Sarah Armentrout
Co-Founder & Head of School | sarmentrout@carlisleacademymaine.com
As co-founder of Carlisle Academy, Sarah manages strategic oversight while also creating curriculum and coaching students. She has been in the field of equine-assisted therapies and equestrian sports as a coach and competitor for over 30 years and is a PATH, Intl. Advanced Riding Instructor, a PATH, Intl. Mentor, and a USEF Certified Silver Level Para-Dressage Coach. In the 1990’s Sarah worked at the National Center for Equine-Facilitated Therapy in Woodside, California under the tutelage of the late Barbara Heine, early visionary of the American Hippotherapy Association. She later moved into management at the Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped in Hailey, ID with husband Nick, while also apprenticing as working student for Connected Riding Founder, Peggy Cummings. Prior to creating Carlisle Academy, Sarah was the Group Team Leader of Corporate Communications at Tom’s of Maine, managing brand identity, integrated communications, and corporate giving. Sarah currently serves on the statewide Board of Directors for the Maine Community Foundation and recently graduated with the 4th cohort of MCF’s Leadership Learning Exchange for Equity. She sits on the National Advisory Council of the United States Equestrian Team Foundation and is adjunct faculty for the University of New Hampshire’s Equine Studies Program. Between 2016-2019, Sarah acted as the National Coordinator for the Veterans Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative through the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Adaptive Sport Grant funded to Carlisle Academy, which helped shape the curriculum and pilot for the USEF Para-Dressage Coach Certificate Program under USEF Head of Coach Development & Technical Advisor, Michel Assouline. Sarah graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a B.A in Religion and is always ready to integrate her academic interests with daily business operations and industry pursuits. She lives at Spring Creek Farm in Lyman, Maine with her husband and three children, home to their horses and many farm animals.
Nick Armentrout
Co-Founder & General Manager, Spring Creek Farm | nick@carlisleacademymaine.com
Nick has a professional background in small business and supply chain administration, sales, land and livestock management. Over the course of his career, Nick has managed four small businesses for others, and two of his own, throughout start-up phase to maturity. He has spent over 10 years sourcing and supplying raw materials for the manufacture of 100% U.S.-sourced and constructed knit-wool clothing fabrics, as well as goods certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard – “GOTS,” and Cradle to Cradle Certified ™ for the company Ramblers Way. He holds a BA in English from Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland, where he went to play lacrosse but studied Romantic Poets instead. He is University of Maine Master Gardener, and a Saltwater Institute Values-Centered Leadership graduate. Nick has spent most of his adult years engaged with animal agriculture and organic farming. Initially ranching in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, he then returned home to start Spring Creek Farm with Sarah in 1998. Nick manages Spring Creek Farm, a mixed-power, organic horse, sheep, hay and grain farm that also serves as the host facility for Carlisle Academy. He is most happy behind his 2 draft horses getting a job done.
Alissa Luckey
Office & Communications Manager | aluckey@carlisleacademymaine.com
A native Bostonian, Alissa received her bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University in Marketing and International Business and spent 10 years in the corporate digital marketing world, working at several start-ups in both Boston and New York. After relocating to Maine in 2019, Alissa decided to change directions and pursue a more meaningful career, where she could connect to nature and animals – a dream of hers from a young age. As the Office and Communications Manager at Carlisle Academy, Alissa brings both sides of her skills, knowledge, and passions to the table. Alissa can be found both in the office and the stables – managing activities from student accounts to marketing and customer relations.
Joyce Brown, CTRI
Certified PATH, International Instructor
Joyce began at Carlisle Academy in 2007 as a horse handler and adaptive riding instructor, holding various administrative roles as well through early 2014. She continued to volunteer as an apprentice and rejoined Carlisle staff in 2020. Joyce is a PATH Int’l Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She teaches traditional riding, unmounted farm-based programs, and facilitates Carlisle’s equine assisted wellness programs.
A confirmed horse lover from her first Shetland pony ride at 3 years old, Joyce finally had her first “official” riding lesson in her mid-30s and has been riding and studying all things equine ever since. With all she learned through her relationship with her first horse Lady, she was inspired to develop Hands to Horses, an unmounted therapeutic horsemanship program for Sweetser which she taught for many years. Joyce studies the art of dressage and remains in awe of the gifts horses share with us in every single interaction.
Kate Goldwyn Musk
Riding Academy Instructor
Kate Goldwyn Musk teaches riders of all ages at Carlisle Academy. She has been a professional riding instructor, trainer and horsewoman for more than 20 years. She is a certified Centered Riding® Instructor and founded and developed her own farm, Strawberry Fields in New York, where she taught hunter seat, jumping, basic dressage, recreational riding to riders of all ages. Kate competed from childhood in local to national level horse shows. Coached by Gary Duffy, she competed in Equitation and Junior Working Hunters, from Wellington, FL to Saratoga, NY, including the Washington International Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the Devon Horse Show. It is Kate’s belief that while competition can offer fun and achievement for many riders, good horsemanship, sportsmanship and the love of the horse must always come first.
Jamie Viola, OTR/L, CDP
Fieldwork Educator
Jamie earned her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Salem State University. She has been a practicing OT for 6 years and has worked with many different populations across multiple settings. She has extensive experience working with complex older adults with movement disorders and dementia, having earned specialty certifications as a LSVT BIG certified clinician and Certified Dementia Practitioner. Jamie has recently shifted her area of focus to include outpatient pediatric services with a nature-based approach to service delivery and the unique opportunity to incorporate equine movement as a treatment tool. Life experience as a mother to a neurodivergent 4-year-old has developed an ability to connect with both children and families who may be experiencing an atypical developmental journey. She is excited to partner with Play and Prosper, PLLC and Carlisle Academy to bring nature, equines, and occupational therapy together to optimize client outcomes. Jamie is an accomplished equestrian having trained to FEI level in dressage, an avid gardener, amateur bird watcher, and bibliophile; she enjoys spending free time with her husband and son exploring the beautiful natural elements of Maine whether it be forest, farm, mountains, or on the water.
Katrina Vallario, OTR/L
Program Development Coordinator
Katrina graduated from Salem State University in 2020 with a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education. While teaching at a nature school, they developed a deep appreciation for nature’s healing power, prompting them to pursue a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, completed in the Fall of 2024. Now a licensed OT, Katrina aims to combine their educational background and passion for nature in community initiatives, assisting with Carlisle Academy’s program development and collaborating with Play and Prosper, PLLC on site to integrate nature, equine movement, and occupational therapy. In their personal life, they explore the connections between education, therapy, and nature to benefit the communities they serve.
Robin Cyr
Riding Instructor & Pony Club Coordinator
Robin grew up riding and showing hunter jumpers on the east coast and fell in love with the magic of the equestrian lifestyle from a young age. She has dedicated her career to always putting the horse first and helping children learn how to get the most out of their relationships with these beautiful animals. While she enjoys formally educating children and adults to be successful competitors in the show ring, she greatly values the importance of using equines for teachable moments that foster critical skills such as resilience, responsibility, empathy, and determination in all age levels. At Carlisle, Robin is instructing riders of all ages and abilities and coordinating the Carlisle Pony Club and Little Boots Programs.
Meeghan Dempsey
Facilitator & Equine Specialist
Originally from New Jersey, Meeghan found her way back to horses after raising her four children. What began as a volunteer leader/sidewalker position at a local therapeutic riding barn evolved into a position as volunteer coordinator and barn staff. Her interest in working with veterans lead to pursuing a certification as an EAGALA Equine Specialist. Meeghan went on to work as part of a team of equine specialists and mental health professionals in a program for veterans named From Combat to Calm at Serenity Stables. She and her team provided equine-assisted services (EAS) to combat veterans in residential treatment facilities, retired Vietnam veterans in group counseling, and disabled veterans from East Orange Veterans Hospital. She also worked in tandem with staff mental health professionals to provide EAS to various adolescent groups as well. Before moving to Maine, Meeghan worked as head barn care coordinator and equine specialist at Carrier Clinic, a residential treatment facility housing and serving seniors, adults, and adolescents with mental health and addiction issues. Since becoming a Maine resident, Meeghan has worked as barn staff/vet assistant at a local equine veterinary clinic and has joined the staff at Carlisle Academy in the equine-assisted learning programs, as well as the community riding and nature-based programs. She is currently working toward completing her Masters in Addiction Counseling and her Level 1 training in Natural Lifemanship. In her free time, she enjoys her own farm with her beloved Tennessee Walker, Teddy, his bestie mare, Emma, 2 mini donkeys and a farm full of chickens and ducks.
Cat Sullivan
Instructor
Cat has had a lifelong passion for horses, that began with taking lessons at the age of four. She first joined Carlisle Academy as a Pony Clubber, achieving her C1 ranking as part of the team in 2016. With her background in dressage, Cat went on to earn her USDF Bronze Medal in 2021 and has competed in recognized shows through Fourth level. Cat returned to Carlisle during the summer of 2023 where she completed a career exploration internship and began teaching beginner lessons to fellow horse lovers. Currently, Cat is an undergraduate Occupational Therapy student at the University of New Hampshire, where she is eager to integrate her academic studies with her love for horses.
Kristina Wood
Barn Staff & Horse Handler
Kris has had a passion for horses since getting in the saddle for the first time at age six. She has cultivated a rich tapestry of experiences that span various equestrian disciplines. From breeding, delivering, and training young foals to show groom for the Morgan show world, and various other journeys, she has honed her skills and knowledge through hands-on experience and continuous learning. She is a multi-talented person with interests varying from welding, hiking, exploring, and managing her own house cleaning business. At Carlisle Kris helps in the stables with horse care and handles horses in hippotherapy.
Anasthasia Archer
Barn Staff & Horse Handler
Anasthasia (Anna) is a stable hand and horse handler at Carlisle Academy. In this role, Anna cares for the horses and other farm animals, and also assists as a handler in hippotherapy and youth programs. Ana has more than 20 years of experience in animal husbandry and over 5 years’ experience in property management, having worked in small animal hospitals, equestrian facilities, and in landscaping roles. In 2020 she moved to Singing Winds Farm in Rhode Island where she managed their 20-horse boarding barn. After moving back to Lebanon, ME in 2023, she cared for over 50 horses as the assistant manager at Myhre Equine Clinic and High Knoll Equestrian Center in Rochester, NH. In her free time, Anna enjoys gardening, spending time with her animals (dogs, cats, chickens and ducks) and playing her favorite songs on the drums.
Grace Triadou
Barn Staff & Horse Handler
Grace’s journey with horses began when she was just three years old. From the moment she could walk, Grace’s heart was captivated by the gentle giants, and the lessons learned within the stables-patience, empathy, responsibility-are qualities that Grace carries with her into all aspects of her life. Grace has participated in numerous competitions in her youth, ranging from show jumping to barrel racing, and at Carlisle she helps with morning chores and handles horses in Pony Club programs. Grace has an innate love for nature that manifests in her many outdoor activities. She enjoys fishing, gardening, and you’ll most likely find her on her paddle board in the middle of a lake or carving through fresh powder on her snowboard during winter months.
Adjunct Faculty
Judith Giencke Kimball, Ph.D., OTR/L, FOATA
UNE Professor Emeritus, Carlisle Academy Faculty Advisor
Judith has worked as a clinician and university professor in occupational therapy for over 50 years. She was the Founding Director and is now Professor Emeritus of the Occupational Therapy curriculum at the University of New England in Portland, Maine. She has served as Occupational Student Education Coordinator at a VA Hospital, a consultant to many school-based occupational therapy programs, and has consistently maintained a part-time private practice. She worked extensively with Dr. A. Jean Ayes, the developer of Sensory Integration theory and practice, and Patricia Wilbarger, the originator of clinical treatments for sensory defensiveness. Dr. Kimball speaks widely at professional conferences, and her numerous publications include book chapters and research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her academic degrees include a BS in Occupational Therapy, an MS in Special Education, a Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a PhD in Psychology. Her latest publication is a book: DIAL IT DOWN A Wellness Approach for Addressing Post Traumatic Stress in Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare Workers and Others in This Uncertain World.