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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | May 2026
How did you get to where you
are now in your life and career?
I often ask myself that very question!
What’s been the biggest change in your
role at Old Salem since you started?
The biggest change has been that I’ve learned
a lot over the years so that now I know much
more about how to make sure we’re able to do
the things I want to get done. I guess that’s
something that only comes with experience. I
don’t know, maybe that’s wisdom.
What are you most looking forward
to this year for the show?
I’m really excited about our new $100,000
Governor’s Cup equitation class. This is the
first time we’ve ever done this and I think it’s
important that something like this is done for
our equitation riders who really are the future
stars of our sport. I’m also very excited about our
June shows, and that our August FEI shows are
back, plus the revamping and upgrading of our
September shows.
What’s your favorite memory at Old Salem?
Without question, my favorite memory at
Old Salem was the first time I met my wife,
Barbara. Barbara was a trainer at Old Salem,
working for Robin Bacon, training ponies. I
was a rider doing the Amateur Jumpers. Next
would be watching my kids start riding there.
What do you consider to be your
greatest accomplishments so far?
Old Salem Farm is an iconic name and
facility, and I feel like I’m always trying to
live up to it. Something I’m really proud of is
how we continually improve the facility. We
constantly work on improvements wherever
they’re needed—the paddocks, the rings, the
schooling areas. Whatever it is. I have lots
more ideas and dreams on what we can work
on. It’s all a question of when and how. We’re
also bringing in Sarah Schering and Mark
Dean as trainers. They both have extensive
experience training students to the top level.
Cori Reich will be continuing on with us
and together, the three of them will be a
powerhouse team.
What do you like to do
when you’re not working?
There’s nothing I like to do more than spend
time with my family—my wife, Barbara, and our
children, Lilly, Henry and Emma.
What pets, family or horses are most
important in your life right now?
We have two wonderful dogs, Daisy and Zoe.
Both are rescues and they are very much family
members. Isaac, a 1.50m jumper that Emma rides,
is also an important member of our family.
Familiar Places, Familiar Faces:
Old Salem Farm With Scott Hakim
HORSE SHOW
To those in the horse show world, Old Salem
Farm needs no introduction. It consists of 120
picturesque acres just an hour north of New York
City, in the beautifully wooded area of North Salem.
It has hosted events such as the selection trials
for World Equestrian Games and Olympics, and is
home to the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows
with classes from regional to FEI level.
The Hakim family became the owners of Old
Salem Farm in 2001 and Scott Hakim serves as
president, spearheading significant renovations and
advancements on the property in the years since—
while also starting and raising a family.
How did you first get involved with horses?
It started at camp when I was very young.
That’s when I was introduced to riding
horses and I enjoyed it right from the start.
My actually falling in love with the sport was
probably due to the influence of my older sister,
Pam, who rode and showed horses.
What do you like most about the job you do?
I really like having a product where our
customers always come first. As president of
Old Salem Farm, I get to set the policies for
how we do things, and what I care about most
is that we always treat people in a respectful,
truthful way.