Lodovico in future under Beatrice Hoffrogge

With Lena Haßmann in the saddle, Lodovico was Bundeschampion of five-year-old dressage horses in 2025. Beatrice Hoffrogge is now responsible for his further training. The goal is clear: Lodovico is to become one for the big arena. This is why his new owners bought him, as Hoffrogge explains: “The long-term goal is Grand Prix.”

Long-standing sponsors

Lodovico’s new owners are Baroness Amely and Baron Wolf von Buchholtz. They have been Hoffrogge’s sponsors for many years. The connection dates back to the time when the 36-year-old was still called Buchwald and worked as a rider in Isabell Werth’s stables. Back then, the von Buchholtzes entrusted Beatrice with their Grand Prix horse Daily Pleasure as a trainer, as Hoffrogge had no experience at this level to date. After Daily Pleasure, they gave her the now eleven-year-old Dante Weltino son Dancelli to train. Beatrice trained Dancelli from the age of three up to advanced level. They have already achieved S* and S** placings and are now on their way to Grand Prix level.

One day, the couple approached her and said they would like to invest in a talented horse again, Beatrice reports. This time it was to be a horse that was no longer very young, as big as possible and preferably not a stallion. Now Lodovico doesn’t necessarily have the frame that the De Niro son Daily Pleasure once had and he is also a stallion, but all the other requirements fitted.

Discovered as a two-year-old

The Oldenburg Lord Europe son Lodovico was born in 2020 at Zuchtgemeinschaft Wieghaus-Vorwerk GbR. Two years later, Gestüt Schafhof presented him at the Westphalian main licensing in Münster-Handorf, where the black stallion, clearly influenced by his sire, was declared 1st Reserve Champion. He already caught Beatrice Hoffrogge’s eye back then. They would also have liked to have him for the stallion station, but the winning bid at the auction went to buyers from Thailand for 401,000 euros at the time. However, Schafhof was always registered as Lodovico’s owner and it was here that he received his basic training.

Lena Haßmann only took over the riding of her future Bundeschampion in mid-2025, a few months before Warendorf. That was obviously not a problem. Of the eight competitions they competed in together, they won seven. The only time they didn’t come top was in the qualifier for the Bundeschampionat Final in Warendorf, where they “only” came fourth – only to take the title two days later.

Beatrice Hoffrogge had never completely lost sight of the stallion’s career. “I saw him in a test with Lena (Haßmann) and still thought that he had become a really cool horse.” One that would move to Dorsten with her a few months later. But she didn’t know that at the time.

Mediation by Isabell Werth

Beatrice Hoffrogge still regularly visits her former boss Isabell Werth for training. She took the opportunity to tell her that she was looking for a talented young horse together with the von Buchholtz couple. Isabell Werth had just been shown a video by Klaus-Martin Rath showing a talented young horse from the Schafhof that they wanted to part with – Lodovico. “I know him,” Beatrice said. And she would have liked to have had him three years earlier. So a small cavalcade set off for Lienen to try out Lodovico with Lena Haßmann. They were not disappointed, on the contrary.

“We all thought he was really great! I sat on him and thought, “Wow, that’s great!” Beatrice describes her first time with Lodovico and enthuses: “Beautiful, rideable, intelligent, he has it all. He not only has three outstanding basic gaits, but also an incredible amount of collection potential. You can already test that in a playful way.”

Shortly before Christmas, she was able to bring Lodovico to Dorsten.

Plans for the future

Beatrice does not yet have any concrete plans for the coming season. She does want to compete in a show with Lodovico, but whether he goes to the World Championships or defends his title at the Bundeschampionat is of secondary importance. “The goal is the Grand Prix. We’ll take whatever fits on the way there because it’s fun, but it’s not a must,” she emphasizes. In the spring, she wants to see where they stand and then consider what the rest of the season might look like.

As a stallion on a farm with a breeding station, they could also take the black stallion into breeding. But that is not planned for the time being. “I want him to concentrate fully on the sport for now,” says Hoffrogge. “There are two hearts beating in my chest. As a trainer and rider, it makes things a lot easier (if the stallions don’t cover). But I have heard from many breeders who are very enthusiastic about the foals.” And of course, as a stallion breeder who makes a living from it, you think about that too. But the option remains. Lodovico will not be laid. “That leaves us with every possibility that we might put him up again later.”

Eurodressage first reported on the change of rider for Lodovico in December.