Acorns to Oaks Horsemanship Center is, at its heart, a place that makes people and horses feel at home, so that we all can grow. We rely on our horses, our staff, and our working students to help make that happen…but we know that our amazing clients are part of our “barn family,” and we believe they are just as integral to this feeling. (Our gallery showcases how awesome our barn family is!)
Our Team
Kelly O’Neil has spent her life around horses. She is a licensed riding instructor, an alumna of the U.S. Pony Club, and holds a bachelors degree in equine science and management. She believes that all people have the ability to become skilled caretakers of horses, that this ability can help people take care of themselves as well, and that sharing this ability can build strong communities.
Abigail Vargus is a licensed school adjustment counselor and a school-based clinician with Eliot Community Human Services. She has a masters in clinical mental health as well as a certificate in animal-assisted therapy. Her two kids have taught her about the joys and challenges of growing up in this place and time…and her four-legged friends have provided strength and comfort during that process. She wants to share that powerful combination (of mental health and animals) with children and adolescents.
We also have a great team of working students, who work hard to keep the barn clean and our horses cared for.
Our Vision
Our mission is to provide a place to grow — as people, as horse riders, and as community members — through fostering positive physical and mental health. We want people who come to Acorns to Oaks Horsemanship Center to feel warmly welcomed, and to feel like they can not only learn but also contribute to our barn home and our greater community.