Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping

Forty of the world’s top horse-and-rider combinations, representing 13 nations, took to the WEC Grand Arena in Ocala (USA) on Thursday morning to vie for the top prize in the $117,000 UF Health Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4*. In the end, it was Israel’s Daniel Bluman who claimed the lion’s share of the prize money, guiding his longtime partner Gemma W (Luidam x Unaniem), owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, to the top of the leaderboard.

Decorated course designer Anderson Lima (MEX), an FEI Level 4 builder, set the stage for Thursday’s competition. The track proved to be technical, with the final two lines accounting for the majority of faults. Ultimately, 12 horse-and-rider combinations successfully answered all the questions and stayed within the time allowed to advance to the jump-off.

World no. 18 Daniel Bluman reflected on the first-round challenge, saying: “The course was difficult, but it has to be. The level is high, there’s a lot of great riders here. It was the perfect course for today’s class.”

In the jump-off, Erynn Ballard (CAN) set the early pace aboard her first of two mounts, Her Game Ball BG (Carambole x Burggraaf), stopping the clock in 35.08 seconds but adding a rail. Australia’s Lauren Balcomb on Verdini D'Houtveld Z (Verdi x Laska IIII) and U.S. rider Sloane Coles aboard Ninja JW van de Moerhoeve (Elvis Ter Putte x Gazelle 'ter Elzen) both gave the shortened track a strong effort, though each incurred four faults.

Belgium’s Pieter de Brabandere then raised the bar, delivering a clear round aboard Dothraki Warlord (Mermus R x Tiamo Diamant) in a swift 34.00 seconds to put pressure on the remaining competitors. Ballard returned with her second mount, Dior (Diamantino VDL x Delphina), producing a clear effort but just off the leading time in 34.42 seconds.

Aaron Vale (USA) followed, determined to take the win aboard ThinksLikeAHorse’s Gray’s Inn (Cannavaro x Oscar). The pair surged into the lead with a blazing clear round in 33.65 seconds.

Lebanon’s Jad Dana came close to overtaking the top spot, piloting The Itchy Group’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding Itchcock Des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.) to a time of 33.84 seconds, slotting just behind Vale on the leaderboard.

As the second-to-last to go, Bluman entered the arena confident in his partnership with Gemma W. “She gave me such an incredible feeling in the first round. I thought I could lay out a very strong jump-off and have a high chance of winning today’s class.”

Having watched most of the jump-off unfold, Bluman stayed true to his plan. “I was tenth out of 12 in the jump-off, so I saw the entire class before me. I didn’t really change my plan. I just had to let ‘Gemma’ go, be very quick on the turns, and try to catch the first distance I saw around the corner. She was so game and wanted that win today. And when Gemma wants to win, it’s hard to beat her.”

Stopping the clock in a winning time of 33.21 seconds, Bluman and Gemma W surged to the top of the podium. Bluman also spoke about his nearly decade-long partnership with the coming 15-year-old KWPN mare. “We have been together for almost ten years,” he expressed. “Horses absolutely change, but one thing that didn’t change was how much I liked her and how much I believe in her. She’s a very, very special mare with an incredible heart and an incredible brain. We’ve had so much success together, and to have the opportunity to still win big classes with her is just awesome.”