Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Hart.
Hi Kristen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have loved animals for as long as I can remember, That passion shaped my career early. I started in the veterinary field when I was 17 years old and here I am 27 years later still rocking it. I earned an associate’s degree in Business Management. Became Certified Veterinary Practice Manager. I have spend decades running top-tie veterinary hospitals. I love what I do in the veterinary field but there was always a tug at my heart towards something more personal and hands-on. That something began in 2023 when my husband, Todd, retired from teaching at Taylor High School in Katy and we moved onto a quiet property in Bay City, Texas that we now called Hartland Oaks. What started as a small family farm for our own horses, goats, chickens and miniature donkeys quickly turned into a refuge for animals who needed a second chance and a place where families could experience the calm of country barnyard life. We didn’t start out with a business plan, just the belief that animals do change lives and we have the willingness to work hard. Today Hartland Oaks is more than a small family farm. Its a place where you can come and decompress, relax, listen to the beautiful sounds of nature. We branched out Hartland Oaks and started Hartland Oaks Sanctuary and Education Center in 2025. We now host on-farm experiences, take our animals to nursing homes and schools, and publish children’s books inspired by the very animals on the farm that started it all. Looking back, the path wasn’t a straight line, but a series of determined steps: every stall cleaned, every grant application written, every market table set up in the hot Texas sun or muggy rainy day. Those steps carried us from a dream to a thriving business that blends compassion, education, and good old-fashioned hard work. This is how Hartland Oaks & Hartland Oaks Sanctuary & Education Center came to be a herd of loving animals, and a couple that believed building something meaningful is worth the effort.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hartland Oaks has not and is not always sunshine and baby goats. We’ve weathered hurricanes, surprise veterinary bills, and a few barnyard emergencies. Starting out, every fence post and animal shelter came out of our own pockets, and there are months where the feed bill feels bigger than the dream. I juggle my full time veterinary commitments while helping to haul animals to events, handle unexpected illnesses and births, and learned the hard way how to market, budget, and keep the lights on when revenue is thin. Through the chaos and tight finances, we keep pushing through proving that grit and community support can turn a humble family farm into a thriving community sanctuary and education center.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, I oversee everything from hospital operations and staff development to marketing, budgeting, and oversee all aspects of the practice. I’m known for turning hospitals into well-run, financially sound, client-centered practices. What I’m most proud of is creating workplaces where pets receive top-tier medical care and staff feel valued and empowered to grow. What sets me apart is the ability to balance excellence in caring, streamlining operations, boosting revenue, and elevating the client experience without losing the personal touch that makes a veterinary hospital feel like family.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We have been blessed with an incredible support team. My mom, Sherry, and my stepdad, Gary, are quite the hero’s behind the scenes, showing up early to help set up, staying late to help tear down, and pitching in whenever needed. Friends David & Gabby, Suzette & Rafael, Blancy & Eddie with their children, and Rachel & Branden who never hesitate to lend a hand or cheer us on, whether it’s wrangling animals or simply bringing their good energy to every event they can. From the veterinary side, my colleagues David & Rose step up whenever I need an extra pair of skilled hands, and my former neighbor and former employee but lifelong friend, Lorena. She is practically family, volunteering at nearly every event and going above and beyond to make each one a success. Beyond these core supporters, countless friends and relatives show up whenever they can, proving that Hartland Oaks is as much a community as it is a business. Their unwavering encouragement and hard work make every milestone possible, and we are profoundly grateful for each of them.
Pricing:
- $60 Individual Membership
- $100 Family (4) Membership
- Mobile Events start at $300/2 hours
- On Site Visits $25/vehicle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hartlandoaksllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hartlandoaks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563982890555
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hartlandoaks
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@hartlandoaks
Image Credits
All Photos are provided by Hartland Oaks.
