Daniel Bluman & Apardi compete at Jumping International La Baule, May, 2016.
The Federación Ecuestre de Colombia has confirmed its selection for show jumping riders for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Colombia is allocated two individual places for show jumping, and from its short list of six horse and rider pairs, the Federación has selected:
Rene Lopez on the 12 year old Holsteiner gelding Con Dios III (Colman x Romino) owned by Rene Lopez, Bertrand Darier and Vincent Goudin.
Daniel Bluman on the 13-year-old La Silla mare Sancha LS (Chin Chin x Polydor) that is owned by Daniel and Steven Bluman and Camilo Robayo
OR
the 11-year-old KWPN stallion Apardi (Corland x Kannan) that is owned by Ricardo and Alberto Simhon, Camilio Robayo and Steven Bluman.
“The paperwork will be submitted with Sancha, but both horses are in an amazing form right now, and we’re going to wait until the maximum time to make our decision,” Bluman commented. Sancha LS was Bluman’s partner at the 2012 London Olympic Games, and the pair finished within the top 20 in their Olympic debut.
“This would be Sancha’s last championship for sure, so that is one reason to take her, but Apardi is going brilliantly at the moment also. It is a good problem to have!” Bluman added.
Short-listed Colombian rider Roberto Teran, who turned heads during a fantastic winter season aboard Woklahoma, was unable to step up to fill one of the individual places when Woklahoma incurred a minor injury setback during travel to Europe. With the mare now recovered and expected to return to top form this fall, Teran and Woklahoma will now target the HITS Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix this September.
Rio 2016 will be Rene Lopez’ first Olympic Games. Last year at the Pan American Games in Caledon, Ontario, he and Con Dios III helped Colombia to a 5th place team finish.