Meet the facilitators

Stav Adler

Facilitator

As a second generation equestrian, horses are a lifelong passion for Stav. Growing up, Stav taught and competed in jumping competitions but no longer coaches or rides as a professional.

Stav has witnessed firsthand how time spent with horses has a powerful effect on peoples happiness and wellbeing. Facilitating as a volunteer, Stav is delighted to share these experiences with as many people a possible and to help them find growth and fulfillment in their own lives.

Patricia Barkaskas

Facilitator

Patricia is Métis from Alberta. As a child living in rural Alberta, she had the privilege of spending time with horses regularly and experiencing the benefits of equine relationships. Moving to the city when she was 12-years old changed all that, but she never gave up her dream of finding a way back to spending time with horses and continuing to experience their honesty and wisdom.

Patricia brings her professional experience teaching self-reflective practice, cultural competency, and about diversity and justice to facilitating Equine Assisted Learning. It is her hope that everyone can experience the benefits of all that horses can teach us in order to develop greater understanding of ourselves in all aspects of our lives.

Patricia is Associate Professor of Teaching and the Academic Director, Indigenous Community Legal Clinic at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia.

Bethany MacGillivray

Facilitator

Growing up, Bethany loved horses and began riding at a young age. She is excited to reconnect with this passion and translate it as a Facilitator with Equine Discovery. 

Through personal experience, she has felt the power of healing with horses and how this connection can help shift mental wellbeing. Bethany is also a Clinical Counsellor, and she is looking forward to helping people explore their strengths and potential from a place of curiosity and compassion.