Kristi Kay May
Legend Acres Founder
and Executive Director
Meet Kristi May | Veteran Founder of Legend Acres
Founder & (CEO) Executive Director
Legend Acres Dog and Horse Solutions
Legend Acres Charities
Legend's Heroes Service Dog Training Program
Kristi Kay May is the Founder and Executive Director of Legend Acres Dog and Horse Solutions and Legend's Heroes Service Dog Training Program, a program of Legend Acres Charities dedicated to increasing access to service dog training for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and families in need.
Originally from Port Huron, Michigan, where dairy cows often outnumber people, Kristi developed a love for animals at an early age. She received her first horse around the age of six and grew up immersed in the world of horses, horse shows, and competition. Those early experiences helped shape a lifelong passion for animal behavior, learning, and the connection between people and animals.
After joining the United States Army, Kristi temporarily put her passion for horses on hold while serving her country. Following her military service and medical retirement, she eventually purchased a farm outside Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where her vision for Legend Acres began to take shape.
While living in Northern Middle Tennessee, Kristi recognized a significant challenge facing military families. Many active-duty service members struggled to find affordable and reliable dog boarding during deployments, training assignments, and military relocations. Seeing this need within the community, she founded Legend Acres Boarding.
What started as a practical solution for military families quickly evolved into something much larger.
Combining her lifelong passion for animals with her desire to continue serving others after the military, Kristi expanded her vision and launched Legend Acres Dog and Horse Solutions. She later established Legend's Heroes Service Dog Training Program and Legend Acres Charities to increase access to service dog training, equine-assisted services, education, and behavioral support programs.
Today, Legend Acres serves clients across multiple states through in-person, virtual, and on-demand programs focused on dogs, horses, service animals, therapy teams, behavior modification, and rider development.
Kristi's educational background includes degrees in Animal Health Technology, Veterinary Practice Management, Equine Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Social Media Marketing Planning. She is also a licensed veterinary technologist, certified riding instructor, animal behavior professional, therapy team evaluator, service dog evaluator, curriculum developer, author, and public speaker.
Her work has been recognized through numerous awards and media features, including:
• Operation CEO Television Series
• Arizona Vetrepreneur® of the Year
• BBB Torch Award for Ethics Finalist
• FOX 10 Phoenix
• CommunityVotes Platinum Winner
• Best Dog Trainer Clarksville
Kristi believes training is about far more than obedience.
Her philosophy is rooted in communication, trust, safety, and the human-animal bond.
Through every class, consultation, scholarship, workshop, and community program, her mission remains the same:
To create structured pathways that help people and animals build safer, stronger, and more successful partnerships.
"We train for communication, trust, and safety. Behavior is the byproduct of the bond."
Officially Selected for Operation CEO
Upcoming Television Feature
OFFICIALLY CAST IN OPERATION CEO
Veteran Entrepreneur Transforming Lives Through the Human-Animal Bond
Kristi May, Founder and Executive Director of Legend Acres Dog and Horse Solutions, has been officially cast in an upcoming episode of Operation CEO.
The episode will share her journey from Army veteran to entrepreneur, educator, author, and founder of a nationally recognized organization dedicated to helping people and animals build confidence, communication, trust, and independence.
Viewers will gain an inside look at the mission behind Legend Acres, including service dog training, behavior education, therapy animal programs, horsemanship, youth development, veteran outreach, and community impact initiatives.
For more than 15 years, Kristi has worked to create structured pathways that strengthen the human-animal bond through science-based education, force-free training, and meaningful community engagement.
Operation CEO highlights veteran entrepreneurs and leaders whose work is creating positive change through innovation, service, and purpose-driven leadership.
Filming is scheduled for September 2026.
Follow along as we share behind-the-scenes updates, production milestones, and the journey from filming to release.
WHERE TO WATCH
Operation CEO is currently in production, with filming scheduled for September 2026.
📺 Apple TV
📺 Roku Devices via the Inside Success TV Channel
📺 Amazon Fire TV
🌐 Online Streaming Through Inside Success TV
Direct viewing links will be added when the episode is released.
Release dates, trailers, episode information, and direct viewing links will be added here as they become available.
Check back for updates as we move from filming to premiere.
OPERATION CEO UPDATES
✓ June 2026 - Officially Cast
→ Summer 2026 - Production Planning
→ September 2026 - Filming in Miami
Trailer Release → Coming Soon
Episode Premiere → Coming Soon
Kristi May: Arizona Vetrepreneur of the Year 2025!
We are thrilled to share that Kristi May has been named the 2025 Arizona Vetreprenuer of the Year! This recognition is a testament to her dedication, leadership, and impact within our community. We appreciate all of your support in helping her achieve this recognition and we couldn't have done it without you.
"In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and dogs Legend, Grunt, and Tuff, horseback riding, kayaking and reading."
Legend Acres Founder Kristi May on Founder’s Hour Podcast
Dog training is not just about obedience. It is about behavior, communication, and emotional regulation.
In this episode, Kristi May shares how dogs use behavior to self-soothe, why many behavior issues are not obedience problems, and what it takes to build real communication and lasting change.
If your dog is barking, reactive, or difficult to settle, this episode explains why.
Watch the full episode here:
What You Will Learn
- Why barking, reactivity, and destruction are not obedience issues
- How dogs use behavior to regulate and self-soothe
- The critical puppy development gap most owners miss
- How to build clear, two-way communication with your dog
About Legend Acres
Legend Acres provides force-free, fear-free dog and horse behavior solutions focused on real-world results. Programs include group classes, private training, service dog development, therapy dog programs, and online courses.
Education
Murray State University
- Masters in Animal Science with Veterinary Practice Manager Certification
- Bachelor's in Animal Health Technology / Pre-Veterinary Medicine
- Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Animal Health Technology Program
Duke University
- Cognitive Canine Behavior Certification
University of Gelph
- Certification in Equine Nutrition
Animal Behavior College
- Certified Dog Obedience Instructor
Memberships
- Arizona Hunter Jumper Association - AHJA
- National Barrel Horse Association - NBHA
- Certified Horsemanship Association - CHA
- Pet Professional Guild - PPG
- The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners - IAADP
- 100+ Women Who Care West Valley AZ
Additional Certifications
- AKC Evaluator
- AKC Fit Instructor
- AKC AAT Evaluator
- Pet Partners Therapy Team Evaluator
- Canine Training Professional Pet Professional Guild
- CHA Certified Riding Instructor
- CHA Certified Equine Facility Manager
- Dog Obedience Mentor for Animal Behavior College
- Certified Pet Therapy Handler
- Certified Pet Therapy Team with Legend through Pet Partners.
- Social Media Marketing Planning Certification - NWU
Animal Behavior College
- Pursuing Behavior Consultant Certification through International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
Entrepreneurship
- EBV OSU
- Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) Accelerate - FSU
- Graduate of R.IS.E. - IVMF 2020
- Graduate of SBA Emerging Leaders Program 2021
- Graduate of Victory Mastermind Course 2022
- SCORE Business Owners Forum 2022
- SCORE Webinar Guest Presenter 2022
- Women Veterans Alliance Guest Presenter 2022
Kristi's Interview with Neil from Go Local Arizona
Meet Legend
07/04/2009-10/07/2022
Meet Legend!! The dog, the myth, the inspiration behind the creation of Legend Acres over 12 years ago, Legend lived a full life of 13 years (7/4/2009)!!! He favorite things were playing ball and swimming!! He moved 5 times lived in 3 states, had completed over 60 hours of Therapy Work, participated in over 100 AKC Tests, been the neutral dog in more assessments and classes than we can count, and his favorite was still going to work with Mom!!! Legend was Kristi's Golden Retriever and the namesake of the brand.
