Meet The Team
The Taylor Family
African Hoofbeatz is run by a small, hands-on team. At the heart of it all is the Taylor family. Life here is shared. You live on the Taylor property, spend day to day time together, and become a real part of the family life.
FOUNDER & HEAD TRAINER
ANDY TAYLOR
Andy’s passion for horses has taken him all over the world - from the racetracks of Dubai to polo fields in England, and finally back home to Zimbabwe. Andy’s experience is varied having set up and run horse-based volunteer programmes for a number of operations over the years.
Andy now leads the training programme at African HoofBeatz, where he retrains ex-racehorses and problem horses for new careers in polocrosse, polo, and showjumping.
He believes in thoughtful, tailored horsemanship, where no one method fits all, and every horse is treated as an individual. Whether he’s backing young horses, helping riders build confidence, or coaching on the polocrosse field, Andy is known for being exceptionally kind and patient. Always taking the time to explain, encourage and build confidence. He is deeply committed to nurturing the bond between horse and rider.
KAREN TAYLOR
CO-FOUNDER & OPERATIONS
Karen is the organisational force behind African Hoofbeatz. As Andy’s wife and co-founder, although an accountant by trade, Karen wears many different hats. Before African Hoofbeatz, Karen helped run a large volunteer-based program, handling accountancy, logistics and their community project. Currently she run’s her family pigeon-racing business.
At African Hoofbeatz, Karen oversees bookings, logistics, and guest coordination, ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She also plays a key role in creating a calm, welcoming environment where people quickly feel settled.
Known for her warmth, kindness and sense of humour. Karen brings balance to the program, combining organisation with care, and making sure everyone is well looked after.
EZRA
KEY THINKER & MORAL COMPASS
Ezra is the eldest and the grounding presence of the children. Thoughtful and measured, he has a strong moral compass and a natural sense of responsibility, often spending most of his time keeping his “little ones” in line. He enjoys his own space and time to think as he has a deeply curious mind. Ezra is interested in how the world works, not just how it looks. Ezra is kind, polite increasingly funny and not your typical eight year old boy! He also enjoys riding and approaches it with the same diligence he approaches life with.
KATIE
STABLES APPRENTICE & FUTURE CEO
Katie is completely horse-mad and proud. She has a special soft spot for Cappuccino who is one of her many horses. She wants to be a polocrosse playing farmer when she grows up, and is usually the very first person to come over, introduce herself and make you feel welcome. Confident, chatty and full of enthusiasm, Kaitlyn loves being in the middle of everything and is never afraid of hard work, mud or getting her hands dirty if it means being close to the horses.
LUKE
CHEIF MISCHEIF MAKER
The only boy of the triplets, he can seem a little reserved at first, but once he warms up his cheeky sense of humour quickly comes out. He has an uncanny ability to appear the moment a packet of biscuits, or a chocolate is opened. You’ll normally find him running around with a nerf gun or riding his bike. While horse riding isn’t his favourite activity yet, he is the biggest animal lover of the three, caring deeply about anything with four legs, from horses and dogs to donkeys and monkeys.
ANNABETH
DIRECTOR OF GAMES
Annabeth loves horses, but balances her riding life with a love of princess dresses, makeup and all things girly. She enjoys riding and being around the yard, just without quite the same appetite for messy jobs as her sister. Despite her softer style, Annabeth is very much the one in charge. She sets the games, decides the rules and naturally controls the pace, whether the others realise it or not. Thoughtful, confident and quietly authoritative, she brings sparkle and structure in equal measure.
GABRIEL & CHUKKA
RESIDENT DOG’S
Chukka is our loyal mixed breed who’s never far from the action snoozing in the sun by the stables. Gabriele, our junior golden retriever, adds some playful charm to the yard with his friendly energy and curious nature. Together, they’re a much-loved part of the African Hoofbeatz team and always ready to greet you with a wagging tail.
The Rest Of The Team
There are lots of people behind the day to day runnings of African Hoofbeatz, these are just a few of the faces behind daily life.
ELVIS
GROOM & HANDYMAN
Elvis is a dedicated member of the African Hoofbeatz team, Having worked with the Taylor family for nearly 10 years. known for his jokes, ability to make everyone laugh, and love for the donkeys. He lives on-site with his wife Wanani – who also works on the yard – along with their family, chickens, and some vocal turkeys. Whether it's feeding time, riding out, or lending a hand with stable upkeep, Elvis is an integral part of daily life at the yard.
GROOM & HANDYMAN
WANANI
Wanani is a quick learner with a growing depth of horsemanship knowledge. She brings with her a wealth of traditional African remedies and is often the first to notice when a horse needs a little extra care. She plays a key role in keeping the yard running smoothly — always organised, always one step ahead, and not afraid to keep the rest of the team in line when needed! Beyond the stables, she’s a keen gardener and is always planting something in the garden or looking after her chickens.
GROOM & YARD ORGANIZER
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