About Me

Sarah Sjoholm-Patience International Grand Prix Dressage Rider, British Horse Society Accredited Coach and British Dressage Para Coach and Trainer

International Grand Prix dressage rider, Sarah Sjoholm-Patience

World class rider, trainer and coach, passionate about developing horses and riders to reach their full potential. German trained, her sights are firmly set on competing at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games.

Sarah turned pro at 23 and has worked for and been trained by world class riders and coaches and has build an impressive resume over the years both in and out of the saddle.

As well as coaching others, Sarah is passionate about continuing her own education, attending numerous coaching and judging conventions and complementary training in natural horsemanship and show jumping. In addition, she regularly works with top international dressage trainers including Arthur Kottas, Stephen Clark and Miguel Ralao.

About me

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The Beginning

Sarah was born in Canada and did most of her growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia. She moved to Norway at the age of 7 and began riding at 9 years old. She first worked on a dressage yard at 13 years old as a working student to Canadian Olympian Leslie Reid over the summer and then with trainer of several Olympians, Dietrich von Hoppfgarten, at 14 and 15.

Sarah rode her first Prix St George at 14 and at 16 Sarah went on to compete at the 1995 North American Young Riders Championships riding Edward, an Irish Hunter.

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The professional years

At 23 Sarah turned pro and moved to Germany to train with Canadian Olympian Leonie Bramall. Since then she has trained with and worked for the some of the world’s best, working on the yards of Dietrich von Hoppfgarten, Karen Pavicic, Klaus Balkenhol and Leslie Reid. She’s also worked as a rider for Leonie Bramall and German Olympic Gold Medalist Klaus Balkenhol as well as at dressage training yards in Switzerland and California. She has also trained with Arthur Kottas, Stephen Clarke and British Olympian Jennie Loriston Clarke. Sarah has represented Canada in FEI competition at Grand Prix both at home and abroad.

Sjoholm-Patience BHS Registered Instructor, Coach and Dressage Training throughout Sussex and Surrey

Qualifications

British Dressage CC Level 2 Coach

British Dressage Trainer

British Dressage Para Coach

British Horse Society Accredited Coach

Equine Canada Certified Competition Coach       

Centre10 Advanced Coach

Services

Struggling to find the right equine partner? Have you been searching for a while and not found the right horse or you just don’t know where to start looking? Or perhaps you have found a horse you are keen on but want an expert opinion? Sarah offers horse shopping to help you find the horse that is just right for you.
Combining Sarah’s keen eye for positional corrections with the analytical data from the full sized mechanical horse, riders can achieve rapid improvements in balance, co-ordination and skill.
Riders of all levels can work on improving and monitoring their performance on a real-time basis, in a way that easily transfers to the work on their own horse or during their riding lessons.
Clinics with Sarah are an ideal opportunity for those riders unable to access regular coaching with Sarah. This can be for any number of reasons such as location, or for those riders regularly working with other coaches but looking for a different perspective.
Combining years of experience in producing horses from young horses through to competing for Canada on the International Grand Prix circuit, Sarah possesses all the necessary skills and experience needed to get the best out of your horse in the show ring.
Sarah has trained many horses to international dressage level, as well as working successfully with problem horses and turning them into happy and willing athletes. She learned her trade training horses by renowned coaches such as Klaus Balkenhol, and continues to add new skills to her repertoire so she can quickly assess a horse’s level, ability and needs to produce an effective training plan while working with the owners to ensure all elements of the horse’s management are looked after.
Coaching riders of all levels and across all disciplines, from beginners to riding club and high-level competitors, Sarah is passionate about getting the best out of the combination placed before her.
Sarah is also one of the few Para-dressage coaches in the region.

The Team

Some words from my beautiful clients

Click on the names to read the full testimonial

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