Salem Equestrian Center

OUR MISSION

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The Salem Equestrian Center’s mission is to provide unique experiential learning Equestrian Programs year round in a safe, positive, encouraging and family-friendly environment.  Both the art of horsemanship and the success of individual participants are important to us.  We strive to provide elite care for our animals and quality individualized instruction for all participants.  Our goal is to develop classically correct and compassionate riders while imparting a deeper understanding of trust, responsibility, leadership and excellent communication skills!  Founded and operating on Christian principles, The Salem Equestrian Center’s central mission is to contribute positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being of all participants and animals.

 

We operate as a subsidiary of the Maryland Salem Children's Trust INC.  The Salem Equestrian Center was established in 1981 specifically to diversify therapy and activities utilized in the restoration and healing of troubled youth and families.  Along with the Equestrian Center, The Maryland Salem Children's Trust operates both a Residential Program and Special Needs School under this overarching mission: 

 

“The Maryland Salem Children’s Trust, founded and functioning on Christian principles, provides a home, family, therapy and educational services for children in need.  Recognizing the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical needs of each individual, this program focuses on life skills development and character formation.  Both family restoration and the provision of a permanent home base are offered to all Salem children.”

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The Salem Equestrian Center is an integrated aspect of the Salem Program as it utilizes horses to help accomplish and enrich this mission. When serving emotionally scarred youth sometimes people fall short.  For those familiar with abandonment, abuse or neglect a horse's  steady, comforting and silent presence can be excellent therapy.  A pair of ever listening ears, unconditional acceptance and a complete lack of judgment are equine assets which strengthen and complement the Salem mission and individual therapeutic goals.   As youth participate in Equestrian Programs on campus, our horses assist in shifting mental focus from survival to service and success. 

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OUR HISTORY

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Both the MD Salem Program and an equine presence on its campus are part of a rich heritage.   MD Salem's founder and fellow equine enthusiast, Louise Richards, prayerfully established it in 1978 after working with Gottfried Müller at his Children's Village in Germany.  Müller desired to help the German destitute following WWII.  From 1957-1964 he worked tirelessly to provide education, shelter and food for the homeless in many German cities, until hearing repeatedly, "We didn’t have a happy childhood, no happy home," gave him the vision to establish the first Salem Children's Village in 1969.   Its goal was to proved a safe and happy home and education for abused, neglected and abandoned youth.  

 

Today there are dozens of Salem initiatives worldwide, all are bound by this common heritage and committed to a common philosophy which includes diverse work in social welfare; vegetarian nutrition; holistic medicine; animal and environmental protection; and organic agriculture.   Our founder, Louise Richards, is a woman of incredible commitment to this vision, and a great lover of animals.  Today The Salem Equestrian Center seeks to honor its founders and its heritage through the lessons and programs that it provides to Salem youth, staff and the surrounding community.

 

OUR VISION 

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In 2016 The Salem Equestrian Center, in cooperation with the Salem School, launched an EAL Curriculum called Journey of the Spirit Horse, published by Strides for Success INC.  This program utilizes the horse as a member of the teaching team and offers an interactive learning experience focused on character skills and English education.  Educational focuses are on reading, writing, listening and speaking.  Our goal is to developing this program to further serve At-Risk youth in Gerrett County Maryland. 

 

In addition to Recreational and Therapeutic Riding Lessons currently offered, the Salem Equestrian Center seeks to advance its therapeutic focus.  While we are currently a CHA Accredited riding facility, our ultimate goal is to achieve accreditation as a PATH Premier Riding Center by December 2018, expanding to include Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.  This EAP Program will combine the efforts of a Mental Health Professional, (Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Trauma Therapist etc) the horse and a PATH certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning to offer Trauma Therapy on property.  EFP is proving to be a non-threatening and engaging treatment of individuals with PTSD, and our hope is to enable our herd to further help individuals in their healing process. 

 

A long term goal of the Equestrian Center is to re-model its facilities to further accommodate a Hippotherapy Program working in conjunction with local Physical and Occupational Therapists to further serve our community in a unique way.

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