Daniel Bluman and Sancha LS claim Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic

Two-time Olympian Daniel Bluman (ISR) piloted longtime mount Sancha LS to victory in the $35,700 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic CSI3* on Saturday, May 18, at the 2019 Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, running through May 19 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. Also highlighting Saturday’s action, Sydney Shulman of Greenwich, CT, won the $10,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Miller Motorcars, riding Villamoura, and Patricia Griffith of New York, NY, and Sonder were victorious in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by The Gochman Family.

Bluman and Sancha LS, a 16-year-old SLS mare (Chin Chin x Polydor), have been competing as a team for ten years and their strong partnership paid off at Old Salem Farm. The final pair to tackle Ken Krome’s (USA) jump-off course from an original field of 28, Bluman and Sancha LS were chasing Madison Goetzmann (USA) and her own Prestigious. They sat as the current leaders on a time of 38.10 seconds with only Bluman to return in a seven-horse tie-breaker.

“I knew what I had to do and she has done it for me so many times,” said Bluman of Sancha LS after saving the best for last and posting a winning time of 37.97 seconds. “Madison put up a good target, but I used Sancha’s big stride and gave it a go. I’m happy that it worked out for us.”

A seasoned horse, Sancha LS is showing no sign of slowing down, according to Bluman. Noting that the mare felt the best she ever has while galloping across the Old Salem Farm Grand Prix Field, Bluman was overjoyed with her performance.

“I can only say good things about her,” he said. “It’s been a blessing to have her and I consider every chance I have to go in the ring with her a blessing. She owes me nothing!”

Now a North Salem, NY, resident, Bluman and his string of horses are based out of the new home of Bluman Equestrian just up the road from Old Salem Farm. After relocating during the fall of 2018, Bluman and his team are regulars at Old Salem Farm events.

“I told my wife two years ago that this was going to be home and we just bought a farm right around the corner,” said Bluman. “I love it here and being out on the field. And when the weather doesn’t help, we always have the option to jump in very good footing in the sand.”

After a CSI2* victory during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Canada’s Mario Deslauriers took third on Saturday riding Amsterdam 27 in 39.58 seconds for owner Wishing Well Farm. Molly Ashe-Cawley (USA) took fourth in 40.65 seconds aboard Balous Day Date for Louisburg Farm, while Sydney Shulman (USA) rounded out the top five riding Azilis du Mesnil, owned by Jill Shulman, to a time of 41.56 seconds.