In Japan there is a amulet called Daruma which could seem like just another decorative object. He has no arms or legs, he is round and his expression is serene. This apparently simple figure hides one of the most powerful metaphors that exist about planning, perseverance and commitment to a project. The Daruma is designed not to stay on the ground: when it falls, it always gets up. Not because it doesn’t stumble, but because it is designed to move forward.
Daruma is not bought finished. It begins. Tradition states that, when someone sets an important goal, one of their eyes is painted. That gesture is not superstition or folklore, it is a declaration of intentions. Painting the first eye means assuming a purpose, accepting the effort it entails and committing to a path that will be long and demanding.. The second eye is only completed when the objective has been met.
In the equestrian world, this symbolism is natural. No horse is built in weeks and no pairing reaches the high level without time, planning, corrections and mutual trust. Horse riding is a sport of long processes. Like Daruma, progress is not always immediately visible.
In the Aachen World Equestrian Games 2026the Spanish equestrian needs its own Daruma. You need to set a clear and shared purpose: arrive well prepared, structured and competitive to the most important event of the year. It is not about generating unrealistic expectations, but about building a serious project, with a medium-term vision and with our feet resting on the stirrups of reality.
The Olympic disciplines require that: rigorous planning, an overview and a roadmap that does not depend on impulses or last-minute solutions. Painting the first eye of the equestrian Daruma involves organizing calendars, defining priorities, coordinating technical teams and working with a clear idea of where you want to go.
In Show Jumpthe majority discipline in our country, the raw material exists. There is talent, horses and results that invite optimism. Álvaro González de Zárate has closed the year competing at a high level in the five-star London, backed by Armando Trapote who has given him a top-level horse and who, together with “Tornado VS” and the rest of his stable, continues to be synonymous with regularity and international competitiveness. The last World Cup held in La Coruña once again showed that there is a level. Added to them Mariano Martínez Bastidathe best-ranked Spaniard in the international ranking, in addition to having the RFHE with a base of emerging riders. In Obstacle Jumping, Daruma is already on the table. It needs to be painted with planning, continuity and well-understood ambition.
The Classic at home It also offers an exciting scenario if the work is done methodically. The arrival of Dutch coach Rien van der Schaft brings international experience and a structured vision of high performance. Names? Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Borja Carrascosa, José García Mena or Alejandro Asencio. There are enough horses, knowledge and basis to build a coherent project if you work with continuity and judgment.
In CComplete Horse Riding Coursethe challenge is greater. The international level is very high and the depth of the squad is more limited. But even here the Daruma makes sense. Setting a realistic goal, working from now on and aiming for more than just individual participations should be the starting point. The illusion exists; The challenge is to transform it into structure, planning and time.
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