August 21, 2022 
A.I.M United’s Daniel Bluman has history with Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) Toronto, especially the CSI5* Grand Prix.
After winning the MLSJ Grand Prix of Toronto at Angelstone Events in Ontario, Canada, in 2021 with Ubiluc, he had a title to defend on Sunday. Yet Bluman didn’t feel nervous under the added pressure, despite the $214,300 Kubota CSI5* Grand Prix being stacked with some of the best combinations on the tour. Instead, he said game on, and so did his horse.
“She understands the game. She’s very smart, very relaxed and she knows what she has to do. And she enjoys it,” said Bluman of 11-year-old Gemma W.
The pair were last to go in the jump-off, and they used the position to their strategic advantage, because nobody plays the game in Toronto better than Bluman at the moment.
“Having to go last again in the jump off always gives you sort of an advantage, especially when you have a horse that can actually go fast and has a lot of tools in her box. I had the chance to watch several jump
before me. I went early again to watch Kent because I think he’s riding the fastest horse [Creedance] in the class. Lucky for all of us, he had one down,” said Bluman.
The pair also won the first 1.50m CSI5* class on Thursday in the $137,700 CSI5* Cabana Coast, a class Bluman also captured in 2021.
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It’s undoubtedly a highlight in Bluman’s successful year with the Gemma, who stepped in as top horse when his most seasoned parter, 14-year-old Ladriano, needed time to rehab after an injury.
Gemma W started placing in 5* classes in 2021, finishing top ten in Wellington, Windsor and Aachen before winning her first 5* 1.50m ranking class in Greenbrier. It’s been a steady upward trend since. Yet Bluman’s known that he could rely on Gemma ever since she joined his stable as a five-year-old. From the moment he saw her he knew she was a standout.
“I met her at the end of her five year old year, so almost six years ago. I loved her right away. She was bred by Alan Waldman in Holland and she was just special. When I saw her, there was just a connection right away. And I have believed in her since the beginning,” said Bluman.
Believing in a horse from the beginning, and also being the one there from the beginning is how Bluman likes to run his stable. So, he’s willing to put the time in to get top results.
“Every time you produce a horse, it’s a long, long time. There’s good rounds, there’s bad rounds, there’s good days or bad days. In her case, most rounds were good. From the beginning, she was jumping around,” Bluman reflected.
“When you really love a horse like that and you’ve been together for such, such a long time, they become part of your family. That’s the case with most of my horses.”
His horses are part of the MLSJ family now too, especially Toronto.
