In the golden month of October, the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) will once again host a world-class equestrian gala as the 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters kicks off. Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca is set to make his appearance in Beijing. A highly distinctive figure in Italian show jumping, Lorenzo is defined not merely by speed, but by the rhythm control and on-site judgement honed through years of competing at the highest level.

Born and raised in Lecce, Italy, Lorenzo was first placed on a horse by his family at the age of nine, forging an indissoluble bond with equestrian sports ever since. Yet passion alone was never enough to make him a 5-star rider. To fulfill his childhood dream, he has devoted tremendous effort and made countless sacrifices. “Equestrian sport is a great challenge, but so is life. You have to strive every single day to make your dreams come true,” Lorenzo de Luca once said.

Over the past year, he has experienced team victories, competition breaks due to injury, and a triumphant return to the arena. In the 2026 season, he has steadily rebuilt his competitive rhythm across multiple horses and events of varying levels. Renowned for his sharp speed in his early career, he now continues to pursue breakthroughs with mature and steady riding. The career journey of this seasoned Italian rider keeps moving forward.

Lorenzo De Luca

Lorenzo De Luca | A Seasoned Veteran Still Finding Rhythm at the Top Level 

At 39, Lorenzo De Luca is a senior stalwart of Italian show jumping. According to FEI records, he joined the Stieffes stable system in Belgium for training and competition in 2013. After departing in 2021, he moved to a professional stable system in the United Kingdom and teamed up with the group featuring British rider Emily Moffitt. His long-term experience adapting to top-tier stables across different countries and partnering with a wide range of horses has equipped him with extensive expertise in speed classes, jump-offs and team competitions.

He reached a career-high FEI world ranking of 2nd. Official FEI statistics show that since 2010, he has competed in a total of 5,049 international events, partnered with 188 horses, and secured 169 victories. Though no longer at his individual ranking peak, he maintains a high level of international competition attendance. His years of accumulated course reading ability and in-arena experience remain his sharpest competitive assets.

Photo source: Scuderia 1918 Official

2025 Season | A Key Team Member Navigating Injury Setbacks 

For the 2025 season, Lorenzo joined the Valkenswaard United squad. In its line-up announcement, the Global Champions Tour highlighted his experience and composure under pressure as major assets for the team. At the Monaco leg of the Global Champions League in July, he rode a crucial round alongside Belgian rider Gilles Thomas, helping Valkenswaard United claim the leg title. After this event, the team climbed to the top of the standings with 179 points.

Yet the year was not defined only by highlights. The Global Champions Tour later confirmed that Lorenzo was sidelined temporarily by injury in September 2025. British star John Whitaker stepped in as his replacement ahead of the Riesenbeck leg. For a rider who relies on consistent competition to preserve horse‑rider harmony and competitive rhythm, this break disrupted his season and laid the groundwork for his subsequent comeback and re‑partnering process.

Photo source: Scuderia 1918 Official

2026 Season | Ongoing Partnership Work Across Classes, Regaining Competitive Rhythm 

Lorenzo’s 2026 season can best be described as a steady comeback. At the 3‑star international show‑jumping 155cm Grand Prix in Nancy, France in April, he finished seventh. In May he headed to the 5‑star Piazza di Siena horse show in Rome, taking third and fifth place respectively in two 145cm classes. In July at the 4‑star international show‑jumping event in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, he placed tenth in the 145cm class. At the end of August in the 3‑star two‑phase 145cm class at the Stieffel Masters in Brussels, he claimed runner‑up with two clear rounds in 60.57 seconds.

These results span 3‑star, 4‑star and 5‑star international events, across different formats and different horses. His rankings have not risen in a straight line, yet they objectively reflect his process of rebuilding competition volume and horse‑rider partnership after his injury break. For an experienced rider, consistently delivering high‑quality rounds and rebuilding points and confidence carries more weight than a single result that defines a “comeback”.

Photo source: Scuderia 1918 Official

Bird’s Nest Appointment | Poise Paired with Italian Edge 

From regular appearances at Europe’s top events, to taking on critical duties in team competitions, and his gradual return after injury, Lorenzo De Luca’s journey over the past year has been multi‑faceted. Once known for blistering speed and bold course choices, he now combines poise and maturity while retaining the distinctive riding style of Italian riders: the courage to make decisions on key lines, and the skill to adapt his rhythm from one horse to another.

This version of Lorenzo is well worth watching ahead of his Bird’s Nest visit. World rankings cannot fully capture the competitiveness of a seasoned rider. What we look forward to most is how he translates decades of top‑flight experience into in‑arena execution, and whether he can unleash that familiar Italian edge once again amid a strong field of contenders.

The 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters will take place at the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) from 15 to 18 October 2026. We await Lorenzo De Luca’s new challenge in Beijing, where he will bring refined rhythm control and his bold riding style to deliver his signature jumping moments at the Bird’s Nest this autumn.

The 13th Longines Beijing International Equestrian Masters 

Dates: 15‑18 October 2026 

Venue: National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Beijing

Meet the world’s top riders and join us for this equestrian gathering!