Thermal, Calif. – Daniel Bluman had a feeling that Landon de Nyze would be well suited for his cousin, Mark Bluman, and that perception proved to be correct on Thursday, December 11, at Desert International Horse Park. In only their second show together, Colombia’s Mark Bluman piloted Landon to victory in the $182,000 Great American Insurance Group CSI5* Qualifier, held as part of Desert Holiday 2.
Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“Daniel is going to heaven if he keeps giving me these kind of horses!” said Mark Bluman in speaking of the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding previously competed by Daniel Bluman and to great success by Kent Farrington before him. “[Landon] was super successful with Kent. He got [an individual] silver medal in the Pan Am Games, won a couple CSI5* grand prix with him. Kent had enough horses at the time, and he wasn’t really taking Landon much to the shows…Daniel bought him for him to ride.”
Mark Bluman continued, “Again, same story with Daniel, he had many horses to ride at the time, and he knew the horse could be a great match. Even at the beginning when [Daniel] first bought it, he said, ‘Listen, I think this could be a good match for you. Let me give it a go and see how it goes, but I know at the end of the day, you’re going to end up riding him.’ So, now it’s up to me!”
Callie Schott, Mark Bluman and Laura Kraut atop the podium for the $182,000 Great American Insurance Group CSI5*. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Mark Bluman competed Landon de Nyze for the first time during last week’s CSI2* at Desert Holiday 1, and from there it was straight on to Thursday’s CSI5*.
As Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze navigated the first-round, Olaf Petersen Jr.-designed course, they looked every bit a veteran partnership. They joined seven other entries from the 42-horse starting field in punching their ticket to the jump-off.
The third pair to return, Callie Schott (USA) and Southern Arches LLC’s Garant set the time to beat at 42.05 seconds, and four trips later, it was Mark Bluman’s turn.
Second place went to Callie Schott and Garant. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“Knowing that Nina [Mallevaey] was behind me, I tried to give it a real go,” explained Mark Bluman. “I didn’t go full gas because I honestly don’t know the horse very well…The run to the last, I think that’s where I took advantage of being on a mega-careful horse. I just ran to the last vertical, and he just cleared it!”
The pair flew across the timers in 40.75 seconds to clinch the win. Schott and Garant held on to second place, and Laura Kraut and Kaylee, owned by Gian Battista Lutta, finished in third with a time of 45.14 seconds.
Laura Kraut and Kaylee rounded out the top three. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
“I’ve been coming here for the last four years for these two weeks,” concluded Mark Bluman. “In the four years, I don’t think there’s been a year that I didn’t win a class, so I always love coming here. This horse show always treats me well. I’m very successful here, and it’s a must on my calendar. I enjoy the weather. I enjoy the restaurants. The hotel is unbelievable, and the facilities are just unreal.”
With the class held as part of the week’s Major League Show Jumping competition, the Bluman’s Maccabi United team extends their lead in the MLSJ team standings heading into Friday night’s $200,000 MLSJ CSI5* Team Competition, presented by Clip My Horse.
To view complete results of the $182,000 Great American Insurance Group CSI5* Qualifier, click here, and for a full schedule of events at Desert Holiday 2, click here.