Carla is a former 14-year member of the Vancouver City Police. After working the beat in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and witnessing the devastating effects of drug addiction she was determined to find a solution that not only focused on prevention and education but empowered youth to make healthy lifestyle choices. With this goal in mind she founded Unbridled Potential Equine Services (2008) and Empowered by Horses (2010), a social enterprise that incorporated horses and herd dynamics to model heart-centered leadership, teamwork and mindfulness to girls and young women. Fast forward to today, Empowered By Horses & Friends has expanded into a team of highly skilled facilitators including mental health counselors, equine/animal wellness facilitators, life coaches, and animal partners including donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. In 2017 EBH&F created and continues to teach Animal-Assisted, Nature-Based and Equine Wellness for the Child and Youth program at the University of Fraser Valley. Five years later, the Heart Centered Animal Assisted Practices (HCAAP) program was created to train those in helping professions wishing to partner with animals in their chosen career. 

All of EBH&F programs are founded on trauma-informed spaces with a strong focus on choice, consent and ethical considerations when partnering with animals.

Carla has partnered with horses for over forty years. She is an Equine Facilitated Learning Professional, Equine Professional, Pro-EFW Mentor (Pro-EFW) and Life & Wellness Coach with a BA in psychology. Her work is influenced by Linda Kohanov (The Way of the Horse), Carolyn Resnick (Water Hole Rituals), Mark Rashid (Passive Leadership), and Suzanne Clothier (Relationship Centered Training). Carla is also a professional horse coach and positive heart centered trainer. She is currently studying with Equusoma – Horse~Human Trauma Recovery and MiMer (Equine Human Education and Research Centre) – Equines in Therapy and Learning.

Carla lives in Abbotsford at Anam Cara Farm and Learning Center with her life partner, Steve, seven horses (including two rescued minis); two donkeys, three sheep, six pigs, nine chickens, one dog, and four cats.

Scope of Practice 

As an Equine Facilitated Learning Professional, Life & Wellness Coach and Equine Professional, Carla Webb is exceptional at creating safe spaces for her clients and animal/human partners. She understands the healing nature of attunement and works hard to foster respectful relationships between humans and the natural world. 

Carla is only accepting mentoring clients at this time as her focus is on group work and training wellness/helping professionals to partner with animals/nature in their chosen career. Her team at Empowered By Horses and Friends provide individual sessions to people of all ages with a special focus on vulnerable youth including neuroatypical kids, children and youth in care, and those dealing with loss and grief. Please visit our Meet the Team page for more information.

Qualifications

  • Completing Level One Equusoma – horse~human trauma recovery
  • Completing Level Two MiMer – equines in therapy 
  • Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness *Dual certified EFW Learning Professional and Equine Professional ~ Mentor
  • The Art and Science of Coaching – Erickson College 2008
  • The Dance of Equus Equine Guided Development Facilitator Training – Chirons Way
  • Horse Council BC Rider Level 1-3
  • BA in Psychology – SFU 1996
  • Provincial Constable Recruit Training – JIBC 1996
  • Vancouver Police Officer PC 1777 Webb, 1996 – 2010 Vancouver, BC

Experience

  • Heart Centered Animal Assisted Practices – Co-creator and instructor in Animal-Assisted, Nature-Based and Equine Wellness training since 2023
  • University of Fraser Valley – Co-creator and instructor in the Child Youth Care Program for Animal-Assisted, Nature-Based and Equine Wellness training since 2017
  • Mentor for current EFW practitioners and candidates in the certification stream of Pro-EFW
  • Archway Community Services – leading children and youth groups  since 2015
  • Ministry of Child and Family Development and Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services – working with vulnerable youth and children since 2013
  • Leading grief and loss groups for Abbotsford and Mission Hospices 
  • Individual (both youth and adults) sessions, workshops, retreats and programs taught since 2008 
  • Odd Squad Productions Society member and volunteer since 1999
  • Volunteer training and community development in Costa Rica – Youth Challenge International 1991

Professional Associations

BC Therapeutic Riding Association
The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI)
Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness (Pro-EFW)
Individual Member of Horse Council BC

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