A Luxury Equestrian Vacation at Salamander Resort & Spa, Virginia
December 10, 2013
by Caroline Maffry
An equestrian escape to Virginia Hunt Country: Salamander’s Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia
Virginia Hunt Country has a new luxury resort located in an oasis-like setting in the historic village of Middleburg. The Salamander Resort and Spa is the place for every equestrian enthusiast, equipped with a state of the art spa, and amenities equal to some of the best hotels and resorts in the world. Unique to Salamander Resort & Spa is the equestrian theme throughout the resort. Whether you are just a horse lover curious to learn more about this enchanted animal or a true equestrian looking to bring your equine partner to the resort for some r&r together, the resort has something to offer. There is a stable on site and they have developed their own equestrian programs and activities that appeal to families, individuals of all skill levels and corporate groups.
As the Salamander property came into view, it was as if we had been transported into another world, one of tranquility and peace. We were looking forward to a little bit of pampering over a weekend spent relaxing amid Virginia’s late autumn beauty.
Ariel view of Salamander Resort & Spa. Photo credit Jim Hanna.
Our first stop on the property was the 25-acre on-site equestrian facility. Entirely dedicated to the equestrian program, the facility has nine paddocks and a 22-stall stable, an outdoor riding arena and miles of trails. We were greeted by Equestrian Director Sheryl Jordan as we were led into the stable. For those readers who spend many hours in a stable, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail exhibited in the stable design. My teenage daughter remarked, “it looks just like the Breyer Stable I had when she was little”. Everything one needs to prepare the horse and rider is immediately on hand and sparklingly clean and neat. It’s how we wish we could organize our own stables.
The Stable and Paddock at Salamander Resort. Photo credit Justin Kriel.The luxury of the stables rivals that of the Academy of Equestrian Arts in Versailles, that we visited in France! With wide spacious isles, the 14,000-square-foot stable features 22 stalls that are faced with tongue and groove knotty pine wood. For a look of simple elegance, the stable is equipped with brass and black iron features, while still achieving optimal function for the true equestrian. The stable’s design also includes a loft hatch over each stall allowing hay to be dropped directly into every stall at feeding time. Conveniently located only steps from the stalls are two large wash stalls.
One feature I particularly like is the built-in laundry room, with it’s own industrial sized washing machine for cleaning horse blankets and saddle pads. The tack room houses both English and Western equipment. For visitors and guests of the Resort, helmets of all sizes have been stocked and neatly line the shelves, all color-coded by size for quick visual reference. Extra paddock boots, gloves, and rain ponchos await your trip for visitors without their own equipment. The Equestrian Director’s office directly overlooks the stable itself, allowing her to keep an eye on the horses at all times.
Salamander Resort and Spa Equestrian Center Director, Sheryl Jordan
Sheryl Jordan began her equestrian career over 40 years ago in the countryside of Northern Virginia riding bareback upon her first pony, Prince. Since then, she’s made it her mission in life to facilitate understanding between horses, humans, and nature. She has done so by managing high-end equestrian facilities, giving classical riding instruction, teaching clinics, participating in public speaking opportunities, and creating her unique program, Equine Connection, now known as The Equi-Spective Experience at Salamander.
Before stepping into her current role as Director of the Equestrian Center at Salamander Resort and Spa, she was the Director of The Ford Plantation Equestrian Center, where she worked with the exclusive members of the Plantation and provided top quality care to the equine residents. Sheryl is a Certified Instructor with the American Riding Instructors Association and is also certified with the Certified Horsemanship Association as an instructor in English, Western disciplines and as an Overnight Pack Trip Guide.
Sheryl was eager to share her knowledge with us. With a wealth of activities and experiences available, she is devoted to her mission for the current and future Equestrian Programs that Salamander has to offer.
For unique venue ideas, the stable can be transformed in to a banquet area for social and corporate gatherings, weddings, and parties for all types of events. Where else can you dine in style with horses?
Inside Salamander’s Stables, the starting point for the variety of classes, instruction and trail rides offered by the equestrian program. The Salamander Resort & Spa would not be living up to its name if its luxury accommodations were only for humans. Our equine friends have top-notch accommodations as well, with overnight boarding in the luxurious stable for the resort guest’s horse or horses. Guests are welcome to bring their horse during their stay and explore Salamander’s trails with one of the guides or even choose to venture out solo. The boarding package includes full service boarding at no less of a standard than what is offered to the human owners. Daily feedings, stall cleaning and turn out per the owner’s request will allow you piece of mind while at the resort.
In addition, so your horse doesn’t feel left out while you relax in the spa, Salamander has a la carte ‘equine spa’ services available. Pamper your horse with hand walking, body clipping, bathing, and braiding to name a few of the services available.
Dogs Are Welcome, Too, at Salamander
Dogs are not left out while staying at Salamander Resort & Spa! In-room dog amenities include a comfy bed, food and water bowls, organic treats, a special toy and waste bags. On-site dog-sitting services are provided when your dog may be unattended and can be scheduled through the concierge.
Horse heaven in Virginia Hunt Country at Salamander.After our tour of the equestrian center, it was time for us to try out some of the programs ourselves! Our horses were saddled in English tack, per our request, and we mounted and headed over to a spectacular 28,800 square-foot outdoor riding arena. Sheryl was excited to show us the ThorTurf footing in the ring and explained the equine programs to us, as we walked and trotted around the ring and got to know our horses.
Salamander Resort & Spa’s Equestrian Program objective “is to develop complete equestrians according to each rider’s individual goals and capabilities.” Sheryl went on to explain the programs, which currently consist of lessons for all ages, including pony rides and children’s lessons, trail rides through scenic Virginia countryside, Human/ Horse Synergy Rides, and the Equi-Spective Experience.
For those who do not wish to ride but who would like to learn about horses, Salamander offers a program that does not require any prior horse experience. Appropriately named ‘Horses 101’, the experience involves learning about grooming, leading, and equine safety, while providing an equine communication demonstration in the arena’s round-pen, and an optional bareback ride. This serves as a great first time introductory equine experience or refresher course to anyone wanting to get back in to riding. Clinics, Demonstrations & Equine Topic Classroom Presentations are also available at the facility for non-riders.
Salamander Resort & Spa features a 25-acre equestrian facility with nine paddocks and 22-stall stable. Photo credit Justin Kriel.Before we were ready to explore the area trails, Sheryl wanted to be sure that we could indeed ride and that we appropriately matched for trail rides, so she evaluated our skills while still in the arena. The “Mindfulness Trail Rides” Program is offered at the resort and allows horse and rider to have a more harmonious ride. Salamander’s team is on hand to guide and offer riders basic instruction before you head out on the trail.
Sheryl started with an equine stretch with each of us, rotating and opening our hip joints and extending our legs. We both immediately felt a difference and continued with some breathing and posture exercises, something from which all levels of riders can benefit.
Sheryl demonstrating an Equine stretch prior to our trail ride. Until Salamander’s Fall 2013 opening, riding through Virginia’s Horse Country remained mostly private and impossible to do unless you owned property or were lucky enough to have friends that could invite you out for a ride. Now that Salamander is offering these trail programs, the historic area and horse county is available to guests and friends of the equestrian center to now experience, too. Salamander Resort consists of 340 acres with 200 placed into conservation easement.
Caroline Maffry and her daughter at Salamander Resort and Spa Equestrian Center.More challenging trails, with a greater diversity of terrain such as steeper hills, and more rocky terrain and open fields, are available for the experienced horse person. Riders are allowed to pick up the pace on the trails after demonstrating their skills in the arena and only in the sections of trail where it is safe to go faster than a walk. These areas include the nearby fields, however most of the current trails are in the woods and are safest taken at slower speeds due to grade of the hills and footing.
Caroline Maffry and her daughter riding at Salamander Resort. Photo credit Kaelin Creange.Kaelin’s patience and ability to handle all levels of riders on the trails was evident. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the area, which made for a great conversation about the local hunt that frequently comes through the property. She mentioned the possibility of offering guests fox hunting clinics in the future, allowing for a unique opportunity for them to learn and experience the area’s longtime traditions while visiting the resort.
We continued our conversations along the relaxing ride, all the while delighted by this lovely way to see the area and experience Virginia Hunt Country. As we looped back to the resort, we ended the ride back at the stable.
