Our Coaching Team
Kat Naud
Owner of A&T - Head Coach - Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Certified
As the owner, and head coach of A&T, Kat brings a wealth of experience to her staff and students.
She has had a career in horseback riding for over 20 years, with achievements such as competing at the intermediate and CIC 2* level across Canada and the United States. In addition to this, she also helped bring Canada to victory in New Zealand for the Inter Pacific Exchange: Canada’s first win in 28 years!
A passionate instructor and equestrian, Kat shares her experience and enthusiasm with everyone she meets.
You will also get to see her on our weekly check ins on Kat’s corner. You can watch it on Instagram and Facebook.
We are excited to watch her and her students compete in the dressage ring in 2025!
Kaitlin Knox
Coach
Kaitlin has been riding since she was 5 years old. At 21 she took a break and has now been back in the horse world for the last several years.
Kaitlin owns a 12 year old warmblood mare and competes in the 3 foot hunters. She has done numerous shows over the years, and learned from amazing trainers who inspired her to start sharing her knowledge as a coach herself with the next generation of riders.
It doesn’t take her students long, to see how passionate she is about developing their love for everything equine related. She teaches many of our adults, that have returned to the ring after their hiatus. If this is you, email us, we would love to welcome you back to the world of horses.
You will be able to see Kaitlin competing in the hunter/jumper ring next season.
Genevieve Fame
Coach - Behavioral Interventionist
A & T Equestrian started Genevieve’s journey of cultivating her love for horses and working with children.
Kat Naud was Genevieve’s coach in 3 Day Eventing for many years, educating, traveling and competing together around BC and USA.
She owns three sport horses Limoges, Calvin and Lady that live on her families farm.
Genevieve has worked with Community Living Associations and also has been a Behavioural Interventionist (BI) for the past five years.
She is thrilled to be coming back to where it all started at A&T. Mixing her love for horses with her compassion of working beside, People With All Abilities
Madie Canniff
Coach
After starting at A&T as a student many years ago, Madie has been a proud member of our coaching team since 2019. She has worked with coaches such as Kat Naud & Chelan Kozak to grow as a rider, coach, and mentor to current students.
Her students love the amount of focus Madie spends on their position in the saddle. And many of them are part of our advanced rider program here at A&T.
Madie’s favorite part of being an instructor, is getting to help her students build their confidence while developing a deeper understanding of riding; especially when she gets to share “light bulb” realization moments with them!
Madie will be competing with her horse Dante next season. We look forward to seeing them succeed together!
Ella Jeffrey
Coach - Behavioral Interventionist
Since beginning her own journey as a rider, when she was just seven years old, Ella has become a fantastic rider and coach.
She has trained up to jumping 2’9” - 3 feet, and loves working with all different kinds of horses. Currently she has been working hard to get ready to compete in the dressage ring.
Ella trained under Crystal Meier for our equine therapy program. She further developed her skills by becoming a Behavioral interventionalist in 2023. Ella became the main coach of our therapy program after Crystal retired from A&T. She continually puts her own mark on this awesome program.
One of her favourite things about teaching, is watching her students grow each week. She enjoys getting to be part of growing their confidence, skills, and development.
We love having her as a part of the team, and are grateful what she brings to her students!
Linda Maenpaa
Coach
Linda was born in Finland but did her growing up years in the Okanagan.
She has her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UBCO.
She fell in love with horses when she was only 6. She has ridden many disciplines, including dressage, working western and even on the Arabian horse circuit. Linda rode up to the national level, where she was Select Hunter Pleasure Canadian National Champion in 2015).
She now predominantly shows in the jumpers, competing in the 1.20m/1.25m. Last year she showed at Thunderbird, Milner and Spruce Meadows, in jumper classes, derbies and even a couple 6-bars.
On top of riding Linda also received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UBCO.
We are excited to welcome Linda to our team at A&T! Linda will be adding new students to her Tuesday daytime lessons, as well as Friday evenings. We are looking forward to having her coach jump clinics, this season too!
Alyssa Eckhardt
Growing up she always wanted a horse, but never got the chance to ride until she was 11. She has always had a strong passion for horses.
She has previously worked for an Olympic level dressage rider, learning all the facets of being a barn manager and the beauty of riding as a team in dressage.
Alyssa has had her Morgan x Quarter horse, for the past 6 years and was previously jumping a meter five. She has always loved the Eventing side of the equestrian world., and plans on competing next season.
Alyssa has a strong passion to help riders grow with their connections with equine friends and loves watching their confidence grow. Her goal is, to inspire her students to accomplish their goals in their equestrian journey.
Yannic Chow
Coach
Yannic joined A&T in 2022 and quickly became a valuable part of our team. She has been riding for the past 5 years. She started her journey into the equestrian world as a western rider and then switched to English riding two years ago.
She finds riding very therapeutic, and it is her escape from the challenges that life throws her way. She loves bonding and communicating with horses and developing this relationship with her students.
Yannic offers private lessons in, Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
We are excited to watch Yannic grow as a coach, as we launch this specialized program here at A&T.
She has opportunities for new students this summer, on Friday during the day, as well as Sunday evenings.
Michelle Kim
Coach
Michelle has been riding for the past 5 years, and started in beginner lessons here at A&T.
After completing her rider levels 1-3, she began teaching with us. She started with teaching camps and birthday parties. She now has her own day with her own students riding with her.
She loves starting students at the beginning and watching them become more independent in the saddle. During weekly camps, many of her students finished the week independently trotting.
She is planning on showing in the 2025 show season. We look forward to cheering her on.
Ben Heyns
Coach
Ben began his riding career in his early teens. After taking a break to pursue his studies he returned to work with us in early 2023. It was evident to all that he needed to become a coach with us. Ben’s love of horses was birthed in him as a youngster, and he comes from a family of equestrians.
Ben is a naturally gifted teacher and has such a gentle way of instructing his students.
It hasn’t taken long for Ben to develop a strong following of students, that only want him as their coach.
He is currently leasing Rebeckah’s horse, Brodie. And he is planning to compete off property next season. We know that all of his hard work will pay off.
Ella Hurkett
Coach
Ella has been riding for over 8yrs, most of her equestrian journey has been here at A&T. She has spent some time in the show ring, but her passion is delving deeper into horsemanship.
Ella brings her unique blend of enthusiasm and structure into each class she teaches. We are excited that she is taking her rider levels 4-6 this season, so she will be able to instruct her students to the higher level programs that we offer.
Ella is planning to become a certified farrier this fall, but don’t worry she will still continue to teach with us while she is in school.
Alyssa Mckenna
Coach
Alyssa has been part of A&T for over the past several years. She started as a beginner student and worked her way up to our advanced rider program.
She also has been a camp instructor with us ever since she was old enough to do so.
Alyssa has done her rider levels up to level 6. And loves watching her students grow in our program. She enjoys seeing her students experience their first trot on their own, as well as their first canter and jump.
We have loved watching Alyssa grow into the coach and horsewoman she is today. And we have enjoyed seeing her students progress in their equestrian journey.
Angelique (Angie) Botha
Coach
Angie picked up riding at the age of 8 years old.
She fell in love with the sport as she was able to ride and work with horses that she leased. She gained most of her skills working with the horses at a competitive hunter/jumper barn
She also learned natural horsemanship and liberty with her own horse, who she’s had for 5 years. She has shared her training with client’s horses during her time.
Angie has done a wide range of disciplines in the horse world, from coaching, working as a vet tech, and managing her own private boarding facility, for track horses on break or as resales
As Angie coaches her students she enjoys adapting to the pace and wants of the rider and horse as a team. She enjoys helping her students find those, light bulb moments.
We are so pleased to have Angie as part of our coaching team here at A&T. She has recently taken over Friday day times and has room for new students that are looking at learning this sport. Whether it is your first time in the ring, or you are a seasoned rider, Angie will help you reach your horsey goals.