Zen Elite Equestrian Announces Micha Knol as Director of Equestrian Operations at Wellington Facility

Wellington, FL — October 13, 2026  — Zen Elite Equestrian is pleased to announce the appointment of Micha Knol as Director of Equestrian Operations at its Wellington facility.

Originally from the Netherlands, Micha brings international equestrian experience, business leadership, and a lifelong passion for horses to the role. He began his equestrian career as a junior show jumper before transitioning to dressage, where he trained and competed horses through Grand Prix.

Before dedicating his career fully to the equestrian industry, Micha held a senior management position at ABN AMRO Bank in the Netherlands. He later co-founded MRK Dressage, building an international business focused on sourcing and selling high-quality dressage horses.

Most recently, Micha served as Sales Manager at Helgstrand Dressage USA. Throughout his career, he has developed a reputation for identifying exceptional horses and creating successful horse-and-rider partnerships. His notable achievements include sourcing Son Of A Lady for Christian Simonson, HeartBeat for Kasey Perry-Glass, and Zen Elite’s Indian Rock and Fleau de Baian for Christian Simonson.

As Director of Equestrian Operations, Micha will oversee the daily operations of Zen Elite’s Wellington facility, and the continued development of its facilities and stallion breeding program. He will work closely with Zen Elite’s riders and leadership team to ensure an exceptional environment for both horses and athletes.

While Micha will oversee operations at Zen Elite’s Wellington facility, Phyllis Massey will continue to lead the team at Zen Elite’s Southwest Ranches location, where she has done an exceptional job managing the facility for many years. Her dedication, experience, and continued leadership remain an invaluable part of the Zen Elite family.

Phyllis Massey will continue her role as Director of Operations at the Zen Elite Southwest Ranches facility.

“I’m excited to take on this new role at Zen Elite Equestrian. It’s a wonderful opportunity to combine my business experience with my lifelong passion for horses and dressage. I’m very grateful to Heidi Humphries for her trust and confidence in me. We have an incredible group of horses, riders, and staff, and I’m really looking forward to working together and being part of Zen Elite’s exciting future,” said Knol.

“Micha has been a wonderful supporter and teammate to all of us at Zen, and this progression into the Director of Equestrian Operations role feels like a natural transition,” said Heidi Humphries, founder of Zen Elite Equestrian. “I’m grateful for everything he brings to Zen Elite, and I’m excited for what we’ll continue to build together!”

Micha Knol is the primary point of contact for all media, sponsorship, partnership, and professional inquiries related to the Wellington facility, as well as coordinating barn visits and tours. This will help ensure a welcoming, well-organized experience for visitors while allowing Zen Elite’s riders to remain focused on their training and competition schedules.

To arrange a Wellington visit or discuss an opportunity, please contact: