German young rider Selina Söder has received the ride on Luca Michels' number one horse, Rendezvous.
Rendezvous is a 12-year old Rhinelander by Riccione out of Why Not (by Weltmeyer x Airport). He is bred at Gestut Babiacki and owned by Stefan Michels.
The bay began his competition career as a 4-year old in 2012 under Sarah Erlbeck. In 2013 and 2014 Frank Freund and Sven Hohwieler took over the reins briefly, while in 2015 Lena Waldmann began showing the horse and brought it to small tour level.
JR-YR Horse for Luca Michels
In the spring of 2016 junior rider Luca Michels began competing Rendezvous, making his show debut at a local show in Mönchengladbach, followed by his CDI debut in Saumur, France, in April. They tried for the German team and although placing first and second at the last 2016 selecion trial in Hagen, they were not selected. At the 2016 German Junior Championships they were 14th.
In 2017 Luca and Rendezvous made the transition to Young Riders' level and competed in Lier, Nieuw en St. Joosland and again at the qualifier in Hagen, where he placed first, second and third again. His efforts were rewarded this team and the pair got nominated on the German team for the 2017 European Young Riders Championships in Roosendaal, where they won team gold and placed fifth in the individual test, yet did not make it to the kur as fourth German rider. He also won bronze at the 2017 German Young Riders Championships.
Michels did not compete internationally at all in 2018 and only returned to the CDI ring two years later for the 2019 CDI Hagen in his last year as a young rider. It was his last competition start in his career.
New Ride for Söder
Luca Michels has put his riding career on the back burner and is studying sport psychology at Munster university.
His horse, Rendezvous, has been passed on to 20-year old Selina Söder. She began her international dressage career on ponies in 2014 (Schapur) and made her international show debut in 2019 on Scuderia.
Based in Bavaria, Söder will now also campaign Rendezvous, who stays in the ownership of the Michels family.
"I have the great possibility to ride this amazing horse," Selina confirmed to Eurodressage.
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Rendezvous
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