CHESTERVILLE — Sharon Daniels brushed the mane and tail of Izzy, a quarter horse, on Monday in a stall at Salus Equito Therapeutic Center.
The 16-year-old Chesterville girl got involved in the center as a volunteer after a friend told her about it. It was founded in 2003 when it had six clients.
The center’s goal is to improve the lifestyle of those with emotional, physical, behavioral and intellectual challenges.
“I always wanted to know about horses,” Daniels said. “I love horses.”
Owner Debbie Farley was her art teacher at Mt. Blue High School at the time so was able to learn more about the work the center did.
“I came up here the first day and I painted inside for a while and I knew there were going to be horses involved later on,” Daniels said.
Now she works there.
The number of clients today has grown and they range in age from 6 to 60.
“Age doesn’t matter,” Farley said.
“Salus Equito or ‘Healing Heroes’ is founded on the bond that exists between the horse and the rider,” Farley said. “Through interaction and interdependence that exists between the client and the therapy horse, the individual’s needs are addressed through an individual education plan.”
Each plan is designed to address the individual’s needs challenge or disability, she said.
Her husband Jim, an owner too, helps her with the center, including instructing, and helps care for their seven horses. Four of them are used for therapeutic riding.
In 2009, the center established a Board of Directors and became a nonprofit entity.
Since Debbie Farley started the center, her clients have competed in the Maine Equine Special Olympics every year, going home with winning ribbons.
“The parents, instructors and directors, however, go home with a feeling of accomplishment and community that literally makes all the effort worthwhile,” she said.
Daniels said she enjoys seeing the people blossom in the program whether it is caring for a horse, leading one or riding it.
“I like to see them be happy. It is great. Even though I started for the horses, it led to the people, too,” Daniels said.
She gets to ride and exercise the horses as well.
The center is getting a ramp ready for wheelchair clients to help them mount the horses, Farley said.
It takes a particular horse for the job. She has to interview the horse.
“They need to be adapted so they accept lots of noise and flailing arms,” she said.
She is looking for new clients to expand the program and for more volunteers to assist.
“We need more trained horses that will be appropriate for therapy,” Farley said.
The center is also starting a program, known as Friends of Salus, to support the horses themselves..
The year-round care of a horse costs about $5,000 a year.
For Daniels, taking care of the horse, is fun but also a stress-reliever.
dperry@sunjournal.com
WHAT: Italian Night Feast to benefit Salus Equito Therapeutic Center.
WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Trinity United Methodist Church in Farmington.
MENU: Homemade spaghetti sauce with meat and without, lasagna with cheese, salad, garlic knots and brownie a la mode.
COST: $7 for adults, $5 for children; $20 for a family.
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- Sixteen-year-old Sharon Daniels of Chesterville brushes Izzy, a quarter horse trained for therapeutic riding, Monday at Salus Equito Therapeutic Center in Chesterville. A benefit supper for the center is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Trinity United Methodist Church on Route 2 in Farmington.
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