Photos provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga WarHorse Foundation has announced the opening of a third equestrian and learning center at the Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park in Cockeysville, MD. The non-profit has been assisting veterans who suffer from the psychological repercussions of transitioning to civilian life through equine-assisted therapy since 2013.
The Kevin Kamenetz Arena was named in honor of Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz who passed away suddenly on May 10. The grand opening was held in May as well, which is military appreciation month. The Kevin Kamenetz Arena adds a third location for Saratoga WarHorse to operate in addition to their current locations in Saratoga Springs and Aiken S.C.
“Saratoga WarHorse is so thrilled and honored to have this collaboration with Baltimore County,” said Bob Nevins, founder of Saratoga WarHorse.
“This will ensure that the program will be open to assist more veterans in need,” he added.
According to Allison Cherkosly, the executive director of the Saratoga WarHorse, the foundation has seen a lot of veterans come from the Baltimore County Area to the other two facilities. There is also a large veteran population in Maryland. The equine-assisted experience is an immersive program where a handful of veterans participate as a cohort group for a three-day program of classroom and one-on- one ground-based sessions with a horse. The program is free of charge to participants as Saratoga WarHorse is privately funded through donations and assumes the cost of operating the equine programs including the off-site room and board participants.
The overall equine operation occupies 12.7 acres including two barns, pasture and paddock space and a 9,600 square-foot arena with classrooms.Baltimore County executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is an agreement between two or more parties that express that they work together towards common objective. Per the terms of the MOU, Baltimore County pays no operating costs for the equine program but the county funded the $2.96 Million construction of the equine facility and pays for maintenance and the care and feeding of the rotating herd of horses.
