Marsh Foundation Names Abigail Neville as First Equine Program Coordinator

VAN WERT, Ohio – The Marsh Foundation is launching a new Equine Therapy Program and has named Abigail Neville as the first coordinator of the program. Neville has worked with the horse program at The Marsh since 2016 and is looking forward to expanding on her previous roles.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities and biblical studies from Scarborough College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Neville is also a qualified mental health specialist (QMHS) under the supervision of The Marsh Foundation Clinical Department. She also has experience in equine therapy. She has attended and holds two certificates in Greg Kersten’s (founder of EAGALA) OK Corral Series for Equine-Assisted Learning. Lastly, she has been mentored under the owners and counselors at Reins and Rainbows Equine Therapy in Wabash, Indiana.

In addition to serving as a riding instructor for the summer horse program, she has also spent a summer as the garden assistant, worked in Clymer Hall as a family teacher for two years and most recently, worked as the school’s wellness case manager since 2022.

According to Jeff Grothouse, executive secretary and treasurer, Neville brings a wealth of skills and experience to her new role. “Her knowledge and coordination skills of equine therapy, horses, and clinical services will be an outstanding benefit to The Marsh Foundation students, and the community The Marsh will be serving,” he said.

According to Neville, equine-assisted learning works and changes lives. “Horses offer a unique, nonthreatening introduction to healing relationship-building skills that have been broken. Horses give their clients the confidence to trust again,” she added.

Neville credits The Marsh employees for providing her with invaluable mentorship. She quotes George Marsh himself when speaking to the goals she has for the equine program. “George Marsh’s own hopes for the Foundation have become my anthem for this project in that it will “become an instrument of enduring and ever-increasing benefit to mankind,” she said.

Neville believes that this program will be an instrument of healing for The Marsh Foundation clients and their families while it builds confidence in their ability to have strong relationships. Her hope is that clients will be empowered and then equipped with the interpersonal skills they need to be successful in their schools, jobs, families and communities. “My hope is that this program opens doors and builds relationships with the community for youth to get involved in and benefit from our other programs such as Independent Living, Wellness, and Young Teen Self-Regulation and Socialization,” she added.

Her family has played a big role in Neville’s career and previous endeavors. “I have received unconditional support from every member of my family throughout this endeavor,” she said. Neville also credits her Christian faith as a guiding force. “I experienced a moment of God asking me to steward this opportunity as it would be a program to bring healing to many. That moment has given me confidence on the good days, bad days, and days filled with problems and doubt to know that no matter what, I am to see this through and that it will be successful,” she concluded.

The Marsh Foundation is a not-for-profit children's services agency that provides services for youth

and families in a variety of settings. Services include residential care, family foster care (ages 0-17),

adoption and independent living services. Located in Van Wert, Ohio, the organization is licensed to

provide on-campus services for up to 30 children, offers an on-campus school for grades 2 – 12, and

provides a variety of clinical services to campus residents, foster care children and community

members throughout western Ohio.

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Photo caption: Abigail Neville has been named Equine Program Coordinator at The Marsh Foundation.