Imke Schellekens-Bartels is responsible for the dressage stable. She trains the competition horses and provides lessons and clinics. Imke belongs to the world’s top as a rider as well as a coach. Being the daughter of Tineke Bartels, Imke Schellekens-Bartels (1977) had the best training a dressage rider could wish for. After finishing secondary education she trained with Kyra Kyrklund in Flyinge, Sweden, for 10 months. Imke did part of the ‘Sporters Business Class’ and went to Deurne where she attended the first edition of the Masterclass. In 2013 Imke graduated as ‘top coach level 5’ at the KNHS.

Tineke Bartels founded Academy Bartels together with her husband Joep. She has been active at top level in international equestrian sport for many years. Tineke turned to dressage in the early 80s after a jumping and eventing career. She competed at four Olympic Games, and she was very successful with her pupils. She has worked as national coach of the Juniors and Young Riders. Tineke studied at the Sports Academy, followed all ORUN courses and is a Master Coach of the NOC*NSF.

Joep Schellekens, Imke’s husband, is responsible for Sales and Acquisition of horses. Joep is one of the team members of the biannual auction Excellent Dressage Sales. Joep was involved in Imke’s career with, among others, Sunrise, Lancet and Toots. After his study at the Conservatoire and a career in business, Joep started working at our family business. Joep and Imke have one son: Joep Junior.

Desirée Bleeker is the stable manager at Academy Bartels, according to Desirée, her ‘dream job’. She has a lot of experience in dealing with both horses and ponies. She has worked at several stallion stations, dressage- and training stables. She studied HBO Business Management in the UK before returning to the Netherlands. She worked in an office for quite a few years and she switched to her current job in 2016. She is a ‘competition instructor level 4’ and competed on ‘ZZ-Zwaar’ level.

Lars op ’t Hoog is stable rider at Academy Bartels. He owns a stable, ‘’t Witte Paardje’, together with his parents. He has trained with Imke and Tineke when he was riding ponies and as a Junior. He studied commercial economy at the Johan Cruyff University, but interrupted this studie when he was offered a job at Academy Bartels. Lars competes in many young horse competitions and rides up to Grand Prix level. In addition to his job at Academy Bartels he trains his own horses at home and rides several horses for owners.

Wendy van Rijsbergen is stable rider at Academy Bartels. Wendy had her own stable in Overijssel for over ten years, where she mainly focused on training horses up to Small Tour level. In addition, she has ridden for the KWPN stallion performance test for several years. Wendy has been training with Imke before she got employed by Academy Bartels in September 2020.

Kathelijne Courtens is working as Imke’s groom. She went to the Rio Olympic Games with Akane Kuroki and Toots. Kathelijne grew up with horses at the riding school of her parents. She did a traineeship at Academy Bartels in 2010. She studied French and History in Belgium before accepting a job at Academy Bartels.

Hanna Blom is assistant stable manager and groom. She learned the trade at the Jasper Stable, a large riding school and stable in Haarlemmermeer. After her part-time course in Equestrian Business Administration she started working at Academy Bartels.

Lois van Lierop is a stable worker at Academy Bartels. In ‘s Hertogenbosch she followed the Animal, Behavior and Entrepreneurship training. This led her to an internship at Academy Bartels. After working at Kingstables and as a freelance groom, she later joined Academy Bartels. In her younger years, Lois rode with the trick riding team “The Future Guys”.

Jan Valckx works in the stables of Academy Bartels after a career as a manager in the care of the disabled. Jan has had ponies and horses since childhood and has been breeding for a number of years. He has produced mares with a ‘keur elite’ status several times. In addition to his work at Academy Bartels, Jan has been chairman of the national riding association municipality of Reusel-De Mierde for five years. Meanwhile, six church villages are affiliated and Academy Bartels has been their home base for four years, where they can practice weekly. They also organise a competition in November every year in collaboration with the Bartels family.

Paulien de Geijter takes care of the interior and the catering at Academy Bartels. She is the face of the staff’s catering during the events. She has worked at Academy Bartels since 2009 and has enjoyed every minute. Previously she worked for the army and in the catering sector. “In my work I meet nice and friendly guests from the Netherlands and abroad. It gives my work something special. For instance, I met Chere Burger from South-Africa at Academy Bartels and it turned into a friendship. I even visited her at home.”

Marion Janssen is responsible for cleaning at Academy Bartels, where she has worked since 2016. Before she worked at the ‘Klooster Zusters’ in Reusel and other places.