Meet Doug & Tina
Doug McLean and Tina Llewellyn met at an advanced F.E.E.L.® (Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning®) training. They were partnered together through the day and as a result, their connection grew. They bonded over a common history and passion to reinvent the equestrian world, by transitioning it from one of commodity and dominance, to one of intentionality, connection, and healing.
Doug and Tina’s respective passions for animals started at a young age.
Doug recalls growing-up on a small hobby farm with sheep, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits. He would often adventure across the fence onto the neighbour’s property to sit with their herd of horses. There he would watch, and dream.
Though a career in business took him a seemingly different direction, his love of animals remained an underlying thread in his life. Following his time as a public servant, Doug served five terms on his local city council where he was successful in protecting the foreshore and eagles’ roosting trees. More recently, Doug was also appointed a member of the Lower Mainland SPCA Regional Council.
Retiring from his executive position, Doug dedicated his time to a return to the equine world. He began riding at a lesson barn and while at the stable, he noticed the ability of horses to sense emotions. He felt an immediate and strong pull toward their wisdom and intuitive healing power. He had observed the effects of unmanaged stress, trauma, and anxiety in himself, his daughter, and countless others and knew instantly that horses had an innate power that could heal this.
Doug took time to learn about the herd dynamics and horse behaviour, and how we can better understand the horse-human relationship. He attended a horse language clinic, called “Horse Speak”, in Wyoming and concluded from these experiences that it is all about connection and having conversations: Horses can be our teachers!
Doug’s desire to help people plus his new horse knowledge led him to the F.E.E.L.® training program at Mystic Waters Ranch and in 2023, Doug became a certified F.E.E.L.® Practitioner. Doug couples this education with a formal background in Facilitating Meetings and Adult Learning Methodology (BCIT), and Executive Coaching from PSA Institute.
In Tina Llewellyn’s life, horses have always been the constant thread.
From very early childhood, they were only in dreams until she was gifted her first pony at the age of eight. She and Flagg were constant companions, whether at Pony Club or just hanging out. Broken-hearted when she literally outgrew her petite four-legged friend, Tina continued to bring horses into her life.
It was Lucinda, a sweet, red-headed Thoroughbred mare that chose Tina and became her heart horse. After Tina’s graduation, the pair traveled to Florida and Virginia where Tina worked for and learned about upper level Three Day Eventing. Though Tina was thrilled at this opportunity, she also came to recognize that her love of horses was not tied to competition but went deeper: Lucinda was her heart horse and it was simply spending time with these powerful creatures that filled Tina’s heart. During their time together, Lucinda acted as a mirror for Tina, revealing the sadness and pain that Tina kept hidden from the world.
Upon return from their trip, Tina started hanging out with a different group and in time, pressure from the group led to an incident that would affect Tina for years. Filled with shame and guilt, the event created a rift in her family and it would be years before Tina would be able to reconnect with them.
Burying her pain, Tina channeled her energy into becoming a Farrier which gave her a way to work with horses and create with her hands. Tina apprenticed with many of the top Farrier’s in British Columbia, achieving a Journeyman Designation — A title few women acquired — and built a successful business with Lucinda by her side. Though incredibly rewarding, Tina also recognized the toll this profession was taking on her body and knew the pain she hid within this work inevitably needed to be addressed.
By 2016 the physical demands of being a Farrier had taken their toll and Tina knew it was time to move on. It was also around this time that Tina faced her toughest moment – saying farewell to Lucinda. Lucinda’s death signified an end to Tina’s past, and Spirit had something to say about her future. Tina knew she wanted to continue a path being of service to others, and she was soon introduced to a new way of being with horses: F.E.E.L.®
Training at Mystic Waters Ranch, Tina learned how to partner with horses as teachers to help others heal and grow. The journey reawakened other passions Tina had forgotten, including art (through Intentional Creativity®), and a spark inside her was reignited to share these gifts to support others.
Tina has 31 years of horse and riding experience. She has trained third level dressage and competed in upper-level Three Day Eventing, and is also a registered coach with Equestrian Canada.
Together, Doug and Tina combine passion and admiration for horses to support horse and rider to co-create a unified partnership.
They believe horses are a mirror, and one of our greatest teachers.
If we can pause to listen and witness, we can begin to create the shifts we desire for ourselves: On the ground, in the saddle, and in our lives outside the arena.