About Us
Our Story
The sun burns down onto the forest floor, making today’s training even more demanding. The riders are drenched in sweat, yet they give it their all. They dance around the two ancient trees, just like every Monday and Thursday, keeping them — and the surrounding forest — alive. They are one. A whole. Like Yin and Yang.
Purple blossoms are carried by a warm breeze from the intertwined branches, seeming to merge with the dancing riders. But these are no ordinary riders. No. They are the Guardians of Luscuria — a summer forest that can only be entered with a single blossom from the Lusca Tree.
Purple blossoms are carried by a warm breeze from the intertwined branches, seeming to merge with the dancing riders. But these are no ordinary riders. No. They are the Guardians of Luscuria — a summer forest that can only be entered with a single blossom from the Lusca Tree.
“Together we are one!”
LUSCURIA is an SSD-registered team with a focus on competitions and development.
Competitive SSD Competitions
A focus on competitions, development, and shared goals within the team.
Multiple competitions at the same time.
Participation in multiple competitions is possible, but not mandatory.
A warm and welcoming community
More than just a team — more like a small family built on support and warmth.
Schedule
Practice times
Monday and Thursday at 8:30 PM
Wednesday at 9 PM (Comp Season)
Teamoutfit
Our Outfit
- Brown western hat
- ‘Autumn Academia’ turtleneck sweater in ivory
- Elegant pants/li>
- Walnut-brown gloves from Rex Stamper
- Walnut-brown dressage boots from JVK
Dutch Warmblood (dapple gray).
Horse Details
- Guardian Whisperer’s mane flower / tail flower
- Walnut-brown and gold English bridle with connector from JVK (found under ‘multicolored,’ not under ‘brown’!)”
- alnut-brown dressage saddle from JVK.
- Black western saddle pad
- Pure white leg wraps
weißer Drachenfriese (Keima)
Horse Details
- Guardian Whisperer’s mane flower / tail flower
- Walnut-brown and gold English bridle with connector from JVK (found under ‘multicolored,’ not under ‘brown’!)”
- alnut-brown dressage saddle from JVK.
- Black western saddle pad
- Pure white leg wraps
Ranking
Seed
Everyone must go through the beginner training. There are two versions of the trial period.
Step 1: Orientation meeting
On a day before the first team meeting (before the trial period begins), there will be an introductory meeting where everything important about the team and our system will be explained.
On a day before the first team meeting (before the trial period begins), there will be an introductory meeting where everything important about the team and our system will be explained.
Step 2: Welcome celebration
At your first real team meeting (usually on a Monday), you will be welcomed and we’ll start by playing some fun get-to-know-each-other games together.
At your first real team meeting (usually on a Monday), you will be welcomed and we’ll start by playing some fun get-to-know-each-other games together.
Step 3: Version 1
Beginner training starts at the next meeting (after the welcome party). A structured plan that runs throughout the off-season period (when there is no RR competition).
Beginner training starts at the next meeting (after the welcome party). A structured plan that runs throughout the off-season period (when there is no RR competition).
Step 3: Version 2
If you join the team during the competition season, you can directly participate as an Alt Rider. (Note: We do not plan new members as fixed Alt Riders unless we already see strong skills in you. This allows you to slowly get used to our competition trainings and get a feel for them without feeling overwhelmed. After one month, your trial period will end as usual and you will advance to Seedling.)
If you join the team during the competition season, you can directly participate as an Alt Rider. (Note: We do not plan new members as fixed Alt Riders unless we already see strong skills in you. This allows you to slowly get used to our competition trainings and get a feel for them without feeling overwhelmed. After one month, your trial period will end as usual and you will advance to Seedling.)
After the RR competition, during an off-season phase (when no RR competition is scheduled), the beginner training will begin. By starting the beginner training later, we can first assess your skills — including your strengths and weaknesses — and build the training plan accordingly.
- What is evaluated during the trial period?
- Your behavior within the team
- Duration: 1 month
- Activity at meetings (at least 75% attendance required)
- Activity in calls/chat
- Reliability and commitment
Seedling
You have passed the trial period and can now take the Cherry Blossom test (which takes place every Wednesday or on another agreed day), where all SSD basics are tested. While you are waiting to complete the test, all Seedlings can already join the Forti group on Mondays and Thursdays.
Cherry Blossom
You have passed the test and are now an official member of the Forti group. You can also ride as a Main Rider in non-RR and other competitions and as a Side Rider in RR SSD competitions (occasionally also as a Main Rider).
Cherry Blossom Star
This is a transition rank and indicates that you are in the trial phase for becoming an Elite Rider. There is no specific test for the rank "Apple Blossom". Instead, you must prove yourself in advanced training and have participated in at least two RR competitions as a Side Rider. The following qualities are important:
- Commitment
- Reliability
- Dressage skills
- Activity (at least 75%)
- Your behavior
All of this is very important in order to ride as a Main Rider in RR competitions! Once you have proven your skills to us, you will receive the rank "Cherry Blossom Star".
You will then have the opportunity to participate in your first competition as a Main Rider (Side Rider does not count and you must be a Main Rider for the entire competition!). Only if you meet all the requirements listed above there as well will you advance to the rank "Apple Blossom".
If you do not meet the requirements, you will unfortunately have to return to advanced training and receive the rank "Cherry Blossom" again. We will let you know when you can try again.
Apple Blossom
You have successfully advanced from Cherry Blossom Star to Apple Blossom. From now on you can participate in every competition as a Main Rider and will also be preferentially selected as a Main Rider for RR competitions.
Magnolia
This is our Riding Instructor rank. We have five different types of riding instructors and each of them must pass a test (so there are five tests in total).
- Beginner Instructor
- Advanced Instructor
- Elite Instructor
- Non-RR Competition Instructor
- RR Competition Instructor
Wisteria
This is the owner rank. It is normally not assigned.
Internal Teams
Our team also has 8 smaller internal teams that help the team owners, for example with organizing things, editing pictures, and more.
Media Creator Team
Mentor Team
Event Team
Instructor Team
Quadrille Team
Discord Team
Attendance Team
Organization Team
Organization Team
We have a special team called the Organization Team.
It replaces our leadership and an unlimited number of members can join. It works similar to a government system. Ideas are created either by the Organization Team or by other members and are voted on there. If the vote is positive, the idea is presented to the entire team and voted on again. This way everyone's opinion is heard and treated equally. Even I, as the owner, cannot introduce something without the approval of the Organization Team.
It replaces our leadership and an unlimited number of members can join. It works similar to a government system. Ideas are created either by the Organization Team or by other members and are voted on there. If the vote is positive, the idea is presented to the entire team and voted on again. This way everyone's opinion is heard and treated equally. Even I, as the owner, cannot introduce something without the approval of the Organization Team.
Leaders of the Internal Teams
Each internal team has two leaders who are responsible for making sure the internal team runs smoothly. They also introduce new members to the internal team and explain what the team does and what the expectations are. The leaders of the internal teams have their own channel where they occasionally discuss how things are going within their teams or if there are any problems.
About our Lessons
Competition Training
Comp & Off Season
We have what is called a Comp Season and an Off-Season phase.
Comp Season
This only applies to RR competitions from SSD. During this time we have competition training three times a week and it is mandatory for everyone in the team. We have a yearly plan where our Comp and Off-Season phases are listed and also which SSD competitions we will participate in.
Off Season
During this phase all other lessons take place:
Beginner lessons
Advanced lessons
Elite lessons
During the Off-Season you only have two mandatory meetings per week.
Other competitions that are not RR competitions from SSD take place alongside the normal meetings. The days and times are arranged between the members who signed up for them.
Comp Season
This only applies to RR competitions from SSD. During this time we have competition training three times a week and it is mandatory for everyone in the team. We have a yearly plan where our Comp and Off-Season phases are listed and also which SSD competitions we will participate in.
Off Season
During this phase all other lessons take place:
Beginner lessons
Advanced lessons
Elite lessons
During the Off-Season you only have two mandatory meetings per week.
Other competitions that are not RR competitions from SSD take place alongside the normal meetings. The days and times are arranged between the members who signed up for them.
Beginner Lessons
What are beginner lessons in our team?
We teach the knowledge of the basics and alignments, but not combinations of the basics.
For example: Fate, I-Curl, Dodge → these are taught as transition figures (speed and direction changes). You do not need to know the assigned names.
With the beginner lessons we specifically prepare you for competition training. We promise you that you will definitely learn something new :)
We teach the knowledge of the basics and alignments, but not combinations of the basics.
For example: Fate, I-Curl, Dodge → these are taught as transition figures (speed and direction changes). You do not need to know the assigned names.
With the beginner lessons we specifically prepare you for competition training. We promise you that you will definitely learn something new :)
Advanced Lessons
During advanced meetings you must be at least Seed rank or higher. New Seeds are always considered and slowly introduced to our advanced meetings.
What happens there?
The focus is on technique training and small combinations of different figures. You will learn to ride independently and think ahead. Of course the basics will also be strengthened further, as well as alignments, spacing, tips and tricks on how to keep track of other riders and much more.
What happens there?
The focus is on technique training and small combinations of different figures. You will learn to ride independently and think ahead. Of course the basics will also be strengthened further, as well as alignments, spacing, tips and tricks on how to keep track of other riders and much more.
Elite Lessons
For Elite meetings you must be at least Cherry Blossom rank.
During these meetings everything you learned in advanced lessons is expected and applied.
You will learn and ride complex parts from existing competition quadrilles. These are not full quadrilles. Instead, you focus on individual parts or figures and learn to execute them more quickly.
In short, it is similar to competition training, but you learn individual parts of quadrilles and improve your skills through them.
What is it for and when does it take place?
Elite training takes place every Thursday and helps us progress much faster and more efficiently during competition season so that we can ride more complex figures without major problems (and occasionally also on Wednesdays) → during the Off Season.
During these meetings everything you learned in advanced lessons is expected and applied.
You will learn and ride complex parts from existing competition quadrilles. These are not full quadrilles. Instead, you focus on individual parts or figures and learn to execute them more quickly.
In short, it is similar to competition training, but you learn individual parts of quadrilles and improve your skills through them.
What is it for and when does it take place?
Elite training takes place every Thursday and helps us progress much faster and more efficiently during competition season so that we can ride more complex figures without major problems (and occasionally also on Wednesdays) → during the Off Season.
Free Time Meetings
These are meetings that take place outside the normal team meeting times. They are NOT mandatory. We usually do not practice dressage there (unless it is fun dressage). Instead we play other games or do fun things in SSO such as Capture the Flag or simply level and chat.
What is it for?
It helps members get to know each other better.
How are the days chosen?
Before a vote for possible days is posted in #๑⊱𝐀𝐧𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, suggestions are first discussed within the Event Team.
When are the days posted on the info board?
At the beginning of the month or at the end of the previous month.
What if I have ideas or wishes for a meeting?
You can send them to us privately!
What is it for?
It helps members get to know each other better.
How are the days chosen?
Before a vote for possible days is posted in #๑⊱𝐀𝐧𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓, suggestions are first discussed within the Event Team.
When are the days posted on the info board?
At the beginning of the month or at the end of the previous month.
What if I have ideas or wishes for a meeting?
You can send them to us privately!