Daniel Bluman has made a winning change to Gemma W's career. Photo © Shawn McMillen Photography.
Press release from Washington International Horse Show, edited by World of Showjumping
International jumpers took to the arena on Thursday, October 24, to contest the first two classes of the CSI5*-W competition at the 2025 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS), presented by MARS Equestrian™. The fastest in the CSI5*-W 1.50m $63,000 Stars & Stripes Speed Stake were Daniel Bluman (ISR) and Gemma W (Luidam x Unaniem), owned by Blue Star Investments and Over The Top Stables LLC. Held at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD, the event continues through Sunday, October 26.
Daniel Bluman and Gemma W with groom Phoebe Leger; ringmaster Phil Thomas; WIHS President Vicki Lowell; TAPS Vice President of Sports & Entertainment Diana Hosford; TAPS President and Founder Bonnie Carroll; and WIHS Board Member Jon Kreitz, Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy (Retired). Photo © Shawn McMillen Photography.
By leaving out strides and make very short turns, Bluman made it look easy when he and Gemma W cruised to victory in the $63,000 Stars & Stripes Speed Stake. The faults-converted format class added three faults for every rail down, but by leaving the jumps up and being fast, Bluman handily took the win with a time of 54.98 seconds. It was nearly two second faster than Kaitlin Campbell (USA) riding Cosm Hesed (Christian x Lord Z) for owner Mirasol Equestrian, LLC, who stopped the timers in 56.79 seconds. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Corrie 9 (Comme Il Faut x Arpeggio), owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC, placed third in 57.11 seconds.
While Gemma W was one of Bluman’s main Grand Prix horses for years, she has taken a bit of a step down in 2025. She has competed in some five-star qualifying classes, but mostly more 1.50m-1.55m events in lower-rated shows. It’s where Bluman feels she fits best, and her record shows it; Gemma finished in the top five in 12 of 19 classes in 2025.
“It's very important to listen to your horses, and Gemma is a fantastic horse,” said Bluman of the 14-year-old KWPN mare. “She's given me everything since the first day that we started to work together, and I didn't want her to start feeling that she wasn't competitive anymore."
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