategy heading into the jump-off. “I just tried to follow my plan. I wasn’t looking at anybody and I just think I was fast from the first to the last jump. That’s the best way to ride him and he loves it. It worked out very well!”

Bluman is a regularly-seen face at TIEC and shared how happy he is to be back at the venue: “I feel like I’m at home here. I spent three summers here before I went to Europe for three years. I just moved back [to America] this year and I am very happy to be back. I love Tryon, I love the facility and you basically don’t have to leave the show grounds to do anything. [There are] good restaurants and a good place to have a drink! You have everything you need! I’m very happy to be back.”