Claudia Hurley and Bluetooth dominate the ring in the 2025-26 TiES Show Hunter Accumulator.
This season’s TiES Show Hunter Accumulator has been won by a combination whose story is all about reliability, connection, and the quiet brilliance that comes from years of partnership.
Claudia Hurley and her Thoroughbred gelding Bluetooth have been a model of consistency throughout 2025–2026, placing in almost every Amateur class they entered and proving that Thoroughbreds can shine in the show hunter ring.
For Claudia, this season felt special because Blue didn’t just hold his own — he excelled.
“He really held his own in some super competitive classes. He was very consistent and placed in almost every Amateur start he did.”
That consistency, she says, comes from two things: a strong support crew and a horse who simply loves his job.
“I’m extremely fortunate to have an incredible support crew and a great employer who allowed me the days off to be competitive. And I’m very lucky to have a teammate like Blue — he’s extremely consistent and reliable. He knows his job and is very workmanlike.”
But beneath the results is something deeper — a partnership that means the world to her.
“The one thing I love about Blue is how reliable he is. He has never said no to anything I ask, and he always tries his best. That’s a true reflection of the bond we have. Every time I think about our partnership it makes me teary. Not everyone gets a horse of a lifetime, and I count myself as one of the lucky ones,” says Claudia.
The team delivered several standout moments, including a 2nd place in the North Island Amateur Title, a 5th overall in the Amateur Show Hunter Series, and a special win in the Round the Ring at the Dannevirke A&P Show — a goal Claudia had set after watching the class the year before.
“That was a pretty cool experience. Blue helped make that goal a reality.”
Claudia is also deeply appreciative of what the TiES programme offers riders like her.
“We are extremely lucky to have this fantastic series to showcase Thoroughbreds in their sport horse life once they retire from racing. It’s a very generous sponsorship. I feel very privileged to have competed in it this season.”
Looking ahead, her goals are grounded in the same values that have carried them this far: consistency, learning, and joy.
“I want to continue improving my rounds and develop my understanding of Show Hunter. But the main goal is to have fun and enjoy every moment — you’re always living someone else’s dream.”
And what does winning the TiES Show Hunter Accumulator mean?
“This win means everything. Blue has given me so much over the eight years I’ve owned him. He’s a true testament to the versatility of the Thoroughbred breed, so this win is for him.”
Congratulations to Claudia and Bluetooth — a partnership that embodies exactly what TiES is all about.