About Us
MEET THE STAFF
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Jenna Baillargion
Jenna Baillargeon is the founder and program director of Reigning Hope Ranch. Jenna was an acute care nurse for 15 years before leaving the hospital setting to care for people in partnership with her horses. Jenna is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and spends her days on the ranch caring for the horses and teaching varying lessons to her clients. She uses her personal experiences of abuse, trauma, and PTSD and her story of healing and recovery to bring hope and support to others who are struggling. In her (very limited) free time she can be found on the trails with Amir or exploring new places to hike!
Katie Lynn Baron
Katie Lynn Baron, LCPC, is the Director of Behavioral Health Services and Counselor at Reigning Hope Ranch. Her passion is connecting people with animals and nature in a way that is mutually beneficial for both! Through her counseling practices she does this utilizing animal-assisted psychotherapy and nature-based activities that facilitate people learning more about themselves, their environment and the animals they are sharing space with. Outside of her work as a therapist she provides wildlife education programs at local non-profits, teaching people about native wildlife and what we can do to help protect them & their environment.
Marley Lees Smith
Marley moved to Orrington, Maine with her husband in the midst of the pandemic from central Maine. She graduated with a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in the Creative Arts from the University of Maine at Farmington. Marley loves spending as much time outdoors as possible! You can catch her gardening, adventuring through the woods with her two dogs, Daffodil and Goose, or downhill skiing. She also has a passion for doing yoga, traveling, painting and baking up sweet and savory treats. Since she can remember, Marley has found the presence and connection with animals, big and small, to be a vital and sacred aspect of engaging fully in the world. She looks forward to bringing her empathetic ear and creative mindset to the team at Reigning Hope Ranch.
Andy Kaufmann
Andy Kaufmann is the Director of our Military and First Responders Programs. He is a retired US Army officer with 23 years of service and he was also an EMT/Paramedic. He loves everything there is about animals, especially horses. He works horses in many ways, but probably the most impactful way is interacting with them on their level. He spends time with them and pays attention to their body language and the way they interact. On the ranch, he enjoys sharing that connection with other guests and showing them the beauty of horses and healing! He lives in Surry with his family, including 2 dogs, 1 cat, 3 Mustangs, 1 pony, 2 Donkeys, 2 Goats and about 10 chickens. In his “spare” time he is a Registered Maine Guide, yoga/mindfulness instructor and the Deputy Regional Coordinator for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.