Q&A with Sarah Armentrout ’88

When Sarah (Chappell) Armentrout started riding horses at the age of six, she had no idea it would become a lifelong passion that would evolve into a career helping others. Today, as co-founder and head of school at Carlisle Academy at Spring Creek Farm in Lyman, Maine, Sarah helps provide a range of accredited programs, including equestrian learning and sports, health and wellness programs, as well as farm and nature-based education. Her work bridges equine science, healthcare, and education — empowering individuals of all ages and abilities through the healing connection between humans and horses.

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When did your passion for horses begin?
I began riding horses when I was six years old and had my own horse by the time I was ten. I would ride my bike down the street to the farm where my horse was boarded. I enjoyed spending my after-school time and summers there. When I was at Pomfret, I was part of the riding club, and I also competed while at Trinity College. 

Did you ever consider becoming a veterinarian or studying equine science?
I always took my education very seriously, but a future in science wasn’t for me, and I was happier in nature than with my head in a book. After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, I went to Alaska to scrub rocks. I studied marine mammals in Baja, Mexico, during a semester abroad in college. I did everything that I could to be in nature with animals.

After teaching English in Slovakia and working for the San Francisco Urban Service Project, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in service work. Still, I was seeking opportunities outside the city that involved animals. One summer, I volunteered at a facility in Idaho that offered therapeutic riding. Later, I returned to San Francisco to work as a horse handler at the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy. They were using horses as a medium for various therapeutic outcomes. That’s when I knew I wanted to do equine-assisted services.

Where did your heart for service work come from?
As a member of the family that founded Tom's of Maine, I was instilled with a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to give back to our community. My passion for social justice was one of the reasons I studied religion in college — I wanted to understand the motivations behind the actions of people around the world.

When did you decide you wanted your farm?
While helping to manage the Sagebrush Equine Training Center in Idaho with my now husband, Nick, we decided to return to our home state of Maine to get married, start a family, and run our own farm.

Tell us about your first therapeutic riding center. 
In the early days, we were heavily focused on therapeutic riding. But because our business was a nonprofit, much of my time was spent on fundraising and writing grants. I didn’t have the opportunity to develop innovative programs and stretch into new areas of the industry with this structure.   After thirteen years, we transitioned to a social enterprise model by establishing Carlisle Academy, accompanied by a charitable foundation called the Carlisle Foundation. This new model has enabled us to offer a wide range of therapeutic and educational programs and impact the next generation of leaders in the field.

How has your program changed in recent years?
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we have expanded our offerings. Not everyone who comes to Spring Creek Farm interacts with horses. We added nature-based programming and some horticulture opportunities to fully utilize the potential of our farm. This diversification is essential for continuing to serve populations of all ages and abilities. 

What is one unique riding program you've been able to offer?
I had a friend who was a competitive rider and had developed MS. She was preparing to compete in para-dressage at the World Equestrian Games and was looking for a space to host a clinic and bring in a trainer from Holland to help her prepare. At the time, there were very few facilities in the United States for para-equestrians. Carlisle Academy became one of the first US Equestrian Para-Equestrian Dressage Centers of Excellence. We host specialty clinics and offer training programs for emerging and elite athletes on their path to the Paralympics.

How are you helping others open their own therapeutic riding center?
Over the years, I have consulted with program founders who are entering the world of equine-assisted services. I have developed toolkits based on my experience to help them save time when starting and creating their own business. I would also like to offer professional development workshops and a regranting program through our foundation to help advance the field.

You’ve also hosted internship opportunities at your farm. Tell us about that.
Since 2011, we have had 150 occupational therapy (OT) interns participate in both a one-week and a twelve-week fieldwork practicum. Many OT students seek nontraditional settings. We are one of only a few organizations that can offer this through an accredited school program and have hosted students from Washington University, the University of New Hampshire, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Duke University. 

We are also collaborating on some outstanding work with bioengineering students at Northeastern University. For their capstone project, they are developing a technology to assist blind para-dressage riders in navigating within the arena. I am excited about this project and interested in future opportunities to partner with students at other research universities to expand the field. 

Sarah's radio interview about working with a student learning to post a trot. Source: Salt Stories Archive

What is one experience over your nearly thirty-year career that you are most proud of? 
I worked with a student with cerebral palsy who loved riding. She had plateaued in her lessons, and her mother wanted to see if she could learn to post a trot, which means moving up and down in rhythm with the horse’s movements. This technique is challenging for someone with a disability affecting the nervous system. After two years of weekly lessons dedicated to learning this skill, she finally got it! There have been so many experiences like that, where my students have accomplished seemingly impossible tasks. Every student has different goals — big and small — and it’s incredible to help them achieve them.

Are you still riding?
I am. After the pandemic, I started competing in dressage again and set a goal to earn my rider medals from the United States Dressage Federation. To achieve this, you need to score a certain number of points in front of judges at recognized dressage shows. In August, after challenges, help from wonderful coaches, and three years of hard work, I earned my USDF Bronze Medal. I’m not sure if I want to continue my competitive journey, as there are always so many variables and unknowns, but achieving this rider award is personally and professionally gratifying. I will use my experience and education to help others.

How does it feel to have received the 2025 Kennebunk Kennebunkport Arundel Chamber of Commerce Driven Woman Award?
I am so honored to receive the award. I have a desire to evolve, change, and continually grow. I think I have about ten more productive years left, and I can’t wait to see what is next.

How did your Pomfret experience influence the person and professional you’ve become today?
There are so many paths to choose and mediums through which to make a difference, and I feel my Pomfret education and the supportive faculty taught me to be curious about the world and creative with the resources at hand.

What do you like to do outside of the farm?
My husband and I love to travel and explore new places. With my three children now in college and law school, I am an empty nester and have the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. 

 

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