By Jan Westmark-Allan
Daniel Bluman, a 22 year old grand prix show jumping superstar from Colombia, South America, topped off his winter show circuit in style – by winning the $500,000 FTI Consulting CSI 5* Finale Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Daniel’s equine partner that night was Sancha la Silla, his horse of a lifetime, who also helped him finish 7th individually at the 2011 Pan Am Games. Now a fulltime resident of Wellington, Daniel headed to Europe after the winter circuit to train with Eric Lamaze in Belgium. But he still had time to…
Tell us how it felt to win the $500,000 Grand Prix…
It felt really good. I never expected to win a CSI 5* so early in my career. I felt really proud and happy for my team and grateful to all the people that helped me along the way.
Daniel Bluman and Sancha la Silla. Photo by Jack Mancini
Tell us your plans for Sancha…
My number one goal is the Olympics. I will try to get there in top form and hopefully along the way have some placings in the CSI 5* that we will do in Europe. After the Olympics she will go back to Kentucky and have a break. She makes me happy so I like to keep her happy as well! She is a horse of a lifetime.
Tell us your career highlight…
Without a doubt, the $500,000 Finale. It was my first CSI 5* win. It was a great class in a great venue. It’s the class everyone wants to win in the United States.
Tell us about your heroes…
My riding heroes who inspire me to be better are Eric Lamaze, Nelson “Necco” Pessoa and Pablo Barrios. Eric has always been one of my riding heroes. He is a passionate rider that transmits a lot of good energy. The way he pilots the horses and produces clear rounds really amazes me. He has been very generous to me, is a good friend and is essential at this point of my career. Necco is for sure the best horseman the sport has seen. He loves the horses and knows how to produce and maintain a champion. He is a true horse whisperer. Spending time with him is fascinating, he knows the horses very well and has an answer to almost every question I have. And I have had many! Pablo was the first hero that I met when I was just 10 years old. He has been a good friend and helped me start my career as a professional.
Tell us who you would have dinner with if you could pick anyone, dead or alive…
My grandfather, he was a survivor of the Holocaust. I hear from my family that he was a great person, very caring and loving to his family and friends. I would like to sit and talk to him and ask him a lot of questions.
Tell us how you relax after a competitive day…
I relax by spending time with my loved ones, listening to music and meditating about the day, how to improve both my riding and myself as a person.
Tell us the best thing you can cook…
Bread with Nutella
Tell us one trait you always look for in a horse?
A horse that is careful and has a personality.
