With quick turns and quick thinking, Daniel Bluman (ISR) turned in a speedy, efficient jump off to win the $200,000 FEI CSI4* Upperville Jumper Classic on his horse Hummer Z (Harley VDL x Hemmingway, breeder: P.H.A.E. Bocken) at Sunday’s 2026 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™. The class was sponsored by Lugano and Ethel M. It was the final class for the day and for a highly successful week that saw more than 1,400 horses and equestrians compete.
Hummer Z is a 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Abigail Wexner. After completing the first round with 19 other combinations, Bluman and Hummer Z headed into the jump off with five other contenders.
“I don’t think I rode the jump off very well,” said Bluman. “But he really wanted to win and I’m so glad for him.” Bluman went on to say that, in the combination on the course, he thought he was just going to run out of ring, but Hummer Z fixed the distances for them. “And then I knew I was going to win,” Bluman added.
Chloe Reid (USA) was in second place with Crossover 4 (Cascadello I x Chacco-Blue) and Sloane Coles (USA) took third on Ninja JW Van De Moerhoeve (Elvis Ter Putte x Kashmir van Schuttershof).
A large crowd of spectators gathered to watch the class and many also attended the press conference where Bluman explained about his first time at Upperville. “The first time I came to Upperville was 18 years ago. It was the first show I did outside of Florida. I jumped in that ring on the other side in the High Juniors on Friday and I had eight rails down. It was a very different start to my experience in Upperville,” he laughed. “Everyone who lives in the United States knows about this grand prix and how many great riders and horses have won it,” Bluman added. “It’s nice to win so that you can be together with those great horses and riders that came before you.”
