NOVEMBER 2023 THE RIDER /41


Exclusive to the Digital Edition of The Rider


NOVEMBER 2023 Vol. 5, Issue No. 4


Daniel Bluman Dominates Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto


Toronto, Ontario – Israel’s Daniel Bluman riding Gemma W triumphed in the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto


on Saturday


evening, November 11, in front of a sold-out crowd to close out the 2023 Royal Horse Show, held as part of the Royal Agricultural Win- ter Fair, in Toronto, ON. British course de-


signer Kelvin Bywater set the challenging track for the star-studded field of 20 rid- ers representing seven coun- tries. In his Royal Horse Show debut, Rene Dittmer of Germany delivered the first clear with Corsica X. Just a few rides later, Cana- dian talent Vanessa Mannix of Calgary, AB, thrilled the home crowd with a fault- free effort aboard Carmela Z. Then it was Kent Far- rington of the United States, currently third on the Longines World Rankings, who added his name to the jump-off list with Greya, a nine-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colestus x Con- tender) owned by Kent Far- rington LLC. Bluman with Gemma W, and young British star Jessica Men- doza, 27, with I-Cap CL Z, also managed to find the clear path, bringing the count to five to contest the all-deciding jump-off. First to go, Dittmer,


who has notched several top placings on his first North American indoors tour, had an unfortunate four faults, leaving the door open for the remaining challengers. Mannix once again left all the poles in the cups, cross- ing the timers in 36.29 sec- onds to the delight of the packed house. Farrington followed with a slick round and even faster time of 34.32 seconds to take over the lead. Knowing his tar- get, Bluman pushed Gemma W to the limit, stopping the clock at 33.28 seconds. Mendoza gave him a run for his money, but when the time showed 33.60 seconds, it was Bluman who was vic- torious. Mendoza finished in a very close second, Far- rington claimed third, and Mannix was the top Cana- dian contender in fourth. Bluman has been


knocking on the door of a big win indoors with Gemma W since 2022. They were second in the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington, second in last year’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, and second in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Lex- ington held one week before Toronto. Now, they are Royal Horse Show World Cup champions and sit atop the Longines North Ameri-


tonight,” expressed Farring- ton, 42. “This is a very prestigious show. It’s a very important event on our cal- endar because it holds the tradition of a knowledgeable crowd mixed with high- level riding. I think it’s the best we have here in North America. My hopes were very high that Greya would come and perform like she


did, so I’m really happy with the horse.” At the end of an excit-


ing evening of world-class show jumping, course de- signer Kelvin Bywater was pleased with the outcome. “For me, it’s a journey


back,” said Bywater, who first designed at The Royal


Continued on Page 42


CELEBRATING 53 YEARS


Israel’s Daniel Bluman won the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™


Toronto riding Gemma W to close out the Royal Horse Show on Saturday night, No- vember 11, in Toronto, ON. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


can League standings. “When you’re riding


in an event that has this type of atmosphere it’s extra spe- cial,” explained Bluman, 33, of the significance of the competition at The Royal. “These indoor horse shows are very traditional horse shows in North America. We grew up watching them, and we grew up watching great names win these classes, so I certainly was a little bit upset last year that I couldn’t put my name on that trophy. I don’t know how many chances you get to win a grand prix like this one, and when you are given


the chance, the minimum you can do is beat the time of the rider that went before you, so I’m happy that things went my way tonight and we ended up winning the class. “I was really excited


for the mare,” continued Bluman of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Luidam x Unaniem) owned by Blue Star Investments and Over the Top Stables LLC. “This is not an easy class for her to jump and a great class for her to win. Gemma is all heart; she will always give you everything. I’m very proud of her.” For Mendoza, it was a


memorable first experience at The Royal. Having pro- duced I-Cap CL Z since the now 11-year-old Zanger- sheide gelding (I’m Special de Muze x Air Jordan) was four, Mendoza felt like the moment was right to let loose in the jump-off. “He’s amazing,” said


Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza finished runner-up in the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto aboard I-Cap CL Z. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


Mendoza of the talented bay she owns in partnership with Sarah Mendoza. “I trust him completely. I know if I make crazy turns and I’m at a big angle, he’s going to take off, and he’s going to do his best to clear it. Hon- estly, I think I’ll be coming back to The Royal every year. It’s an incredible show and an unbelievable feeling to be in front of that crowd.”


For Farrington, his


third-place finish put the ex- clamation mark on a fault- free week with both mounts, including victories with Creedance in the $38,500 Strength and Speed Chal- lenge on Wednesday, No- vember 8, and the $80,000 Canadian Open Interna- tional Speed Challenge on Friday, November 10. With his World Cup grand prix mount, Greya, Farrington also enjoyed a second-place finish


in Thursday’s


$150,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge. “I’m really happy


with my horses this week and thrilled with the result


Daniel Bluman and Gemma W were presented as the


winners of the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto by Urs Schiendorfer representing Longines and Romina Di Pasquale, Longines Brand Manager Canada. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


Kent Farrington of the United States and Greya placed third in the $250,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto. Photo by Ben Radvanyi Photography


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