Your Maryland Horse Adventure Awaits

Come to historic Lisbon and enjoy a day full of holiday spirit at the 2022 Lisbon Christmas Horse Parade! Information and parade route available on the Lisbon Christmas Parade website.  

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Horse Foundation are proud to announce the grand opening of the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center this December! The event will kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12pm, followed by an open house until 4pm.

Vacation with your horse in Western Maryland at Valley Meadow Farms Trails Getaway and Bed & Barn. Smooth and wide trails on 400 private acres near Hancock, MD. Comfy 4 bedroom farmhouse stay and 2 large stall barn with fenced paddock or self-contained RV parking possible. And, bring your own horse (BYOH) day ride visits scheduled all year. Voted “favorite horsey spot” by guests. Ride hilltops and valleys, cross creeks and meadows. Diverse terrain for all levels of trail riding. Open year-round for scheduled visits to this beautiful, working family farm.  Easy to get to but worlds away. Life is peaceful at this farm. 2 hours from Baltimore and DC areas near I-68 at Sideling Hill. Visit www.valleymeadowfarms.com or call 301-678-6584 to make reservations. Facebook: @valleymeadowfarms | Instagram: valleymeadowfarms | Youtube: My Valley Meadow Farms [embed]https://youtu.be/CEOHtN_HR7c[/embed] [embed]https://youtu.be/ATN51Dw8O9E[/embed]

Amplify Horse Racing is your guide to education and careers in the Thoroughbred industry – an all-encompassing term referring to the breeding, raising, training, racing, retirement, and responsible aftercare of Thoroughbred horses. Have a look into the amazing world of Thoroughbred racing. It is not just a sport of kings – it is a sport for everyone. Head to AmplifyHorseRacing.org to learn more.  Horse Racing Hangouts Series: 2020 and 2021 - Amplify Horse Racing Podcast

The self-guided “Horses At The Beach” driving tour, which takes place in Worcester and the southern part of Wicomico counties. The trail takes visitors from the Assateague National Seashore Park, home of Maryland’s famed “Wild Horses,” the Assateague Ponies, to Glen Riddle Farm, now a popular eatery that was once the training grounds of Thoroughbred horse racing legends Man O’War and War Admiral. Learn More→

Western Maryland, Capital Region, Central Maryland, Eastern Shore, Southern Maryland These centers are part of a volunteer, certified program of already existing licensed stables that welcome the general public of all ages and experience levels to learn  about horses in a knowledgeable and friendly environment. Learn More →  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Reisterstown, MD – November 21, 2022) The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) and the Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) are proud to announce the grand opening of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center on Friday, December 16 at Noon. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place, followed by the MHBA's Christmas open house until 4:00 p.m. Located at 321 Main Street in the heart of historic Reisterstown, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will serve as a hub for learning and collaboration, while honoring the long history of horses in Maryland. The large, airy space includes an extensive reference library, a meeting space and gallery. “Our plan is for the MHLEC to serve as a resource to the community and those folks interested in learning more about horses – whether they are researching a book or looking for a place to take lessons or volunteer,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. The Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. The MHF supports a number of programs including the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program and Work Experience Internships. And as part of the mission the MHF is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center. “Maryland has a very diverse horse community and more horses per square mile than any other state. The horse industry has many equine activities and competitions such as jousting, polo, carriage driving and racing. The MHLEC is a culmination of many years of working to establish a location that can celebrate, and most importantly educate people, about what horses mean to Maryland,” says Josh Pons, president of the Maryland Horse Foundation, owner of Country Life Farm. Since 1929, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association has been the leading horse industry horse industry advocate within the state of Maryland. The main purposes of the MHBA have always been to encourage, educate, promote, protect, and improve the horse breeding industry in Maryland. While emphasis has traditionally been placed on the production of Thoroughbred racehorses, the MHBA supports all horse-related interests. To learn more about the Library and all Maryland Horse Foundation initiatives, visit marylandhorse.com.

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 30, 2022)—Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed October as Maryland Horse Month, recognizing the abundant economic, historic, recreational, and therapeutic contributions made by the state’s horse industry. “As the only state to host both a Triple Crown Race and two international 5-Star events, Maryland is proud to be a leader in the horse industry,” said Governor Hogan. “With more horses per square mile than any other state, the equine community is a critical part of our heritage and our economy. I encourage all Marylanders to join in celebrating Maryland Horse Month.” The proclamation follows a very successful trade mission that the Governor and equine industry officials made to Ireland and France in June, where agreements were signed with equestrian organizations recognizing the international stature of Maryland’s horse industry and offering beneficial cooperative strategies. A special feature this year is the Grand Opening in mid October of the new Maryland Horse Library and Education Center on Historic Main Street in Reisterstown, The center serves as an information hub for the industry and includes a fine collection of sporting books, a memorabilia area, meeting space, interactive kiosks and rotating exhibits. In celebration of Maryland Horse Month, the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) and its industry partners are conducting a digital marketing strategy to highlight the many statewide attractions, events, activities, trails, exhibits, and experiences with an equestrian connection. These events include the Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill, a major international equestrian event that will draw competitors from across the U.S. and abroad. The Maryland 5-Star Event takes place Oct. 13-16 at Fair Hill International in Elkton. Other major Maryland horse events include the Capital Challenge Horse Show, one of the largest horse shows in the country with nearly 1,400 entries, at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro Sept. 29-Oct. 9; the Jim McKay Maryland Million horse race at Laurel Park Racetrack in Laurel Oct.22; and the Washington International Horse Show, also at Prince George’s Equestrian Center Oct. 24-30. In between these major events are championship finals in jousting – the official state sport since 1962 – rodeo and hunter/jumper disciplines, as well as All Breed exhibitions, carriage driving displays and numerous events hosted by the state’s 42 Horse Discovery Centers, individual farm owners and equine organizations. “Never before has Maryland hosted so many international caliber equestrian events in such a short time frame,” said Ross Peddicord, executive director of MHIB. “Maryland Horse Month is a great way to showcase our state’s equine industry.” The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism has joined the Horse Industry Board and the Board’s many private-sector equestrian organizations to promote Maryland Horse Month. “Maryland is home to world-class destinations such as Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park among major equestrian events that draw thousands of visitors to the state,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director of the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism and Film. “Drive along the Horses & Hounds Scenic Byway to explore our beautiful countryside also famous for producing Thoroughbreds that have raced on major tracks across America.” Follow Maryland Horse Month on social media and use #MDHorse, #MDHorseMonth, #VisitMaryland, and #MDinFocus when posting about your tour of Maryland’s Equestrian Travel Collection. For the individual events, add #Maryland5Star, #Makeit5Star, #CapitalChallenge, #MDMillion and #WIHS2022 #FEIWorldCup #TimeTo Beat. For additional travel information, please visit marylandhorse.com and visitmaryland.org. To view a copy of the Maryland Horse Month proclamation, please click here. About the Maryland Horse Industry Board The Maryland Horse industry Board (MHIB) is a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Established in 1998, the MHIB helps develop and promote the state’s horse industry. The MHIB also advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting the industry and serves as the licensing body for Maryland stables and horse facilities. About Maryland Tourism The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $11.6 billion on travel-related expenses in 2020. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $1.7 billion in state and local taxes, essentially saving each Maryland household $775 in annual taxes, and directly supported Marylanders with 104,328 jobs. For more information, go to visitmaryland.org.

The Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) is honored to be named a 2022 Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) grant recipient. The grant will be used to support the foundation’s existing educational programs, such as the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program. “We are grateful to TCA for their support of the Maryland Horse Foundation’s educational programs. With their support, we will continue to attract the next generation workforce for the Maryland horse industry,” said Jordyn Egan, development director of the Maryland Horse Foundation. In addition to the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program, the MHF is responsible for the Work Experience Program, which allows qualified applicants to design a custom internship experience that will benefit their long-term career goals. The MHF covers the participants wages throughout their internship in addition to expenses such as housing and worker’s compensation. To learn more about the Maryland Horse Foundation and its programs, visit MarylandHorse.com.     Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is a charitable organization that provides grants to approved non-profit organizations that work toward improving the lives of Thoroughbred racehorses and the people who care for them. TCA offers the Thoroughbred industry and its supporters a way to give to one organization while helping many.