Sabine Petra Anna Lacrimosa Maria Rijssenbeek

Date of Birth July 11, 1955
Nationality: Dutch
Languages spoken: Dutch, English, and German
Address: 7925 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85704
Phone: 520-551-4150

 

Sabine is the Head Instructor at Blue Banner Farm in Tucson, Arizona. Sabine and her clients attend shows around the United States from Tucson, Arizona to Sacramento, California. Sabine holds an International Trainer’s Passport (Level 3) from the Netherlands and has more than 30 years experience as a rider and trainer of sport horses. She trained with Piet Oothout (trainer of the Dutch National Team for the 1984 Olympics) and Henk van Bergen (Train of the Silver Medal Dutch Team at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992). Sabine was short-listed for the Moscow Olympics and has trained several Olympic horses and a number of horses that have successfully competed in Dutch National Championships.

S.R. Dressage has clients around the world and throughout the United States. Sabine teaches riders from the training level through Grand Prix Dressage. Her emphasis on Classical Dressage, personality, and ability to truly teach the rider makes her a wonderful instructor. Besides Dressage, Sabine also trains many of her clients in Show Jumping. When Sabine isn’t at home training, riding, or instructing, she also travels to conduct clinics for equestrians of all levels.  She has been featured at many top clinics working alongside international trainers.
Sabine’s large network of horse facilities and trainers around the world has made a niche for her in finding spectacular horses to bring back to the United States. Sabine knows what type of horses will work for each rider and can find a suitable horse whether it is here in the United States, or in Europe. Once she finds a suitable horse for a rider she is able to prepare each horse to work with that rider. Many horses in Europe are used to a style of riding that is different from the style of riding in the United States. Sabine can make the transition for both horse and rider seamless as they begin their partnership together. Sabine also enjoys beginning young horses herself and can be seen at many horse shows riding alongside her clients.
WORK EXPERIENCE:

United States:
August 2007-Present – Head Trainer of M2Sporthorses in Tucson, AZ and Blue Banner Farm in Tucson, AZ
• Instructor of Dressage up to the Grand Prix level
• Instructor of Show Jumping
• Clinician around the United States including the Horse Expo in Sacramento, CA
• Coach of United States Para-Equestrian Rider competing at F.E.I. CPEDI3*
• Shows multiple horses from Green horses to Grand Prix in Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Texas
• Trains and shows horses that are for sale
• Rides at the Grand Prix level
• Specialized in buying and selling horses from Europe

The Netherlands:
1985-2007-Self Employed Trainer, Instructor, and Clinician
• Dressage instructor at all levels for national and international competition
• Trainer of Dressage horses up to Grand Prix level
• Horse Rehabilitation
• Clinician
• Maintained an International Trainer’s Passport

1982-1984 – Manager/Trainer Utrechtse Manege, Utrecht, Holland
• Managed and Trained over 100 Dressage Horses at all levels

1978-1982 -Manager/Trainer Hippisch Centrum Westland, The Hague, Holland
• Managed and Trained over 140 horses in Dressage and Jumping at all levels
• Short listed for the Dutch Olympic Dressage Team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but horse died of colic two weeks before the Games.

1976-1978 – Assistant Manager/Trainer Hippisch Centrum Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Holland
• Managed and Trained over 70 horses at International Dressage stable
• Trained horses to F.E.I. level at barn owned and led by Henk van Bergen
1975-1976 -Assistant Manager/ Trainer Windsor, Great Britain
• Managed an all-around training stable competing in Eventing, Jumping, and Dressage.
• Instructed at Educational Center for International Students for equestrian from South Africa and U.S.A

EDUCATION:
1978-1988 – Post Graduate- School Piet Oothout Dressage

1973-1975 – Masters Degree- Deurne University, The Netherlands
• All-Around Trainer/Instructor in Dressage and Jumping
• Cum-Laude results in all fields
• Completed a 4-Year study in 2 years
• Worked and trained under Henk van Bergen

**Riding Masters who have shaped Sabine’s equestrian career:

Henk van Bergen:
International Experience includes training and coaching the Dutch Silver Medal winning team at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Coached the Japanese Team for the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. Currently coaches Britain’s Young Rider’s Team. Henk van Bergen currently resides at one of the most beautiful and professional establishments in Europe, Dressage Stable Brakkenstein in Nijmegen, The Netherland. It is at his stables that Sabine Rijssenbeek’s dressage education began in 1973.

Piet Oothout:
Mr. Oothout is found at the basics of many F.E.I. Dressage competitors. Riders and horse owners from all over Europe frequent his renowned dressage stables. In 1984 he trained the Dutch National Team for the Los Angeles Olympics and he has even trained several members of the Dutch Royal family.

---

S.R. Dressage

In 2006 Sabine landed in Phoenix, Arizona to give a clinic at a Dutch breeding facility.  Her impressive background as a rider, manager, and trainer in Holland attracted many competitive equestrians to her clinic. Three months later Sabine was asked back for her second clinic where she met a rider looking for a horse from The Netherlands. It would not be long before Sabine landed in the United States with a horse in hand from the Netherlands and a suitcase to stay for three months in Tucson, Arizona. Sabine became popular for her training skills not only in Arizona but all over the United States including California, Texas, and Minnesota.  Since graduating with a Masters degree from Deurne University in the Netherlands in 1975, Sabine has worked hard managing and training over 400 horses in Great Britain, Holland, and the United States. Her unique skills in both dressage and show jumping have created exciting professional paths for her including teaching a Para-Equestrian Dressage competitor in FEI events.

“What started as three weeks to help train this horse I brought to Arizona from The Netherlands, turned into a three month stay.  I loved Arizona, I was captivated by the equestrians, and I could not resist the horses; Of course I wanted to stay,” noted Sabine.

Before Sabine made her first trip to the United States she obtained over 30 years of experience as a rider and trainer of sport horses.  Sabine has competed in both dressage and show jumping at the international FEI levels in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. She has trained and managed over 400 horses throughout Holland and Great Britain.  Under the tutelage of classical dressage trainers and former Dutch Olympic Team trainers Piet Oothout and Henk van Bergen, Sabine became an expert rider that was short listed for the 1980 Dutch Olympic Dressage Team.  An abrupt bout of colic hit her Olympic horse just before the Games causing Sabine to withdraw from the competition.

After the 1980 Olympics, Sabine began to focus more on her career as a professional trainer.  As more equestrians met Sabine and trained under her, the number of clientele multiplied with equestrians competing throughout the Netherlands from basic level to Grand Prix.  The more equestrians that sought Sabine’s classical dressage training, the more horses Sabine was asked to find for her clients.  Sabine’s extensive knowledge of breeders and horses of Dutch and German bloodlines allows her to excel at seeking and training the correct horse for each client.

“I have always enjoyed being involved with each aspect of our sport including seeking and purchasing a horse for a rider, training a young horse for a new discipline, teaching a rider new skills or fixing bad habits, and even horse rehabilitation,” noted Sabine.

Sabine’s ability to rehabilitate horses has become known by many equestrians and veterinarians. Sabine commented, “It is common for horses to develop fitness problems caused by improper or over training.  I like to work with a veterinarian to create a fitness program that will correct a horse’s muscle imbalance. All horses and riders have their own imbalances whether you’re a Grand Prix rider, a beginner, or a Para-Equestrian.”

Sabine’s positive attitude, ability to adapt to all types of horses, and determination to make each rider and horse their best are what drives her each day. Her long list of accomplishments has attracted equestrians from many parts of the United States and multiple disciplines.

Over the last 30 years Sabine Rijssenbeck has become a world-renowned trainer. Her unique skills and achievements combined with her exemplary attitude have made her irreplaceable. Sabine calls Tucson, Arizona home at S.R. Dressage but travels to California, Texas, Minnesota, and many other states for clinics, horse shows, and other equestrian activities.

Sabine is located in Tucson, Arizona in the winter competition months and California in the summer months and is currently accepting new clients. For more information about S.R. Dressage or to contact Sabine Rijssenbeck please call (520) 551-4150.