Press release from HITS Hudson Valley – Saugerties, edited by World of Showjumping

International show jumping kicked off the action-packed day in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium on Friday, July 24, with the $31,020 Go Rentals CSI3* Jumper Classic. The immediate jump-off class is one of the many highlights in the three-week HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour™, which boasts both a weekly CSI3* division and a World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation during HITS Hudson Valley V. With the best of hunter and jumper sport at the world-class Saugerties, New York, facility, it was yet another day of impressive competition. Rising to the top of an elite field, Megan McDermott stepped on the gas for the victory with her longtime partner Nintendo.

FEI Level 3 course designer Ken Krome (USA) set the track for the 27 horse-and-rider duos representing six nations, including Colombia, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Puerto Rico, and the home nation of the United States. Fourteen pairs managed to leave all the rails in the cups in the 82 second time allowed to advance to the short course.

It did not take long for a provisional leader to emerge. Early in the order, Ilan Bluman (COL) set a blistering pace in 36.83 seconds with Echo LVF, an eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Emerald x Contefino 2) he co-owns with cousin Daniel Bluman. A few rounds later, Wednesday’s $31,020 Equestrian Gardens CSI3* Jumper Classic winner, Brian Moggre (USA), cut the time-to-beat down to 35.92 seconds aboard Johann FS Z, the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding (John Doe x Diamant de Semilly) owned by Major Wager LLC. Undaunted, Megan McDermott immediately followed with Nintendo and managed to shave fractions of a second off Moggre’s time. When the clock showed 35.78 seconds, it seemed McDermott had sealed the deal. 

“Brian went before me and I know he won the opening class on the same horse,” explained McDermott. “I was preloaded in the ring when he was jumping off, and I was like, ‘I’m not watching because if I try too hard and go too fast, my horse will take me and it will get out of hand.’ So, I rode super directly and stuck to my plan. I did not go crazy. I think I did way more strides than anyone else, but I kind of knew the line that Nintendo can go fast and jump clear, but not get ahead of himself.”

Try as they might, the remaining contenders were unable to catch McDermott, and so she and Nintendo galloped away with the win. Moggre ultimately landed in second place, securing his third podium placing in as many days, while Ilan Bluman completed the top three in third.

“His natural foot speed is insane,” said McDermott of the sensitive and quirky 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Nintender x Chacco Blue), owned by Counter Balance LLC, that she has been partnered with for five years. “He’s also very fast over the jump. He comes out every single day ready to win. He loves to go in the ring. His happy space is in the show ring. At home, the schooling area, the paddock, everywhere else, he’s spooky and flighty, but he goes in the show ring, and he is laser-focused and wants to win.”

Based just over an hour away, McDermott is a frequent face at HITS Hudson Valley, typically with a blue ribbon in tow.

“This is our favorite show,” she expressed. “It has been my favorite show, literally, since I was a child on ponies. It would be our big show of the year and really still is. The footing here is amazing. It doesn’t get better than Wordley Martin footing. They have every class here; every ring is great; all the courses are so nice with beautiful jumps, and it’s so well run. If you can show here at HITS, why would you go anywhere else?”

International show jumping during HITS Hudson Valley V comes to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, July 25, with the $116,050 Core Specialty Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix, while national-level jumper, hunter, and equitation competition continues through Sunday, July 26. The final week of the HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour then begins on Wednesday, July 29.