Our program staff consists of our Program Director, Head Instructor, Driver/Assistant Instructor and lesson Instructor, making it a strong team with each member having the capacity to step into leadership roles. Urban Stable currently has two Senior Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) certified instructors and one Intermediate CanTRA certified instructor who is working towards her Senior level. Our Senior level instructors have the capacity to mentor instructors/CanTRA candidates of all levels of instructor certification right here in Manitoba. Urban Stable is the first CanTRA Accredited Exam Centre for Basic One and Basic Two Instructor level examinations in the province.
Lana Stevenson – President
Chamaine Walsh - Secretary
Kate Simes - Treasurer
Melissa Klimack - Director
Heather Clements - Director
Val Holloway - Director
Dawna Atamanchuk - Director
Hayley Edwards is Executive Director for Urban Stable. She specializes in assisting teams and individuals to overcome barriers, build confidence and strengthen connections to their education, organization, and community through working with horses.
Hayley is a certified Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) Senior Instructor, Equestrian Canada Instructor of Beginners and CanTRA instructor mentor. Hayley joined the Urban Stable team in 2014 and has over fifteen years experience in the therapeutic riding and equine facilitated learning industry.
Growing up in a village in leafy Surrey, UK, Hayley developed a deep passion for charitable work in her youth. Participating in horse riding activities as a young person she quickly discovered the strategic and life-changing benefits interacting with horses can bring. As a result Hayley believes in the growth, trust, connection, and personal discovery that individuals can gain from hands-on learning experiences with horses.
Now living under the vast and spectacular prairie skies in Winnipeg, MB, Hayley is inspired from these experiences and helps teams, peers, and individuals recognize their unique capabilities through mentorship and leadership development. Hayley enjoys watching the connection participants make with their horses and celebrating in their growth and personal success.
Hayley has worked in all areas of the organization and emanates the heart of Urban Stable. It is her continuous enthusiasm and passionate belief in people that inspires individuals and teams to become prouder, stronger, and more valuable contributors in their school, organization, and community.
Carla Bergen, our Head Instructor, is a certified Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA) Senior Instructor and Equestrian Canada Instructor of Beginners who is dedicated to helping people make meaningful connections with horses. Whether she is coaching students through work on the ground or in the saddle, building a partnership with the horse based on trust is her main focus. From this trusting partnership, Carla helps students understand the lessons their 4-legged teachers are offering, from lessons that are personal, social and emotional to lessons that are technical skills in riding and horsemanship.
With a diverse background in the horse industry Carla began working at Urban Stable in 2014 and loves watching the magic of the connection between participants and their horses, the growth participants demonstrate through their time in our programs, and the pride and confidence participants show when they share their growth and skills with their families, communities and team members.
Carla believes that the horse can teach us things about ourselves that no one else can and feels privileged to be able to create space for this learning.
“Horses teach us to ask without aggression, how to love without condition, and how to avoid the destructive side of perfection.” – Dominique Barbier
Ashley joined Urban Stable in the fall of 2021 as Instructor and Program Assistant. She grew up on a farm and has been around horses her whole life. She began taking riding lessons when she was seven years old and competed in several disciplines including Hunter/Jumper, 3-day Eventing, and was an active member of Manitoba Pony Club.
Ashley joins the Urban Stable team with considerable experience working on farms and in the equine industry. She is currently working on her CanTRA Intermediate Instructor certification. Ashley enjoys spending quality time with her beautiful Morgan Mare, Vera, and is passionate about creating similar life experiences for her students.
Lana Stevenson joined the Urban Stable team in 2015. She started as a Volunteer Horse Handler, served on the Board for seven years, and more recently has become an Assistant Instructor. Over the years she has enjoyed witnessing the transformation that occurs in the students as they develop their partnership with their horse, gain confidence, and grow as individuals. She has a strong belief that the program can work for anyone as the horses provide the students with the skills they need – whether it is finding ways to be calm and focused or finding ways to be confident and clear in their communication.
Lana’s background in psychology and horses has helped prepare her for this role. She has been involved with horses most of her life, and as an adult amateur continues to ride and compete in jumping events with her horse Gemini. Lana also enjoys spending time with her family, supporting her teen daughters in their activities and volunteering on other non-profit Boards.
Wendy finds it a pleasure transporting Urban Stable students safely from their school to the stable and back every week. She enjoys chatting with the students about their equine partners and watching the students connect with and learn from their horses. Observing the benefits of Urban Stable grow in the students and seeing the smiles on their faces amazes Wendy.
Wendy has been fortunate to have had many riding horses throughout her life. Her husbands’ family showed heavy horses, so naturally she learned to drive a team of Clydesdales too. Currently, Wendy owns two miniature donkeys and Ms. Piffles, a retired Urban Stable program horse! She loves looking after her animals and wants to share her love of horses with her grandkids.
Over the years Wendy has enjoyed the opportunity to work with youth as a 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher. Between her family’s sheep farm, a catering business, and her five grandkids, she keeps pretty busy. Wendy enjoys painting barn quilts and scrapbooking when time allows. Being at Urban Stable is her favourite day of the week!
Iris is a retired teacher who joined the Urban Stable team as a driver and thoroughly enjoys it. Iris is very familiar with horses and working with youth as she has had the opportunity to be involved in both these areas most of her life.
Iris grew up with horses on a mixed farm in northwestern Saskatchewan. She has a degree in Physical Education and Mathematics from the University of Saskatchewan, and an Education degree from the University of Manitoba.
In her career as a teacher Iris taught in Northern Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Stonewall. She is now retired from teaching full time, but still does some tutoring. And of course enjoys spending time driving for Urban Stable.
Iris enjoys curling, golfing, camping, and riding her horses. She competes in Competitive Trail and Endurance riding with her Arabian mare.