Introducing our team

Jef Coenegrachts Manager

Jef epitomizes experience! Experience that has a broad foundation and that has brought success.

What makes him an absolute topper?

  • Passion for equestrian sport. Success has its roots in passion!
    • Riding Club Sint-Clemens Minderhout was a breeding ground for top talent. Jef Coenegrachts spent his formative years in Minderhout and was a member of this riding club. From an early age the love of equestrian sport was part of his life. Dressage, show-jumping and eventing were always on the agenda.
  • Excellent theoretical knowledge
    • Diploma Equine Studies Bilzen
    • Diploma First Bereiter 1997 and Pferdewirtschaftsmeister 2001 in Warendorf, Germany under the tutelage of Jan Bemelmans
  • Practical experience at the highest level (both riding and teaching)
    • Diploma Bereiter
    • First Bereiter (1997) and Pferdewirtschaftsmeister (2001) under the supervision of Jan Bemelmans in Warendorf Germany. During these years Jef mastered every detail of his chosen profession:training horses and  coaching pupils at the highest level, producing young horses, training horses and riding up to Grand Prix level.
    • Professional rider/trainer in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium (2000-2008).
    • From 2008 Jef was Chief Rider/Trainer for Bernadette Brune (Domaine equestre Grand Pins) in France. He competed frequently and successfully at Grand Prix level.  And was also twice French National Champion in young horse competitions.
  • Multilingual: due to this international experience Jef speaks fluent Dutch, English, French and German and is able to communicate with you in the language of your choice.
  • A born manager! Jef guides his team to achieve perfection in the coaching and preparation of each rider and each horse.
Ann Sterkens

Ann personifies clarity and transparency.

As a person, as a mother and as a trainer she is direct and clear in her approach.

She has the ability to simplify complex dressage terminology and make it easily understandable for her pupils. Her own course of studies and successes in equestrian sport undoubtedly produced a solid foundation of information to draw from in her coaching of clients.

  • Passion for equestrian sport. Success has its roots in passion!
    • Ann was also a member of Riding Club Sint-Clemens Minderhout, and trained in all three disciplines: dressage, show-jumping and eventing.
  • Thorough basic grounding: Sport School Meulebeke, specializing in equestrian sport.
  • Practical experience: riding at the highest level
    • 1997: Ann became Belgian champion Eventing
    • Competed in European Championships Eventing
    • Competed in 1 and 2 **competitions Eventing
    • From 2008: competed in Dressage competitions in France, up to and including Prix St. Georges Level, with a significant number of first prizes and top placings.