The Barns at Blue Mountain
The Barns at Blue Mountain, 17507 Lee Hwy, Abingdon, VA 24210
About
The Barns at Blue Mountain offers equine assisted services that include horseback riding, caring for the horses, horsemanship, equine assisted learning, and an at-risk youth program. The program also offers an Adaptive Horsemanship Program, Pony Pals, Barn Buddies, horsemanship classes, educational clinics, field trips, greenhouse and garden programs, Sunset Camps, Summer Camps, Pony Pals Summer Camps, sensory camps, and volunteering. Additional activities include tutoring, counseling services, organization and business clinics, and teaching food production, food preservation, and business opportunities through greenhouse and garden space.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
The mission of The Barns at Blue Mountain is to improve the overall well-being of individuals and their families through animal and hands-on activities. The program’s equine specialists are certified through EAGALA and/or PATH Intl., and certified equine specialists in mental health and learning work with a licensed mental health professional for counseling services. The program can design lesson plans and accommodate field trips or business teams so that each client can learn new skills and relate them to personal growth, team building, leadership, relationships, and communication. Greenhouse and garden space is included in the programs to support physical and emotional health, teach life skills, and provide another space to heal and connect, with a plan to contribute healthy food options to those with food insecurities.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Tish Jackson, Assistant Director Kristen Blankenship, Therapeutic Riding Instructor Ella Eisert, and Barn Assistant Megan Cassell. Staff credentials include Tish Jackson with a B.S. in Animal Science, Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification, and PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning; Kristen Blankenship as a Physical Therapist; and Ella Eisert as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Registered Behavioral Technician, with a degree in Early Childhood Development with a major in Special Needs, and certifications in Equine Welfare & Management and Mental Health First Aid & CPR. The program offers equine assisted services in a non-clinical setting and has the ability to work alongside mental health professionals and life coaches in equine sessions.
Last updated January 18, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
The mission of The Barns at Blue Mountain is to improve the overall well-being of individuals and their families through animal and hands-on activities. The program’s equine specialists are certified through EAGALA and/or PATH Intl., and certified equine specialists in mental health and learning work with a licensed mental health professional for counseling services. The program can design lesson plans and accommodate field trips or business teams so that each client can learn new skills and relate them to personal growth, team building, leadership, relationships, and communication. Greenhouse and garden space is included in the programs to support physical and emotional health, teach life skills, and provide another space to heal and connect, with a plan to contribute healthy food options to those with food insecurities.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Tish Jackson, Assistant Director Kristen Blankenship, Therapeutic Riding Instructor Ella Eisert, and Barn Assistant Megan Cassell. Staff credentials include Tish Jackson with a B.S. in Animal Science, Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification, and PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning; Kristen Blankenship as a Physical Therapist; and Ella Eisert as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Registered Behavioral Technician, with a degree in Early Childhood Development with a major in Special Needs, and certifications in Equine Welfare & Management and Mental Health First Aid & CPR. The program offers equine assisted services in a non-clinical setting and has the ability to work alongside mental health professionals and life coaches in equine sessions.
Last updated January 18, 2026.
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