Mark Bluman secured his second consecutive victory at the Royal Horse Show CSI5*-W in Toronto by winning the $125,000 Mad Barn Big Ben Challenge aboard Ubiluc, a 13-year-old German-bred Mecklenburg gelding he reunited with in 2023. Having previously ridden Ubiluc as a young horse before his cousin Daniel Bluman developed the horse internationally, Mark’s return to the reins has yielded 44 top-10 international finishes. Mark set an unbeatable time of 35.62 seconds on the challenging course, marking one of his biggest wins at the prestigious event and fulfilling his goal of consistently placing in the top five.
The Royal Horse Show, known for its vibrant atmosphere and engaged crowd, impressed Mark, who praised the event as one of the best he’s ever attended. French rider Nina Mallevaey made a strong Royal debut, finishing second just 0.3 seconds behind Mark, while American Brian Moggre took third place. Mark’s success at the show highlights both his skill and the strong partnership with Ubiluc, underscoring the significance of this event in his competitive season.
