Press release from Wellington International, edited by World of Showjumping

Israeli Olympian Daniel Bluman showed off new talent in his own Malina on the way to a win in the $62,500 Adequan® CSI4* WEF Challenge Cup Round 11, a qualifier for Sunday’s $200,000 WeatherTech CSI4* Grand Prix at Wellington International. Hosting 12 consecutive weeks of international competition, WEF runs through March 29 in Wellington, FL.

Andy Christiansen’s (USA) jump-off track saw nine out of a forty-nine pair line-up with Bluman and the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare making light work of the track, crossing the timer beam at 52.2 seconds. The win marks the pair’s second four-star victory together after the young mare was produced through the Bluman Equestrian Program. Malina competed in the young horse finals in Wellington with Daniel’s brother Steven.

“She’s a fantastic horse, but a bit green. She can be sensitive, but has a lot of scope, always wants to be clear, and wants to work with you,” stated Bluman of the mare that’s been a part of the Bluman family since she was six. “She’s naturally fast—I don’t have to go 100% to be able to win a class like today. I think she’s going to have a very bright future.”

Purchased in Holland with the help of a family friend and Israel’s Chef d’Equipe Hans Horn, the mare’s lineage is just one factor that makes her so special to Bluman. “She’s well-bred (Aganix Du Seigneur x Mylord Carthago HN). I love the breeding, and I love the mare so we’ve been working to produce a young horse, and we are very happy that she is finally now getting to this level.

“As much as I like competing, there’s nothing I like more than producing a horse from the beginning,” continued Bluman. “She went to my brother first, but then you fast forward and she’s my favorite nine-year-old. That’s the beauty of producing horses—it’s a day-to-day thing, and it requires a lot of patience, but I think that that’s the most beautiful part of our sport.”

Right behind Bluman, Adrienne Sternlight (USA) claimed second place with a time of 53.15 seconds riding Faquitol-S (Verdi TN x Carolus II), a 16-year-old Dutch-bred gelding owned by Starlight Farms. Rounding out the podium at 54.16 seconds was Chloe Reid (USA) and her own Crossover 4 (Cascadello I x Chacco-Blue), a 13-year-old Hannovarion gelding. 

With some successful rounds at the 1.55m level under their belt already, Bluman plans to bring the mare down a notch while they prepare to tackle the rest of the season. “This is a year of evolving and learning, doing different things, traveling for the 1st time to Europe and possibly jumping in the major leagues. She’s got a lot of good things to do and to grow into.”