Decorated German young rider Luca Collin has started a new chapter in her career, moving from Hagen to Gestüt am Wiesengrund in Velbert and switching trainers.
The 20-year old is originally from Düsseldorf and has worked with Jochen Bender, Isabell Werth, and Christoph Koschel in the past.
Descolari
Collin achieved her first major career successes aboard the now 12-year old Hanoverian stallion Descolari (by Desperados x Weltmeyer), which they bought in 2018 after Isabell Werth showed him in the Nurnberger Burgpokal.
Coached by Jochen Bender, Collin and Descolari made their international show debut as a junior pair at the 2019 CDIO-JR Hagen.
In 2020 they made it onto the German team for the European Young Riders Championships in Pilisjasfalu (HUN), where they won team gold and finished fifth and sixth individually. They finished the season with the German Young Riders Champion's title.
In 2021, they had their highlight year, so far, winning the Preis der Besten and winning team silver and individual bronze at the 2021 European Young Rider Championship in Oliva Nova, Spain. They renewed their German Young Riders Champion's title.
To Hagen
In the late summer of 2021 Collin moved to Hof Kasselmann, where she got training from Christoph Koschel.
Luca competed Descolari in the young riders' division at the 2021 CDIO Aachen, hosted in September 2021 due to corona and the Oympics/Europeans. There she was third and fifth. In 2022 they did not show internationally, and only recorded a few national starts between May and June, including finishing 11th in the Preis der Besten in Warendorf, where the first German Young Riders' team selection trial took place.
At Hof Kasselmann, the Collin family bought Under 25 hopefuls, Budhi and Bonamour. Budhi was briefly shown by Luca in 2021 after which Nicole Wego took back the ride in 2022. With Bonamour she is yet to make her show debut.
Collin has been actively campaigning the 11-year old Oldenburg Stardust (by Sir Donnerhall II x Escudo) and with the Oldenburg mare Verona Diamond (by Vivaldi x Don Diamond) she won silver at the 2021 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.
On the Move
Collin has started a new chapter in her career by moving to Thomas Schmitz' Gestut am Wiesengrund in Velbert, located between Dusseldorf and Essen.
"I have a stable alley for my horses at Gestüt am Wiesengrund," Luca confirmed to Eurodressage. "I am back in training with Jochen Bender and Isabell Werth."
Collin will be focusing on national showing the rest of the year in preparation of a relaunch in 2023. After a holiday in Wellington, Florida, last winter, the Collin family decided to buy a yard there as business investment and possible future winter base, but Luca said that the 2023 Global Dressage Festival is probably not in the cards.
"We are focussing on the German championships with Descolari and with Bonamour we are planning to compete in local shows," she told Eurodressage "We want to have it as good as we can before we compete. And really use the time we have to hopefully get a good start in the U25 class next year. This (is) also why I will probably not go to Wellington this upcoming winter season."
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Bonamour Sold to Luca Collin as Under 25 Hopeful
PSI Auction Horse Budhi Sold to Luca Sophia Collin
Luca Sophia Collin Moves to Hof Kasselmann
Loxley's Lovely Sold to Luca Sophia Collin
Descolari Sold to German Junior Luca Sophia Collin