Lee and Sarah Lockman-Tubman returned to Europe in the spring of 2023, for a second season to train, compete, and to watch, listen and learn. They have experienced the “game changing” effects of what it means to be in the heart of the international dressage environment.

“Each show is unique in its own way and poses certain challenges which we would not get at home, ” explained Lee. “The competition is fierce and everyone shows up to try to win. This makes you raise your bar of training, precision and focus. You can’t help but get better.”

Sarah knew what to expect, and jumped in head first at Wiesbaden 4* CDI, checking off another item on her bucket list: to ride in front of the castle with First Apple. She was tough on herself, and the little mistakes that affected what she felt could have been a better score, but they held their own, finishing in the top 10, in a large and competitive class shared with several Olympians. “We have the first show in Europe this season under our belt and now it’s onward and upward!”

Next stop will be at Hagen for the 3*, in preparation for Aachen where they will be joining their American Team, as a member of the 5* Nations Cup .

“Most of us US riders do mostly our own thing when in Europe but when the US Team gets together for Nations Cups or even some US riders end up at the same show there is a great sense of team spirit that is so special.”

Onward To Aachen and the Nations Cup

Selected to be a part of the US Team for the Aachen Nation’s Cup 5*, Sarah and Lee are looking forward to joining their teammates Anna Buffini, Susie Dutta and Alice Tarjan. “The US riders do mostly our own thing when in Europe,” added Lee, “but when the US Team gets together for Nations Cups or we end up at the same show, there is a great sense of team spirit that is so special”

We are very proud to be wearing our USA gear over here in Europe. There is a lot of country pride in doing so and this has always been a dream of Sarah’s to represent the USA internationally at the highest level.

The Strategy, Plan and Goals

“It’s important to be able to just focus on Sarah and her competition horses, explained Lee, on why they made the choice to invest in another trip to Europe after a busy and productive season in Florida and California.

“Last year was a huge game changer not only competing but being able to watch some of the best in the world train and compete on different horses of all shapes and sizes and talents. They present each horse to the best of its ability and really squeeze the lemon out of each test ridden.

Always on the lookout for Sarah for new and upcoming horses and owners, the Tubmans are focused on putting together a  string of horses to develop to Grand Prix. “Being over here in Europe you are exposed to many opportunities that you may not be if you were not here.” Already they have a couple exciting horses that could be great candidates and are always sourcing horses for clients, from top young horses to Grand Prix.

Learning By Osmosis

Based at Gestuet-Schafhof in Kronberg Germany owned by the  Linsenhoff family. “Klaus Martin Rath,  Mattias Rath and their team have been so welcoming and supportive. It has been a pleasure to be at such an incredible facility,” added Lee.

According to the current plan their last show will be where they  are stabled in Kronberg at Schafhof Gestuet, before making the moves to head back to the USA.

Sarah Lockman Dressage