Equine Courses with the National Trade Academy

Kay Hogan

NTA Equine Programme Manager (since August 2019)

B.H.S.I., Dip. Teaching, CTT

Kay has had a lifetime of experience with horses, starting riding when 4 years old, trained and competed via the Pony Club system, completing her NZPCA ‘A’ Certificate on a horse she trained herself from an unbroken youngster.

After leaving school, Kay graduated from Auckland Teachers College and while teaching in the primary sector, coached at several Pony Clubs. She was later employed in thoroughbred breeding and racing establishments, plus broke in horses used in a variety of equestrian sports including polo ponies.

Kay then moved to the UK where she stayed for 3 and half years. She trained for and passed her all British Horse Society Instructors qualifications and became the Yard Manager at Wellington Riding, a large training centre in Berkshire with around 100 horses. Kay trained students and successfully rode many horses in a variety of disciplines (dressage, show jumping, eventing and hunting).

On returning to New Zealand Kay was appointed as a National Coach by NZPCA (and is their Lead Examiner), became an ESNZ Performance Coach, Coach Educator, and is a member of the Coaching Advisory Panel for both organisations. These positions involve coaching riders and teams, training coaches, conducting exams, developing coaching pathways and writing resources such as dressage tests, show jumping course plans, and coach training manuals.

In 2000 after 5 years as the Equine Programme Manager at the Waikato Polytech (now Wintec), Kay took on the position of Director of Equestrian at St Peter’s School, Cambridge, where she developed a highly successfully training and Inter-Schools competition programme, introduced and taught Equine Studies, and started Parenga Pony Club.

In 2017 Kay renewed her interest in the thoroughbred industry by becoming a NZ Thoroughbred Racing Training Advisor and tutor for the Level 3 and 4 Equine Breeding Qualifications. She enjoyed growing the numbers of enrolments and helping many trainees successfully graduate from the programme.

A desire to help students and horses succeed at any level is a strong motivator for Kay to stay involved in the equine education sector.

Olivia Logan (Nee Gerve)

Equine Tutor - Trade Academy Level 2

Olivia has ridden competitively since the age of 6yrs and is still competing to date, learning much of the fundamentals during the 10 years she attended Kowhai Residential Riding School. As a senior rider, Olivia was a member and coach at Kowhai and View Hill Pony Club, during which time she Gained her B Certificate, competed numerous times at the South Island’s largest Team Competition, the Springston Trophy and was selected to represent Canterbury twice in the NZPCA Eventing Champs. She evented one of Kowhai’s horses, McGinty, to Open Intermediate Level. 

Whilst completing her degree, she became Head Coach for Ferrymead Pony Club. There she coached a variety of levels and ages, but Olivia’s main focus was to help prepare the senior riders for their certificate exams and team competitions. She managed the Springston Trophy Team during this time.

After studying, Olivia gained a position as a Banking Advisor for BNZ, where she worked for the next 14 years. She continued to ride and compete during this time and also bred three sport horses in partnership with Belinda McAnally (Level 4 Tutor). Of the horses Olivia and Belinda bred, one has been sold to Australia as a high-level show jumper and another is currently Olivia’s main competition horse, High Jinx. Olivia’s education and competition experience in Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross-Country has been influenced by training with many highly respected and well-established coaches and riders including Lucinda Green, Jonathan Paget, Jenn Hamilton and Mark Todd.

“I thrive off the quest for perfection and obedience in dressage, but it’s the thrill of the cross-country that I have the most passion for.”

Olivia joined the Equine team at National Trade Academy in April 2019 and is enthusiastic in sharing her love and knowledge of horses with her students and helping them develop their skills and confidence as they learn, the ultimate satisfaction coming from helping a student move through the course and prepare them for a career in the industry.