Our Team

MEET THE NFTRA TEAM!

Our Staff

Nicola Vrijimoet - Office Manager

I have been involved with horses for 12 years in a variety of capacities. My journey began slowly. I started looking after a horse with my youngest daughter when she started riding. This eventually turned into regular barn work and eventually managing the barns at Maple Ridge Equi-sport Center (MREC) along with private homes. I have overseen herd health and care and have had management training in past professions. My horse experience grows each day, as I will never know everything!

My involvement with NFTRA started 14 years ago when my oldest daughter began riding at NFTRA. She rode for 6 years, and it was life changing for both my daughter and our family.

I am extremely passionate about my job here at NFTRA. Not only because I know firsthand the benefits of therapeutic riding. I am surrounded by wonderful staff, and volunteers who are just as passionate about our horses and program.

I love horses so much I adopted Buck and Rupert to my home for their retirement, where they will relax and enjoy life with my family.

Looking out my office door I can see the horses in their stalls. I get to meet families who have had riders with us for years. Then I get to meet riders who are about to start their journey with us and know they will be forever changed by their experience with riding.

Barn Staff

Our barn staff are dedicated to the well-being of all our horses. They work in shifts to ensure all the horses are fed on time, stalls and paddocks are clean, horses have water in the stalls and out in the paddocks and the horses receive a lot of TLC!

Mikaila and Alex

Shannelle, Estelle and Austin

Our Instructors

Our instructors are all CanTRA certified at various levels. They continue to improve their ability to provide the most rewarding experience to their riders by taking on-going training throughout the year with the NFTRA Program Manager, Julie Matijiw.

Julie Matijiw -Program Manager

I am a passionate Equine Professional with over 28 years in Therapeutic riding and 3 years working as an equine specialist working alongside counsellors and creating programs for Veterans and individuals in addiction therapy and family Therapy.

I have over 40+ years of riding and showing experience including jumping and dressage.

As Program manager at NFTRA I lead a team of amazing instructors and create inclusive client-centered programs for diverse populations.

Certified as a Canadian Therapeutic Intermediate Coach and Cantra Mentor, I also bring experience in horse training and am certified in Equine Massage.

I love helping riders of all abilities build confidence and connection with horses. Watching their growth in skills balance and independence is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy supporting instructors as they grow in their knowledge confidence and skill, knowing that every strong instructor helps more riders thrive!

Sandy de Schaetzen - Certified CanTRA Basic Instructor working towards her BI 2 level

My journey with horses began in a dramatic way—at age four, I was kicked in the stomach by a pony at my grandparents’ house in Belgium, leaving both a physical and emotional imprint. Despite the rocky start, I was hooked. I began riding at eight, spending summers at horse camps, weekends on forest trails, and every spare moment immersed in horse books and movies.

Riding paused when I left for university to study law, then life took over—marriage, five children, and growing a business. But the passion never faded. At 40, inspired by my daughter’s interest, I returned to the saddle—and haven’t looked back since.

I became an instructor at NFTRA in 2023 because I wanted to give back to my community. I’ve always loved children and horses, and therapeutic riding brings those two passions together in a powerful way.

Getting to know my riders and building meaningful connections with them, watching them smile and bond with their horse, seeing them relax, learn, and thrive and witnessing the pride on a parent’s face when their child achieves something—no matter how small is what brings me tremendous joy! I love pouring my whole heart into something I’m truly passionate about.

Kim Yawney- Certified CanTRA Basic Instructor working towards her II

I have always had a great love for horses and learned to ride for pleasure about 30 years ago and started out with 4 horses and now I just have two. Recently I have gotten back into competing doing western dressage, working equitation, mountain trail now I’m picking up ranch riding.

In August 2008, I discovered a therapeutic riding association, started as an office manager, moved into working with horses as a volunteer. Julie Matijiw (NFTRA Program Manager) suggested I become CanTRA certified and that step was life-changing for me and I have been at NFTRA since 2022.

Growing up I experienced so much anxiety and shyness that I can relate to my riders right now, I can see their anxiety. I work therapeutically with them to get their muscles to relax, focus on getting them more balanced and in some cases helping them learn to verbalize is a focus. Some have muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, autism with neurological issues and some are more mentally delayed.

It’s very satisfying to help train the volunteers to pay attention to the horse and the rider as each one has specific needs and abilities. Taking horse clinics is another way I continue to learn about good horsemanship so I can share that knowledge at NFTRA. One of the greatest joys of being part of this program is seeing the joy and progress each rider makes!

Kayla De Boer- Certified CanTRA Basic Instructor

I didn’t grow up with horses but when I had to do a job shadowing project for school, I knew I had to find something with horses. When I found out about Therapeutic riding, I knew I wanted to be involved in that and combine my love of horses and children.

I started out as a super shy, anxious girl who hardly said 2 words to anyone. After volunteering for a few months, I started taking lessons myself. I got to experience firsthand the difference that Therapeutic riding can make in the lives of the clients.

After volunteering for a couple years and even working in the barn to gain all the knowledge I could, I decided, with some encouragement from others around me, to become an instructor and help others receive the joy and benefits from Therapeutic riding that I received myself. The thing I enjoy most about teaching is seeing the smiles on the clients faces and watching them form a connection with their horses.

Elita Anderson - Certified CanTRA Basic Instructor

I have been deeply connected to horses since childhood. Growing up in Alberta, I spent all of my free time immersed in riding and competing across various equestrian events, including show jumping, cross-country, dressage and gymkhanas. I was introduced to therapeutic riding while living in California and was hooked right away.

After moving to B.C. in 2020, I found NFTRA and began my journey to become a certified instructor. With more than 10 years of experience working with kids in the pediatric dental field and a lifelong passion for horses, being at NFTRA feels like a perfect fit. I love seeing the joy on her riders’ faces and watching their confidence blossom.

When not at NFTRA, I enjoy refinishing old furniture and spending time outdoors with my husband and three young sons.