Oliver and Katrin Luze Move from Birkhof to Freiberger Hof

Dressage

Germany

Trainers duo Oliver and Katrin Luze will be moving from stallion station Birkhof to Freiberger Hof to become the new resident trainers for the Baumgürtel family as of 1 January 2021.

The Luzes are replacing Marcus Hermes, who has decided to go independent after six years.

Luzes on a German Tour

Oliver Luze started his professional career working at Gronwohldhof for Herbert and Karin Rehbein. He then became an auction rider in Vechta and a stallion performance tester in the U.S.A, before moving to Tannenhof.

Oliver and his wife Katrin made their claim to fame as trainers at Gestut Tannenhof, where they worked for more than 10 years.

In the winter of 2008 the couple swapped Tannenhof for the Schwiebert's Helenenhof, but left in November 2010. They rented stalls for a while at Dieter Mehrens' yard in Sievershütte, before moving to the Heicke family's Fohlenhof. After a fall-out in October 2013 Luze and Heicke went separate ways.

In December 2013 Oliver and Kati Luze settled for Birkhof in Donzdorf, Germany, where they have assisted the Casper family with the training of the stallions and youngsters for the past seven years.

Freiberger Hof

The departure of Marcus Hermes from Freiberger Hof left a vacant spot for a new coach for daughters Lucie-Anouk and Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel, as well as a head rider.

As of 1 January 2021, that job will be shared by Oliver and Katrin.

"I'm enormously grateful to the Casper family for a great time at Birkhof. Especially the training of their daughter was really fun for me. That is why we are looking forward to this new task at Freiberger Hof," said Oliver.

The Baumgürtel and Luze family are well acquainted as Kati Luze is Lana-Pinou's god mother. Upon the recommendation of coach Wolfram Wittig, Oliver already trained the Freiberger owned horses Schönglanz FH, Glenn Livit FH, and Callas FH.

"For us it's serendipity that Oliver and Kati will take up the training of our daughters and assistant rider Anna Muster," Beatrice Baumgurtel explained. "It's a win-win situation to have such an experienced and professional support for the training of our talented riders and horses."