Text © World of Showjumping

Israel’s Daniel Bluman is taking over the reins on 2019 World Cup Champion Alamo (Ukato x Equador), a horse previously seen under Steve Guerdat. The 12-year-old gelding returned to his owner Gerardo Pasquel Mendez at the beginning of the year, and the Mexican rider has been showing him both on home soil and in the US during 2020.

With Guerdat in the saddle, Alamo won the 2018 Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final in Geneva as well as the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg. The two also won five-star Grand Prix classes in Helsinki and Waregem during their time together. 

This weekend, Bluman makes his debut with Alamo – at the American Gold Cup at Traverse City. 

“For the last couple of months, Gerardo Pasquel Mendez has been training with me. As he has to focus more on his business, I was asked if I was interested in taking over the ride on Alamo,” Bluman explains to World of Showjumping. “Alamo has already done some incredible things in the sport, with one of my biggest idols – Steve Guerdat. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to ride him. I of course feel very lucky to have Alamo on the team, especially seeing that we enter an Olympic year in 2021 – it means I have another horse that can step up and do the really big classes.”

“Since I have trained Alamo over the last few months, I have already gotten to know him quite well and I feel comfortable about our debut this weekend. I will take it slow and jump some Medium Tour classes – then progress from there,” Bluman says.