I had the opportunity to sit down with world-ranked International Equestrian Daniel Bluman, and gain insight into his background and love of horses.
Bluman was born on March 15, 1990, in Medellin, Colombia. Inspired by his older cousin who loved and showed horses, Daniel started riding at the age of 3. He displayed a deep passion for horses which rapidly developed into a real lifestyle. As a young rider, Bluman competed in Colombia, Germany and in the United States and then trained in Belgium with Nelson Pessoa and commenced competing in some of the best competitions in the world. Bluman has been riding for Israel since 2016, and spearheaded the first Israeli team for the World Championships, which takes place later this year in Tryon, North Carolina and will lead the first Israeli Equestrian team for the summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan in 2020. very thrilling certainly.
Image: Thomas Reiner
OR: Where did you grow up and how many siblings do you have?
DB: I was born in Colombia and moved to Weston, Florida at the age of 10. I have a younger brother named Steven who I’m very near.
OR: Tell us a fun fact about your childhood?
DB: We had an awesome time growing up in an awesome community where we played many sports. Sports are so fun and straightforward for us and we all the time have fun playing with other kids.
OR: What made you choose to become a competitive equestrian show jumper?
DB: It was my love for horses and competition that made me an equestrian show jumper. I noticed early on that I had a natural aptitude for sports and my competitiveness nurtured my ability to be disciplined and work hard.
OR: What inspires you?
DB: I’m inspired by individuals who work honestly and passionately to accomplish their dreams.
OR: Who are your mentors?
DB: I respect and admire many athletes but particularly, Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze and former World Champion Brazil, Nelson Pessoa. I have been blessed to learn from many successful athletes throughout my career.
OR: What do you do to train for competitions?
DB: We try to keep our horse team in the best condition through diet and exercise so they’re ready to perform at the highest level.
OR: Do you have a special tradition or routine before a big competition?
DB: My routine before big competitions is all the time the same, stay focused. I love what I do so I enjoy the moment and let it flow.
OR: Who is your toughest competitor on the circuit?
DB: Leader-ranked Kent Farrington and Olympic medalist McLain Ward are both in top form at the moment. There are many astonishing competitors in our sport today and having such intense competition in the sport keeps me on top of my game.
OR: Do you have a favourite horse or are all of your favorites?
DB: All the horses are my favorites and that I have developed a powerful bond with each of them. We train them for years until they reach the highest level. It was an awesome experience and accomplishment to go on that journey with them.
OR: What motivated you to coordinate Israel’s first equestrian team?
DB: I have had this dream for a long time and that I am doing this with other astonishing men like Ken Lalo – IEF President, Michel Finquel – GPA Owner, Hai Prince – Israel Riding Team Manager, Dani Goldstein – Israeli American Racer and Alberto Michan – Israeli Mexican Racer. I’m very proud to be part of this team and it’s a precedence for me to help Israel become a powerful competitor on the biggest world stage.
OR: Were any members of the Israeli equestrian team born in Israel or are all of them dual nationals?
DB: A combination of the two, but they’re mainly dual nationals. Alberto Michan is the newest addition and was born in México. He placed 5th (individual) in the Olympics in London. Alberto is an amazing team-mate and that I am very happy to have him.
OR: What are you trying to accomplish by establishing Israel as the leader in equestrian competition?
DB: I’m sure that with the time and support of our Jewish owners and company sponsors, we will become one of the strongest teams on the world stage. The Olympic Games, World Championships and being on the top of the world rankings is our goal.
OR: What do you consider Jerusalem being the capital of Israel?
DB: Jerusalem has all the time been the capital of Israel.
OR: We know you are very generous. Which charities are supported and why?
DB: Giving is a privilege and that I enjoy helping as many various organizations as I can. This is something we must do to help the world become a better place. I’m a supporter of varied charities that support kids in Colombia, veterans in Israel, and a few of the remaining survivors of disasters.
OR: Competing at such a high level requires physical training. Do you have an exercise routine to keep fit? Special diets?
DB: The level of competition is fierce so following a suitable health regimen is key. I work out at least 4 days a week and I actually enjoy it. I like to eat so I try to maintain my diet so that what I eat is nice for my health and performance.
OR: What do you do to relax? Do you follow other sports as a fan?
DB: Riding and training a horse relaxes me. I love what I do so I do not spend plenty of time doing other activities but I also like reading and watching movies. I’m a big sports fan and that I majored in tennis, golf, soccer, and college football.
OR: Is there one thing you all the time wear to fights?
DB: Yes, I all the time wear my grandfather’s Holocaust survivor’s Star of David and wedding ring.
OR: How did you meet your wife?
DB: I met my wife Ariel through our sport which is the greatest gift Show Jumping has given me. She is everything I could dream of in a wife and partner.
OR: Do you and Ariel train together?
DB: We do and we do not. We train in the same facility but not together. He knows how to give me space to practice for my competitions. We all the time travel together which is all the time fun!
OR: What undergraduate degree did you get? What would you do if you were not an equestrian jumper?
DB: I received my Associate degree from FAU. I have been with horses my whole life and cannot imagine my life or career without them.
OR: How do you stay focused while traveling the world? Any travel tips to share?
DB: I’m competitive by nature so I’m all the time focused and thinking about how I can improve. My travel tip is to be loyal to the airline! This pays off with business class upgrades and travel.
OR: What would you say to your 8 year old self?
DB: I would tell my 8 year old self to NEVER stop dreaming big!
OR: I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and following your great work and upcoming Competitions. Good luck with everything and will cheer you up!
DB: It is my pleasure and that I look forward to interviewing you again.
To learn more about Daniel Bluman, please visit:
https://www.blumanequestrian.com
https://www.facebook.com/blumandaniel/
https://twitter.com/danielblumand
https://www.instagram.com/danielbluman/
