Illuster van de Kampert Returns as Young Rider Schoolmaster

Dressage

U.S.A.

Benjamin Ebeling's Under 25 ride Illuster van de Kampert has moved on as a schoolmaster for American young rider Grace Maree Lotsikas.

lluster van de Kampert is an 18-year old Belgian warmblood gelding by Spielberg out of Sabina van de Kampert (by Contango x Wendekreis). He is bred by Eddy Schuurmans, head of dressage of the BWP studbook.

From Belgium to the U.S.A.

Illuster had no significant sport career in Belgium but gained the spotlight after he sold to the U.S.A.

In the spring of 2016 German horse dealer Jochen Arl sold Illuster to New York based Sasha Cutter. The horse had been in training with Portuguese Maria Pais do Amaral where Cutter discovered him.

She allocated the ride on the dark bay to California based Shannon Peters. They made their show debut at national small tour level in Las Vegas in January 2017. She rode him at six more shows in the spring and early summer that year.

In the autumn on 2017 Illuster moved to the East Coast to David Marcus' yard in Wellington, Florida, as the owner wanted to be more involved. Marcus rode the horse at two national shows at small tour level, one in November 2017 and one in February 2018.

Benjamin Ebeling

Officially owned by the company Nuvolari Holding LLC, Illuster sold as a new ride for Benjamin Ebeling, who had been competing Behlinger at international Young riders level at the time.

The new duo debuted internationally in January 2019 in Wellington at Under 25 level but one week later dropped to young riders level. They went to Europe and showed in Compiegne and Hagen before moving back up to U25 level at the CDI Leudelange. The pair remained at U25 level through 2020.

In 2021 Ben and Illuster first tackled the medium tour in Wellington before settling for the senior Grand Prix division. They represented the U.S.A. at the FEI Nations Cups in Wellington, Rotterdam, and Aachen. Illuster struggled with confidence issues in the piaffe and the horse was retired or withdrawn from a test on several occasions, and once eliminated.

Their last shows were at medium tour level in Wellington and Ocala in February 2024.

Schoolmaster

Illuster will now continue his sport career under Grace Maree Lotsikas, who trains with Ebeling.

"I've been riding Illuster and training with Ben for about 2 months now," Grace told Eurodressage. "I think it's a really special experience for me- he's had such a storied career with Ben and is a well trained schoolmaster for the Prix St. George and Young Rider division. I'm excited for him to get back in the show arena, I can tell he's ready."

The 21-year old Lotsikas debuted internationally as a junior rider at the CDI Lexington in May 2023. She rode Siobhan Byrne's Hanoverian Wackenheim (by Worldly x Westwall) at the time. After a three year break from CDI showing she planned to return in March 2026 as a young rider at the CDI Wellington but withdrew her own Dutch warmblood Kartouche (by Toto Jr x Dayano) from the show. Grace and Kartouche has been competing nationally at third, fourth and Young rider level in 2025.

Lotsikas, who has Greek roots, has been studying Communications and Equine Science at the University of Maryland. She has decided to stay in Wellington through the summer to train with Ebeling.

"I’m currently completing my coursework online through the University of Maryland, which allows me to continue my education while pursuing my riding goals," said Grace. "I have just two semesters remaining until I finish my degree."