About Us
Sarah M Castleman
Sarah was introduced to horses at the age of 6 years old through a family friend who had a mean pony named Rebecca, and a saint of an ex-racehorse named PJ at their house. She was allowed to go stay for weeks at a time and ride bareback with a halter (too small to tack up), sometimes leaving with her friend Erin before dawn, packing a lunch, and barely making it back in time for dinner.
Eventually her parents gave into all her begging for riding lessons, and then a first horse named Buddy, and then a move to training in dressage and show-jumping with the goal of eventing someday (Buddy wasn’t a fan of cross-country so full eventing had to wait).
During this time Sarah developed a true passion for the foundations of dressage and correct flatwork. She trained with Grand Prix dressage rider Jules Anderson and her partner Suzanne King for years, learning the foundations of classical dressage as well as getting to ride experienced dressage horses at the Grand Prix and Prix St. George levels.
After a few ex-racehorse projects and an import of a New Zealand OTTB seasoned three-day eventer named Land’s End (Titan), Sarah worked her way up the levels in three-day eventing and ran her first FEI CCI2* when she was 16, placing in the top 5 out of over 70 competitors. Throughout high school Sarah brought on her first students to Murphy Equestrian in the Atlanta area while continuing to follow the eventing circuit up and down the east coast, competing up through the CCI3* on Titan and bringing along a fresh off the track thoroughbred, Montague (Monty), through the USEA levels.
After graduating high school, Sarah was hired professionally by Pan American team member and CCI5* rider Bonnie Mosser for the 6 month summer circuit basing out of Unionville, PA, training daily with her and some with her mentor Phillip Dutton. When moving down south for the winter circuit Sarah moved to working for London Olympic team member and CCI5* eventer Bruce (Buck) Davidson Jr full time, moving with him back to Pennsylvania the next summer.
During this time her young horse Monty grew up through the levels becoming a successful CCI2* horse, placing 2nd at his first 2* at Red Hills in Tallahassee FL, and top 5 at Bromont CCI2* in Montreal, Canada. Titan continued to be a successful and consistent 2* and 3* competitor.
Sarah attended the University of Georgia and graduated with BBA in Business Management and certificates in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programs at Terry College of Business. Additionally she based for a term abroad at Oxford University, studying International Finance and Environmental Economics. During all four years of university Sarah continued to compete her two FEI horses up and down the east coast. She trained with Phillip Dutton and Boyd Martin when they were based in Aiken, SC, and traveled to base with them in PA during summer breaks. She also developed a life-long friendship and mentorship with UK based eventing legend Lucinda Green which continues to this day.
While at UGA, Sarah grew Murphy Equestrian and built a client base of horses in training and competing students in the Athens and greater Atlanta area. After graduation Sarah continued to base in Athens running Murphy Equestrian, coaching and training while still competing at the FEI level. Sarah met an Irish sport horse, Ribbo, during this time and was blessed to earn the ride on him, campaigning him for his owner Pippa Moon. Working up the levels with him to earn his trust, Sarah was able to gain experience and move up through to the 4* level before he retired at the age of 19.
As the years have passed working in both equine and non-equine industry jobs, Sarah has continued to come back to a passion for training and coaching the foundational work across disciplines. She currently has a portfolio (now as Castleman Equestrian) of horses and clients in training, from babies only under saddle a few months, to training rides on Grand Prix dressage horses, as well as keeping older top veterans fit and healthy enough to enjoy doing their jobs safely in both the sports of dressage and show jumping.
Sarah believes that the most important part of horsemanship is listening to what each horse needs to do its job well, preparing them well, and teaching their riders how to do the same. “It is our job as trainers, owners, and riders to prepare our horses at every level to be physically and mentally fit. Not only to perform well, but more importantly so that our horses can have fun and enjoy their competition schedules and partnerships with us.”