Grand Prix rider Lars Ligus takes on the role of groom

This interview is part of HorseGrooms’ ongoing groom interview series, featured throughout the Wellington season in partnership with Wellington International and Paper Horse.

Describing Lars Ligus as a dressage groom is a definite understatement. The 29-year old German was in that role for Friday Night Stars last week at the Global Dressage Festival [GDF]. He won the Lövsta-sponsored groom’s award of $500 for his care and preparation of Verrenberg to win the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle with Frederic ‘aka’ ‘Freddie’ Wandres. But there is so much more to this story.

“I’m like all in one,” said Lars. “I’m Freddie’s trainer. I’m his fiancé. I’m a rider and his groom for the big shows.”

Lars, 29, started with humble beginnings in the big picture of the horse world, learning to ride, at the age of six, at a local riding school in his native Germany. “My family was not horse related. It just was in me from day one,” he said.

Now Lars is entrenched in the top echelons of the dressage world having left school at 15, completed a three-year apprenticeship in southern Germany, before joining the internationally-renowned dressage organization under Hof Kasselman, where he has been based for nine years.

“And that’s when the serious dressage really happened,” said Lars. “Where I could move up the levels to Grand Prix from young horse championships – and now also internationally, being able to represent my country.”

Lars has competed in, and won, two Nations Cups on the German team with Wandres as a teammate. In this instance they help each other, switching roles on the spot. “I am his groom and trainer and then we turn tables and he will help me get the horse ready and train me,” Lars explained.

Lars and Freddie are working companions and by riding each other’s horses, they know their horses “inside out”, Lars said. It is a trait that came in handy this season when Freddie was away from Wellington for two weeks and Lars was charged with prepping Verrenberg in his absence. “That’s a huge benefit that we can both ride each other’s horses whenever it is needed,” said Lars “We both have the same approach when it comes to riding and taking care of them.” 

A precision schedule is applied in the build up to show. “I always make a plan as soon as we have a start time [for the class],” said Lars.“It goes down to the minute when I take the horse out of the stall, when I start brushing him, when I put the saddle on, when I put the double bridle on and when we actually leave for the warm up.”

Watching Freddie compete, Lars said, is far more nerve-wracking than being on the horse in the ring himself. “Once he goes in the ring, I can’t do anything,” he said. But Lars still has a role to play while spectating as Freddie will look to Lars to gauge his performance even before the scores are announced. “After the last halt he immediately looks at me and he already knows in my face and my expression if it’s good enough or if we have to worry,” said Lars. 

The Paris Olympics in 2024 would have likely tested Lars’ nerves. Freddie competed with his leading horse Bluetooth OLD in the iconic setting of the Palace of Versailles and Lars came with him on the journey. “Already being nominated for Paris was super special,” he said. “And then winning team gold… I was just getting goosebumps talking about it. I’m pretty sure Paris 2024 was the most special adventure we’ve ever been on,” 

More memories could be on the cards next week should Lars and Freddie be announced as part of the German team for the CDIO3* Nations Cup at GDF. “I love every moment with the horses,” said Lars. “Even just being here in Wellington and all the people we meet, and the experiences we have, we have to thank the horses for that.”

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