Saugerties, New York – June 9, 2024 – White pants filled the grounds of HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on Sunday, June 9, as riders and horses prepared for a day filled with jumper classics. Josephine de Pfyffer (USA) and Luron S Z scored the biggest prize of the day with a win in the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic.
From the starting field of 22 horse-and-rider combinations, seven produced a clear effort across the first-round course to advance to the jump-off. Of those seven, only three duos replicated their success with a fault-free performance over the short course. It was de Pfyffer and Luron S Z that raced through the timers in an unbeatable 35.180 seconds for the win.
“‘Luron’ jumps so fast and he’s so careful,” said de Pfyffer. “In the ring, he has tons and tons of energy and loves to fly at the jumps. He only has one speed, which is very fast. If I can get him in between the jumps and leave it up, he’s hard to beat.”
Luron has been the trusted mount of de Pfyffer for more than three years. While the pair has enjoyed a lot of success together, it is the enthusiasm for the job that sets the 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Lord Z x Landetto) apart.
“He’s so fun to ride, and he loves doing this probably more than I do,” enthused de Pfyffer. “He’s just the best horse in the whole world. At home, he likes attention and he loves treats. He likes to have his head out the stall with his ears forward and wants people to come say ‘Hi.’”
No stranger to HITS Hudson Valley, de Pfyffer is looking forward to spending most of the summer season showing in Saugerties.
“It’s a really great show,” she expressed. “I love it because it’s close to home. The Grand Prix Stadium is nice and big and feels like a real stadium environment.”
Following de Pfyffer was Spanish rider Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) and Dialuna, a 12-year-old Holsteiner mare (Diarado x Quidam’s Rubin) owned by Over Fences Farm LLC. Fresh off their win in the $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic the previous week, this time the pair settled for second place with a jump-off time of 36.306 seconds.
Rounding out the top three was Caitlin Boyle (USA) and Prianti van het Mikkenhof, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Lambada van Berkenbroeck)owned by Beyaert Farm, Inc. Boyle and Prianti Van Het Mikkenhof finished the short course just shy of the mark set by Bilbao with a time of 36.388 seconds.
The HITS-on-the-Hudson series returns with the start of the HITS-on-the-Hudson Jumper Special on June 19.
Final Results – $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic
1) Josephine de Pfyffer (USA) & Luron S Z – 0 / 0 – 35.180
2) Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) & Dialuna – 0 / 0 – 36.606
3) Caitlin Boyle (USA) & Prianti van het Mikkenhof – 0 / 0 – 36.388
Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows
Photos: © ESI Photography
Discover more from JUMPER NEWS USA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Hits Horse Shows, USEF Rated
JUMPER NEWS USA 