TurnoutHQ+ Newsroom · Published April 25, 2026 · Updated September 8, 2026
Key Takeaway
Colombia’s Mark Bluman and Landon de Nyze topped a star-studded field at the Kentucky International, extending Maccabi United’s lead in the Major League Show Jumping season standings.
What Happened
Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) debuted its fifth season at the Kentucky International in Lexington, coinciding with the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. The event featured a $62,500 5* Qualifier with 46 entries.
Colombia’s Mark Bluman won aboard Landon de Nyze, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding. The pair competed in a jump-off after 14 riders initially cleared the course designed by Guilherme Jorge. Six riders chose to withdraw from the jump-off, saving their horses for the weekend’s Grand Prix, leaving eight to contend for the win.
Bluman and Landon de Nyze finished in 38.38 seconds, executing an inside turn and taking one fewer stride to the final fence. They edged out Germany's Rene Dittmer on Corsica X (39.46 seconds). Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk, also from Germany, placed third with Akarad Tivoli Z (43.02 seconds).
Why It Matters
This victory was a significant strategic win for Bluman and his team, Maccabi United. The result extends Maccabi United’s lead in the MLSJ season standings by 45 points over the Trelawny Trailblazers. For Bluman, the win advances him closer to the top 10 in the individual season standings.
The event showcased Landon de Nyze’s agility and elite pedigree. Previously campaigned by Daniel Bluman and Kent Farrington, who rode the gelding to Pan American Games success, Landon de Nyze is known as a versatile and consistently fast partner at the five-star level. The "League's" debut at the Kentucky International expands MLSJ into a storied venue in American equestrianism, bringing its team-based format to an audience already present for the Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Discipline Context
This event is international-level Show Jumping. The five-star (CSI5*) designation signifies the highest level of the sport, featuring maximum jump heights and substantial prize money. Its concurrent staging with a premier Eventing competition highlights the growing trend of multi-discipline events designed to attract a broader equestrian fanbase.
Competitors heading into the season can find show tack and riding equipment ahead of entries.