Meet the Human Team
CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING
At Little Oasis Equine Assisted Learning, we are deeply committed to our community and strive to offer goal-oriented programs that strengthen our collective skills. Our dedicated team—both staff and volunteers—actively pursues ongoing education to better support the families we serve.
Standard First aid + CPR level C
Emergency First Aid + CPR level C
OSBC Privacy & Information Sharing Certificate
Duty to Report Training - Autism Spectrum Disorder DSM-V changes ASD Challenging behaviours
Trauma Informed Practice
Expected and Unexpected behaviours
Family Centered Training
Brain Gym 101
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder
Circle of Security
Leah Hope
Volunteer Program Director
Former Registered Nurse ER/OR/Hospice Palliative Care
Cartier Equine Learning Centre – 2011
Academy of Equine Assisted Learning – Level 2 and 3 - 2013, 2014
Hippotherapy 1 therapy Principles (2016) - AHA
SPECTRUM - Lifespan Autism resources and training
Mental Health First Aid -2021
Trauma Informed Practice - Justice Institute of BC, 2023
Leah graduated from Selkirk College in 1995 with a diploma in Nursing Sciences. She went on to earn post-graduate certificates in Operating Room and Emergency Nursing before later working in hospice and palliative care. However, injuries cut her career as an active-duty nurse short, leading her down an entirely new path—one focused on health, wellness, and healing for herself, her family, and her animals. Horses became both her inspiration and the foundation of her continued learning in human development.
In 2011, Leah expanded her expertise by training with Cartier Equine Learning Centre, where she achieved advanced certification as an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) facilitator. Alongside her dedicated team, she provides practicum placements for Human Service students from Selkirk College, enriching their education with hands-on learning experiences. Leah takes pride in being a lifelong learner.
Since its founding in 2012, Little Oasis Equine has been dedicated to providing safe and effective building-block experiential learning programs with the transformative power of horses. Specializing in social development and life skills programs, Little Oasis EAL continues to serve and support communities through its unique approach to personal growth and empowerment.
Gabi Mayrhofer
Certified EAL facilitator and Assistant Program Director
Cartier Equine Learning Centre – Level 1 2018
SPECTRUM- Lifespan Autism resources and training
Mental Health First Aid -2021
Trauma Informed Practice - Justice Institute of BC, 2023
Gabi was born and raised in Germany, and horses became a part of her life at age nine. She began volunteering in therapeutic riding programs whenever possible and riding whenever the opportunity presented itself. After moving to Canada in 1991, Gabi was soon able to purchase her first horse and has been surrounded by them ever since. In 2017 she started volunteering with Little Oasis in our EAL programs and became certified in 2018. This allowed Gabi to follow her passion for working with horses and helping continue to share these amazing animals lessons and gifts with others.
Lea Alessandrello
Certified EAL Facilitator
Cartier Equine Learning Centre – Level 1 2018
Trauma Informed Practice - Justice Institute of BC, 2023
Lea's passion for being with horses started early, at the age of ten years old. She spent two years convincing her parents she was serious about wanting to be around and ride horses. They started her on donkeys, and she has never looked back. Lea left Switzerland in 2012 and came to Canada to work at the Wilderness Guest Ranch, where she could work, play, and breathe horses. Her interest in human nature, psychology and horses lead her to Equine Assisted Learning and she loves facilitating people's journeys with these animals, learning and growing herself along the way.
Aftin Jolly
Certified EAL Facilitator
Cartier Equine Learning Centre - 2024
Emergency first aid CPR 'C'
Gonzaga University in Spokane - Masters in Counselling (student)
Seeking a career that felt bigger than herself, Aftin discovered her passion for helping others.
She is currently pursuing her Masters in Counselling, with plans to graduate in spring 2025. In early 2024, she joined Little Oasis as a Program Assistant, and it wasn’t long before she fell in love with both the horses and the people. The connection was immediate—she knew this was the work she was meant to do.
By fall 2024, Aftin became a certified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Facilitator, and she feels truly honoured to be part of such a transformative journey.
Kathy Sager
Certified EAL Facilitator
Early Childhood Care & Education, North Island College - 2009
Forest School Teacher Training, Fresh Air Learning - 2017
Cartier Equine Learning Centre - 2021
Trauma Informed Practice - Justice Institute of BC, 2023
Kathy has been fascinated by horses for as long as she can remember. She rode as a child, and in recent years, she has deepened her understanding by learning more about their care and developing her riding skills.
With a lifelong passion for creating meaningful learning experiences, Kathy has spent years developing outdoor nature programs for children in the Kootenays. When she first participated in an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program with her daughters, she immediately recognized its value and knew it was meant to be part of her path.
Now, as an EAL facilitator, Kathy is grateful for the opportunity to share this transformative experience with others while working alongside an incredible team of humans and horses.
Miguel Legere
Certified EAL Facilitator
Cartier Equine Learning Centre - 2024
Emergency first aid CPR 'C'
Miguel’s fascination with horses began at a very young age. After her first ride on her aunt’s horse at the age of three, she was hooked. Growing up as a military brat, owning a horse was never in the cards—until a move to Edmonton made all those years of waiting worthwhile.
At 13, Miguel purchased her first horse, Blü, who is still by her side to this day. Along their journey, Miguel and Blü found themselves boarding at Little Oasis, which opened Miguel’s eyes to the wonders of Equine-Assisted Learning. After watching her horse work through the program, she became infatuated with the process and knew it was something she had to be part of.
Alex Hope
Program Assistant
Volunteer at Little Oasis 2014-2018
Certified Health Care Assistant 2019
SPECTRUM- Lifespan Autism resources and training
Mental Health First Aid -2021
Alex grew up surrounded by the horses at her home here at Little Oasis Equine and was thereby immersed in the Equine Assisted Learning world. She has developed a love for the special needs population and children with diverse abilities, which led her to pursue her training as a support worker. She loves to work alongside the beautiful herd of horses here at Little Oasis and participate in the transformations that horses can initiate.
VIEW OUR FORMER EAL STAFF
MEET THE EQUINE TEAM
SPIRIT
STILETTO
MOHAWK
SAGE
XENIA