Frederic Wandres and Lars Ligus are striking out on their own—Hof Kasselmann will soon be without an Olympic champion and a world champion

The Kasselmann Farm has just announced that Frederic Wandres and Lars Ligus are ending their long-standing tenure in Hagen and will be moving to a new location starting January 1, 2027. That will be the Einhaus Estate in Herzlake. There, the two plan to establish a training and competition stable together. They intend to focus on “the long-term development of horses and riders for international competition,” as stated in the Kasselmann Farm’s press release.

For Wandres and Ligus, this marks the end of a major chapter—one that Freddy Wandres, in particular, surely looks back on with a touch of nostalgia. He says: “The Kasselmann Farm has been my sporting home for many years. I am very grateful to the Kasselmann family for their trust, the exceptional horses, and all the opportunities that have come from this. Ulli and Bianca have accompanied me on my journey and played a decisive role in shaping it. Taking the step toward independence is now the natural next step.”

Gold Galore

During his time at the Kasselmann stable, Wandres rose to the top of the world rankings and racked up countless victories—partly because the Kasselmann trading stable kept its top horses.

The horse that first shaped his career was the Hanoverian Duke of Britain. With him, Wandres experienced various “firsts,” including the Louisdor Prize, Grand Prix appearances, and finally her first championship—the 2022 World Championships in Herning, where she won bronze with the team.

Next came Bluetooth OLD, the horse that competed in his first Olympic Games with Wandres and won gold as part of the team. He also won a silver and a gold medal at the European Championships and, most recently, a gold medal at the World Championships in Aachen.

Incidentally, Wandres’ and Ligus’ decision does not mean that Wandres and Bluetooth are now going their separate ways. Bluetooth will be moving to the Einhaus estate, as will the promising young horse Veuve Cliquot, with whom Frederic Wandres won the preliminary trial for the Louisdor Prize finals in Hagen this spring.

The Back-up in the Background

One of the most important factors in Wandres’ success, aside from the horses, is his partner Lars Ligus, who competes at the Grand Prix level himself and served as both groom and trainer for Wandres—alongside the Kasselmann team and national coach Monica Theodorescu. But Lars Ligus didn’t just train Wandres—he also looked after Kasselmann’s clients.

Lars Ligus says: “Frederic and I bring different experiences and strengths to the table, but we share the same vision of how to work with horses and riders. At Gut Einhaus, we have the opportunity to put these ideas into practice together. We are creating a place where individualized training, long-term development, and professional competition come together in an exclusive atmosphere.”

Both sides emphasize that contact will nevertheless continue: “The close contact and the personal and professional exchanges with the Kasselmann family—and especially with François Kasselmann—are very important to us and will therefore continue,” said Wandres and Ligus.

Ullrich Kasselmann sees it similarly: “Of course, there’s a touch of sadness when two people who have been part of our company for many years go their separate ways. But for me, this is exactly what growth is all about. Frederic and Lars have grown both athletically and personally with us and have represented the Kasselmann Farm superbly on many international stages. We wish them both every success, and our doors will always be open to them in the future.”