Sabine Schut-Kery Relocates from L.A. to Toyon Farm in Napa Valley

Dressage

U.S.A.

U.S. A-squad Grand Prix rider Sabine Schut-Kery has left El Campeon Farm in Thousand Oaks, California, to relocate her business at Toyon Farms in Napa Valley.

Schut-Kery was based at El Campeon for 11, years and has now accepted the invitation of her client, the Bonavito family, to move to Toyon Farms.

From LA to Napa

"I moved to Napa two weeks ago," Sabine told Eurodressage. "I have been training Danielle Bonavito for three years now and for them I found their last horse, Fifty Ways to Victory. They bought the beautiful Toyon Farm and invited me. I’ll run my business out of their place."

The German born Schut-Kery is thrilled with the move to the area, which provides for a less harsh climate compared to L.A.

"It was a tough decision to leave, but Napa is so nice," said Sabine. "There is more grass and actually trail riding which I love and missed a lot from my time in Europe. They have redone the footing in the indoor and outdoor and then we spread the old footing on the trails. It’s super nice."

Collaboration with Leslie Waterman and Rancho el Marengo

Schut-Kery has been one of America's top Grand Prix riders on Alice Womble's Hanoverian stallion Sanceo (by Sandro Hit).

She has been highly praised amongst professionals for her classical dressage training skills. When asked if there are any successors lined up for the 14-year old Sanceo, Schut-Kery replied, "I don’t have anything coming, but I’m working hard on it."

Sabine has most recently been collaborating with breeder and horse owner Leslie Waterman, who entrusted her with two rising 4-year olds.

"She sent me two super nice horses and I took them with me to Florida," said Sabine. "The Glamourdale gelding stayed too small for me, so we are selling him, and the San Amour mare, who would make a super small tour horse, got sold. With Covid-19 I have not been at Leslie's place to pick two new ones."

One new horse in the barn is the 6-year old grey PRE licensed stallion Tornado de Centurion (by Kabileno VIII x Remache XIII), owned by Rancho el Marengo in Temecula, CA. "I tried him twice and he gave me a good feeling and has scope and a good canter," she said.

Striking Partnerships between Professionals and Breeders in the U.S.A.

Often dressage breeders in the U.S.A. work with lesser known riders to start their young horses and train them up the levels, often not delivering the hoped for success in the competition arena. It is rare to see a big breeding operation collaborate with top professionals in the U.S.A., that have a proven track record at Grand Prix level.

We asked Sabine's opinion on that and she replied as following:

"I have been talking a lot about this with friends. I think in the US sponsorships or even supporters are mostly born or come from friendships," Sabine stated. "Clients that start becoming friends with the trainers and then they get that idea of going to the Olympics. It’s rare that someone would like to have a horse going in the sport or support dressage and then they look or approach a fitting and accomplished rider."

We wondered if money is the issue? Are top riders stuck in an elite bubble and overcharge breeders for the training and livery of a horse?

"I would totally do partnerships, where I would train for very little pay," said Sabine. "I have been really going after this since 2015, but I also had a bit of bad luck with horses, even myself."