Carla’s Bio

Thinking her love of horses was just a phase, Carla’s parents enrolled her in a one-week pony camp at the age of 10, after years of begging, pleading, and unlikely promises.  Immediately upon her return from camp, Carla started regular riding lessons on a pony named Toot, having got a paper route to help pay for them.  Leasing a horse named Finnegan and now grooming and working at the barn, Carla fell in love with the Olympic sport of 3-Day Eventing.

Carla began coaching and training in 1998, rode in the North American Young Riders’ Championships CCI* in 1999 and was talent scouted for the Canadian Eventing Team.  Promptly thereafter, her beloved Habib injured a tendon and was off for nearly two years of rest and rehab before making a successful comeback to eventing.

Without an upper-level horse to ride, Carla went back to school and completed two degrees at UBC.  Her B.Sc. (2006) is a Combined Honours in Biology and Oceanography, and her M.Sc. (2010) is in Zoology – Biomechanics and Animal Physiology.  Continuing to teach riding lessons and train horses throughout her studies, she also earned her Equine Canada English Coach Level 1 (2007).

Carla had to figure out a way to go to school, keep her sweet Habib, and not live with her parents.  So Seabrook Stables was born!  After finishing school Carla went to work as an environmental consultant and obtained her Registered Professional Biologist’s designation (2012).  But she can’t imagine living anywhere without her horses in her backyard.

Carla and her amazing husband Darcy got hitched at the barn hitching post (2014), supervised by their equally amazing Chiweenie, Titus.  In 2015, Carla and Darcy formed their own environmental consulting company, Titus Biological Services Inc.  Both Rollo the derpy Doberman and the rock star superbaby, Raina, joined the family in 2016.  Carla continues to event her horse Dexter, upgraded him to Training level in 2017, missed the entire eventing season in 2018 due to the arrival of the second rock star superbaby, Thora, and was back competing Dex in 2019!

Our history

Seabrook Stables began in 2005, with a lease on a 5 acre farm in Richmond, BC.  In April 2011, we moved to Maple Ridge, and in September of 2013 we purchased our new home, this beautiful 10 acre facility on Cedar Way!  We are thrilled with our farm, delighted that every single boarder from our East Maple Ridge barn came along, and touched that some of our Richmond clients are still with us!  And of course, we’re very excited about all our new friends and neighbours here.

Our focus

Our focus is on the horse.  We strive to create the most natural home possible, where each horse is happy and content.  There is enough space at the farm to provide stimulating and supportive surroundings for active, working horses, as well as a comfortable, low-stress environment for retired superstars and pleasure horses.  We aim for a cohesive balance between the tried and true traditions of classical horsemanship and the benefits of a safe, common sense natural setting.

Seabrook Stables has room available for cool horses and their people! Contact Carla for more information.