Carlisle Academy

09/17/2025

This is a true honor! Thank you to KKAC for this recognition. This work wouldn’t happen without the amazing staff, students, partners, and families who have helped make Carlisle Academy what it is today! A shared award.

Congratulations to Sarah Armentrout, Owner of Carlisle Academy, this year's DRIVEN Woman Award winner, presented at the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamb...

09/13/2025

Beautiful Saturday for Little Boots and Pony Club! Barn chores, trail rides, practicing for the upcoming show, and bouquet making for mom - great day all the way around.

Thank you to instructor Lindsay Anderson for leading the day, and to the Carlisle staff, Pony Club helpers, and wonderful horses who make these special days possible!

09/09/2025

This summer Lia and Annabelle started their education with horses on the ground, building confidence and connection through a 4-week ground-based horsemanship program led by Carlisle instructor Joyce Brown. Both teens are excited for their mounted lessons to begin this fall. 🐎🧲

09/06/2025

Thank you to Carlisle volunteer Carolyn Hall for the staff safety training this week! In addition to being a dedicated sidewalker in Play and Prosper’s hippotherapy program, Carolyn is a former firefighter, as well as an OSHA trainer and photographer with a keen eye and big heart. 💜

09/01/2025

On this Labor Day where lessons were quiet and the weather didn’t dissapoint, it was fun to treat one of our barn managers Ana to a nice hack on wonderful Maggie as a thank you for the hard work and dedication each day.

Horse care isn’t glamorous, but it is necessary and takes special people who forge relationships with horses and humans alike to make it all ultimately rewarding.

08/28/2025

We so enjoyed having Duke University OTD Intern Kelsey Holt with us for her 12-week occupational therapy fieldwork placement. She is featured in our first Carlisle Spotlight Series.

Welcome to the first edition of our Carlisle Spotlight series where we highlight the people and partnerships that make our community thrive. Throughout the year, we’ll feature stories that reflect the heart of our mission - connection, learning, and growth.

08/15/2025

What a fantastic week with 10 wonderful participants in the Nature Explorer’s Summer Camp! We partnered for the second year with Kennebunk Parks & Recreation to offer this special program exploring nature’s playground with insects, plants, trees, birds and more. Youth learned to whittle, build forts, make recipes in the mud kitchen, and still had plenty of time for arts and crafts, nature games, and free play.

Carlisle’s Community Program Coordintor and Nature Educator Katrina Vallario, OTR/L led this dynamic group alongside our very capable summer interns Kelsey Holt and Zoe Lambke. Glenn was on stand-by for cat scratches and never missed out on the fun.

08/09/2025

Beautiful evening to capture the flowers in full bloom on the farm. This space grows in scope and purpose each season.

08/07/2025

Shout out to Sarah Nehila and Simon Sez Lope for their Grade 3 Para-Dressage debut at a USEF recognized dressage show in Maine, scoring a 66%.

Sarah and Simon have been working hard over the last year to improve balance, harmony, and connection and their score reflected that last Sunday. Sarah was also instrumental in having Para Test of Choice added to the official class list in 2025, and advocating for her fellow para-dressage athletes.

Despite the challenges that she faced that day and the months prior to that, Sarah continues to keep her eye on the prize, which is the effort and the journey itself. Congratulations Sarah! 🤩

08/02/2025

So many wonderful moments at Junior Horsemanship Summer Camp! Thank you to all the families who participated to make Tuesdays and Thursdays in July extra special on the farm.

Shout out to returning camp leader Cat Sullivan, and our equine staff Kristina Wood, Aubrey Bedard, and Grace Triadou, as well as summer interns Kelsey Holt, Zoe Lambke, Laura Butterworth, and Eliza Von Stade. Extra pats for Rudy, Maya, Maggie, Clover, and Keeker too.

Summer camp is always a program highlight. Until next time…enjoy these fun pics. 🐎🌸🌻

07/31/2025

Congratulations to these two dynamos who completed their Stable Management Certificate program today!

Eliza Von Stade (left) and Laura Butterworth (right) joined us for the month of July for morning chores, horse handling in hippotherapy, and assisting with horse camp. Both brought their curiosity, dedication, and energy to Carlisle students and horses, and they were a joy to have.

Congratulations and thank you Laura and Eliza!

07/28/2025

Happy Monday!