In charge of the small tour classes at the 2013 CDI-W Lipica on 24 - 26 May 2013, Luxembourg's Sascha Schulz impressed the judges on his two Prix St Georges horses, Sacre Coeur and Florieux, leaving the CDI with a total of three wins and one second.
"My results in Lipica proved that it was, for me, the most succesful CDI I ever had," Schulz told Eurodressage. "It was particularly gratifying for me because it was the first international start with my own 8 year-old horse Sacrė Coeur in the small tour."
Taking out the top two spots in the Prix St Georges, Sacre Coeur finished in the lead on 69.895% just above Sascha's other horse Florieux on 67.316%. However that was just the beginning of Sascha's successful weekend, as Sacre Coeur also took first spot in the Intermediaire I with 68.684%, leaving Florieux open to take home first in the Inter I kur on 66.050%.
Purchasing Sacre Coeur as a 4 year-old at the Hanoverian Elite Auction in Verden, Schulz chose this son by Sir Donnerhall x Pik Bube because he is a very active and friendly horse with very expressive paces. "Sometimes he is a bit cheeky and cocky but this makes him all the more endearing for me," said Schulz. Sascha was pleasantly surprised that this youngster with the big trot already shows a high ability for piaffe and passage. The rider feels he has it all to become an international Grand Prix horse.
The second time he has competed at the CDI Lipicia, Sascha was happy to return and was again pleased with the organization and, of course, the results. "I like this show, particularly because it is a beautiful area with good footing and the people there are really very friendly," he said in praise of the Lipica venue.
Starting his dressage career at age 9 in Göppingen near Stuttgart, Sascha kept his passion alive whilst simultaneously attaining a qualification in banking. Later he moved to Rahden in North-Germany, where he worked for Wolfram and Brigitte Wittig for six year to become a certified professional dressage rider. In 2000 Schulz moved with his partner Christofh Umbach to Luxembourg and the pair started their own equestrian business.
"Christof is my daily trainer but I also work with our national trainer Christoph von Daehne. We are a very good team and our aim is to work according to the classical training scale," Schulz explained. "For me it's very important to work a horse through his entire body and let his personality shine through in the work. That is also why all of our horses can run free, as we let them out onto the field when the weather is ok. A horse can only be successful and shiny when it is happy!"
With eight horses currently in training, Sascha currently had a strong string of small tour horses; two of them which he owns himself. "My goal with these horses for 2013 is to have good results at the CDI in Perl in July, where Chistof is involved in the organisation. At Perl I hope to ride Sacrė Coeur in the Nürnberger Burgpokal, as well as Florieux and complete the Freestyle in the small tour.”
Also looking forward to riding at the Luxembourg championship, Sascha will have a very convenient trip to that competition, given that it is being hosted at his own stable. "My goal for the future is to compete Sacrė Coeur next year in Grand Prix and hopefully take him to Germany for the Louisdor-Cup for young Grand Prix horses," he said about his long term goals.
By Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Sascha Schulz
Scores 2013 CDI-W Lipica
Handsome and Sir Hawk Win 2012 Trierweiler Bundeschampionate Qualifier
Sacre Coeur and Furstengruss Win 2010 Bundeschampionate Qualifier in Uberherm
Hanoverian Riding Horses Selected for 2009 Bundeschampionate
