Mark Bluman and Thriller P Secure Victory in $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI3*

Press release TIEC – Mark Bluman (COL) demonstrated his skill and expertise, besting today’s tough field of 37 riders at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) aboard Thriller P in the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI 3* on the second day of FEI competition at Tryon Summer I. Bluman and Thriller P dominated the complex course design designed by Oscar Soberon (MEX) with an impressive jump-off time of 36.597 seconds.

Competition at TIEC continues tomorrow with the inaugural Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC), followed by the popular „Saturday Night Lights“ series featuring the $130,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday, July 2. A one-of-a-kind laser light show, which will be the first ever offered in the region, will follow the conclusion of grand prix competition in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday.

Taking second place with a speedy and accurate round was Eugenio Garza (MEX) and his ride Empire Van Wuitenshof with a time of 37.142 seconds, while Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Lady Maria BH claimed the yellow rosette with a time of 38.023 seconds.

Thriller P is not one of Bluman’s usual mounts, as the 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Lucky Light) is owned and ridden by Bluman’s student, Daniela Stransky. Bluman elaborated on why he took over the reins for the ride today.

„You know it is funny because that horse is not part of my string. He is part of my student’s string. We recently purchased him for her, so we decided that I would show him this week,“ he detailed. „I wanted to make sure he went well in the big ring. Every time he has shown, he has been fantastic. With my students, I always prefer to tune-up their horses and help them to feel incredible.“

„Thriller P is one of the greatest horses in the barn,“ he added.

The tough track asked many questions, yet Bluman and Thriller P exhibited several tidy turns and a deceivingly fast round, delivering the winning answer in the talented class. Bluman elaborated on the athleticism of Thriller P and how he felt the class rode overall.

„In the jump-off, yes I was quick, but on this horse you don’t realize how fast you are actually going,“ Bluman commented. „In Florida, I had a very similar ride on him after WEF, where we also won the class. He covers a lot of ground and is very athletic, which is an unbeatable combination.“

Bluman went on to speak of the preparation and accuracy needed to excel in classes such as this, which showcased a talented group of international riders. He stated, „Part of my system at home is to practice a line, but do all different numbers of strides in-between those two jumps. We work on collecting and extending, along with gymnastics to teach the horses that those type of situations can happen at the show. We actually practiced something very similar last week to prepare for the four weeks of the Summer Series here at TIEC. That technique teaches the horses to be soft, adjustable, and careful, which helped him feel incredible today.“

Bluman was ecstatic with win, but is already looking forward to Saturday night. He hopes his accomplished mount, Uitteraard, who he has been successful with at TIEC before, will rise to the occasion in the $130,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Bluman spoke about Uitteraard saying, „He is a part of my string and is coming off of a win. I feel very confident and I hope Saturday night goes well!“

Bluman and team now consider themselves locals, training out of a farm only minutes from the show, and will strive to be top contenders at TIEC for the remainder of the Summer Series. They also have plans to return for the 2016 Tryon Fall Series.

World-class show jumping and nationally rated hunter divisions will continue throughout the week at TIEC, consisting of a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby and a $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic on Friday, July 1. The highlight event on Friday however, will be the first ever Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC), which encourages guests and spectators to dress in costume representing this year’s super heroes theme! Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and competition will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The „Saturday Night Lights“ series will return for weekend fun, beginning Saturday, July 2, and continuing four consecutive Saturdays through July 23. Entertainment will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to commence at 8:00 p.m. Following competition on Saturday evening, TIEC will host the first-ever laser light show the Foothills region in the George H. Morris Arena in celebration of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Results of $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI3*

1. THRILLER P, 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Lucky Light
MARK BLUMAN (COL), Stransky’s Mission Farm, Inc.: 0/0/36.597

2. EMPIRE VAN WUITENSHOF, 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Malito De Reve x Alme
EUGENIO GARZA (MEX), El Milagro: 0/0/37.142

3. LADY MARIA BH, 2006 Holsteiner mare by Cartani x Corrado I
AMANDA DERBYSHIRE (GBR), David Gochman: 0/0/38.023

4. BINKIE, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Larino x Hors La Loi II
DAVID BLAKE (IRL), Pine Hollow Farm: 0/0/39.172

5. BULL RUN’S FAUSTINO DE TILI, 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Five, LLC: 0/0/39.532

6. AIMEE, 2005 Dutch Warmblood mare by Solitair x Silvio II
PETER WYLDE (USA), Aram Ampagoumian LLC: 0/0/39.605

7. VALINSKI S, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Nijinski x Julius
MATTTHEW WILLIAMS (AUS), Matthew Williams, Michael Dorman, &Wyndmont: 0/0/40.460

8. QUABELLE, 2004 Selle Francais mare by Helios De La Cour II x Kannan
BLYTHE MARANO (USA), Riverview Farm LLC: 0/4/39.412

9. UBRIS, 2004 Holsteiner mare by Caretino x Corrado I
SARAH SEGAL (USA), Chartwell: 0/4/43.448

10. BULL RUN’S HOLY SMOKES, 2004 Belgian Warmblood mare by Wunder Boy Van de Zuuthoeve x Toulon
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 0/13/53.430

11. ROCKY W, 1998 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Libero H x Corofino
KAITLIN CAMPBELL (USA), Kaitlin D. Campbell: 0/EL

12. VITA 24, 2005 Holsteiner mare by Carinjo x Contender
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Two Swans Farm: 1/82.190

Source: Press release TIEC