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

The second week of the HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour™ doubled down on excitement at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York. With an impressive entry list, week two of the hugely popular three-week series once again featured a CSI3* division, but also boasted a highly coveted World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) designation.

The opening day saw record-breaking numbers across the hunter and jumper disciplines as riders brought out their best mounts for an intense week of competition ahead. Playing host to representatives of 11 different nations, including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Great Britain, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and the United States, Wednesday’s $31,020 Equestrian Gardens CSI3* Jumper Classic on July 22 ultimately saw the win go to the home country, as young professional Brian Moggre (USA) found the fastest way around the track aboard Major Wager LLC’s Johann FS Z (John Doe x Diamant de Semilly). 

With a field of heavy hitters, the lineup for the day’s main event saw an impressive 57 horse-and-rider combinations electing to contest FEI Level 3 course designer Ken Krome’s (USA) power-and-speed track. It looked like it would be yet another Bluman victory as Mark Bluman (ISR) set the pace to beat with S&L Hello Sunshine (Diamant de Semilly x Cosimo) in 26.94 seconds. As the class counted down to its final baker’s dozen, however, Moggre made his presence known. Shaving just three hundredths of a second from the previous leading time, he piloted the eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding to a heart-pounding finish in 26.91 seconds, handily securing the victory. 

“Developing young horses is always such a fun thing for me; I enjoy doing it so much,” explained Moggre. “You never really know what you’re going to get, but Johann really stepped up to the plate every step of the way. Everything we ask of him, he just continues to impress and amaze us. 

“It’s been a really fun journey with him, especially now that he is stepping into these international classes,” he detailed of the talented chestnut that he partnered with in the gelding’s six-year-old year. “He only did his first 1.40m class in October and his first 1.45m in January, so we really just started introducing him to these ranking classes.”

The week marks a return to FEI competition at the HITS venue for Moggre, not only with his exciting up-and-comer, but also with longtime mount, MTM Vivre Le Reve. 

“I’ve had MTM Vivre Le Reve for ten years now, and at the time when I got him, we were both so young that I really didn’t think about him being a young horse,” he shared of his lengthy partnership with the gelding affectionately nicknamed “Erkel.” “He was the best teacher to have for a 14-year-old kid, and now being able to develop a young horse like Johann at 24 and use the knowledge I’ve gained from Erkel, it’s something that excites me every day.” 

Earning his spot in the winner’s circle in almost every international class he has competed in during the 2026 HITS Hudson Valley season, Mark Bluman ultimately accepted the runner up position with S&L Farm’s nine-year-old Selle Français stallion S&L Hello Sunshine. The spot in the victory gallop was made sweeter as he shared his top-three finish with cousin Ilan Bluman (COL), who just missed the mark in 27.25 seconds with Echo LVF (Emerald x Contefino 2), his recently acquired eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding.