Executive Team

Michaela Tolman, President

Michaela Tolman is currently pursuing her PhD in neuroscience at Tufts and resides in Boston, MA. She is one of three founding members of the Young KWPN-NA and grew up on Shooting Star Farm breeding Dutch Warmbloods for Dressage. When she was in kindergarten, her classmates visited the farm; they walked by the area where the stallion was collected and she tried to tell them about sperm and breeding... didn't go over well! You could say she was a breeder and a passionate educator about breeding from an early age!

Her favorite stallion right now is Bon Bravor - he is the background of her phone! Her favorite mare is Werites SSF (Freestyle x Jazz x Romer). She was injured in a trailering accident so couldn't be competed, but after years as a broodmare Michaela hopped on her and rode around a little for a summer – she says it was like driving a Ferrari.

Michaela Tolman, Chair

Her favorite stallion right now is Bon Bravor - he is the background of her phone! Her favorite mare is Werites SSF (Freestyle x Jazz x Romer). She was injured in a trailering accident so couldn't be competed, but after years as a broodmare Michaela hopped on and rode her around the farm for a summer – she says it was like driving a Ferrari.

Maile de Goeij, Vice Chair

Maile de Goeij is currently pursuing her bachelor of Commerce, after studying 3 years of science at the University of Alberta. Also a recent graduate from a 2 year Equine Sports Therapy program. Maile is also one of the three founding members of Young KWPN-NA. Though she didn’t grow up in an equine family, she had a love of horses from a very early age and began in riding lessons at age 4. When she was 9 she was lucky enough to be gifted her first horse “Pepsi” and began in the 4-H program, riding predominantly western.

A fortuitous 4-H trip to Spruce Meadows captivated her heart and she’s loved the sport of jumping ever since. Given her Dutch heritage, and the KWPN performance record in jumping - Dutch Warmbloods were an obvious choice. She began her breeding journey with her first foal in 2010 and has been producing both jumping and dressage horses ever since at her farm SunShine Meadows. Ferro is her favourite dressage stallion and Judgement ISF has always held a special place in her heart from her first trips to Spruce Meadows.

Renee Petruzzelli

Renee Petruzzelli is the owner and breeder at Legacy Crest Farm LLC. Located in Upstate NY, in the small town of Clifton Springs.

After graduating from Morrsisville State College in 2012 with a Bachelor degree in Equine Since and Management with a specialization in Breeding, Renee moved on to complete an internship for breeding at Crosiadore Farm in MD. During her time there she handled stallions, assisted the vet with breeding work, and foaled out several mares, in addition to daily tasks such as turnout and feeding.

After her internship, she purchased her first two KWPN broodmares, Valentine for II and Gelusie KEUR, falling in love with the breed. Since then, she has expanded her number of mares and her breeding program, breeding for the hunter and jumper disciplines.

In addition to breeding the KWPN horse, Renee also rides. Currently riding with Darlene Sandlin, in Canastota NY, Renee strives to always improve her feel of the horse and the technicality of her riding. She feels that breeding and riding go hand and hand.

Elizabeth Evans

I have a favorite in the Dutch warmblood as they have shown me that they are so willing, sweet, and have the work ethic I love in a horse.

I'm also very fond of working with young and problem horses. I love taking a horse, finding out what they like to do, and then showing them that they are capable of going there.

My main horse currently is a 1999 17.1 hand KWPN gelding named Sotogrande (Soto or Banana as he's known around the barn), he's by Krack C out of a Goodtimes mare. He's a late bloomer to the sport of show jumping, having spent the formative years of his life trying dressage, but he's quickly making up for lost time. He's my Grand Prix hopeful and has the talent to help me achieve my goals. I have two other Dutch horses in my barn currently. Our school horse is a 1998 17.3 hand KWPN gelding named Romulus (Rom), he's by Ferro. My third Dutch is my second string horse, Clarkus Maximus (Clark), who is a home bred by Cece Younger. He's out of a thoroughbred mare by HighRoller (a Dutch Gelderland stallion).

Katelyn Kok

Katelyn Kok is a young professional with a bright future and the dedication and passion to make it happen. Katelyn has worked with and trained under some of the USA’s most respected trainers including Pam Goodrich and Lendon Gray. Katelyn also spent two years in Germany riding and learning the art of Dressage from a Master Trainer. She has kept the pursuit of education close to her heart and knows to be successful in this sport you must continuously seek knowledge and be a lifelong student.

Katelyn has many successes under her belt already; among several USDF Regional Championships and USDF Bronze and Silver Medals, she also was ranked in the top 10 FEI Junior riders in America and FEI Young Riders in America.

Katelyn in currently an assistant trainer at Black Star Sporthorses in Dallas, Tx under head trainer Lisa Blackmon. Katelyn is currently developing Black Star Sporthorse’s Dutch stallion American Xpress towards the Grand Prix and many other talented horses bred by Black Star Sporthorses. She is excited to join the YKWPN on their mission on educate and help develop the young breeders of America.

Sara Duke

Sara Duke is currently pursuing her BS in biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. Sara grew up in Dallas and began riding at the age of 6.

Her passion for Dutch warmbloods began when she acquired her upper level eventing mount, Sancerre. Sancerre is by Goodtimes and was imported by Majestic Gaits Farm as a 2 year-old. Sara and Zoe have competed in nationally ranked eventing and jumper shows from Florida to Iowa including the High Children’s Regional Championship at the Colorado Horse Park in 2015. Sara's love for Sancerre and the breed led to her interest and involvement in the breeding aspect of the KWPN. In 2015 “La Flexibella” by Flexible was born as a result of an embryo transfer from Sancerre and currently an in-utero foal by Larino is expected for 2018. Sara is excited to be involved with a professional organization like the KWPN, that brings together people with a love for some of the top athletes in the equestrian world and strives to improve the breed.

Aaron Fisher

Aaron Fisher works with Dutch harness horses, tuigpaarden, in Pennsylvania. He has a lot of experience training and handling the Dutch horses. At the 2017 annual meeting, Aaron won the top prize for presenting a horse in hand. We are excited to have his expertise and input on the Executive Team!

Former Executive Team Members

Keagan Tolman, Treasurer

Keagan Tolman recently graduated with a degree in psychology from New Hampshire. He is one of three founding members of the Young KWPN-NA. He is very excited to bring this opportunity to young Dutch Warmblood enthusiasts across North America! Although his professional life doesn't always cross over into the horse world, his personal life certainly does!

Keagan was born and raised on Shooting StarFarm, a Dutch Warmblood breeding farm that was awarded Top Breeder in North America in 2016. Growing up he occasionally showed Morgans, but quickly became more of a horse enthusiast and less of a rider. He found it hard to be involved in the riding community as a boy and young adult. In hopes that other young men have a more welcoming experience than he did, the YoungKWPN-NA seeks to engage everyone equally and give each and every young member the opportunities they need to become successful breeders, riders, and enthusiasts. He can’t wait to provide a great resource and community to all young Dutch Warmblood lovers.

Leah Klement, Social Media

Leah Clement is currently attending high school in her home province of Ontario. She started taking riding lessons when she was four years old and has been hooked on the sport ever since! It has always been a dream of hers to own her own horse and that finally happened in September 2015 when Leah and her family bought Fendi! KWPN's had been a long-time favorite breed of hers and having just ended a three year lease on a KWPN mare, Leah was thrilled that my first horse was one, too!

Fendi is a six year old gelding by Canada's Prestige out of a Consul mare. He is a giant puppy dog and she absolutely adores him! Having recently becoming a member of the KWPN-NA, she was excited to learn that there was a new group being started for other like-minded young KWPN enthusiasts. She hopes to meet many more Dutch warmblood breeders, riders and enthusiast in the near future and can't wait to continue learning about all things Dutch warmblood and to see where the Young KWPN-NA takes her.

Ryan Jimenez, Marketing

Ryan Jimenez is working towards his animal science degree. He and his family have raised Dutch Warmbloods in Coatesville, PA for the past 25 years.

Ryan hopes to continue his parents' breeding legacy through learning everything that he can. Their biggest accomplishment in the KWPN is obtaining the title of platinum breeders. There are only 5 other farms in the country that hold this title!

Kirsten Fada

Kirsten Fada currently resides in Kentucky and rides at Churchill Downs. Prior to her introduction to the Dutch horse, she worked at a Thoroughbred breeding farm in California as an exercise rider. It was there that she found her passion and developed her method for starting the young horses.

While relatively new to working with warmbloods, it has been a comfortable transition. Kirsten now feels as if she has found her place. Kirsten is very excited to bring her ideas and energy to Young KWPN-NA and looks forward to seeing the program grow!