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Maryland Horse Industry Board Awards Grants – Over $30,000 Awarded to 31 Organizations

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 7, 2023)– The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) announced the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) has awarded $30,500 in grants to 31 organizations and equestrian operations. Representing a variety of equine groups and disciplines across the state, the committee selected projects from a pool of 41 applicants.

Funding for these grants and the MHIB is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in the state. Established in 2002, the Fund has provided over $600,000 in grants to more than 400 projects.

“We are delighted that we are able to continue to make these grants year after year. We try to reach out to a cross section of as many groups as we can and that represent different disciplines and geographic areas of the state ,” said MHIB board chair Jim Steele. This year’s recipients included funds for equine education and welfare projects, urban and Western riding programs, youth activities, therapeutic riding centers and other equestrian disciplines either supported by statewide organizations or based in 15 of Maryland’s 23 counties.

A full list of recipients including a synopsis of each project is available on the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s website – www.mda.maryland.gov/horseboard.

“Horses are a critical component of Maryland’s agricultural industry. The Maryland Horse Industry Board and the Feed Fund help stimulate growth and opportunity in Maryland’s equestrian community without using any government funding,” Steele said. “This self-funded commodity marketing entity is a model of how industry groups can help themselves without relying on taxpayer dollars.”

Projects are evaluated based on their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds, benefits and overall quality of the written presentation. Grants are capped at $3,000 in order to award funds to as many groups as possible. Eligible projects should have a completion date no later than June 30, 2023 although exceptions can be granted. Grant recipients are required to file a project report with the Board detailing how the money was used.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. For more information about the grants program and the Board, please visit our website. You can also contact Executive Director Ross Peddicord at (240)344-0000 or ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.

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(Reisterstown, Md) – January 9, 2023. The Maryland Horse Foundation is excited to announce that the 2023 Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program (MTCP) will run from June 5-9, 2023.

The online application is now open and must be completed by April 21, 2023. Interviews will take place in the two weeks after the application deadline and selected participants will be notified in early May.

“The Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program offers a great opportunity to see behind the scenes in the various components of the industry from reproduction to racetrack operations”, says Cricket Goodall, executive director, “we hope show these young people that love horses that you can make a career out of that passion.”

Learn more about the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program HERE. Interested individuals are encouraged to email Becky Remsberg – bremsberg@marylandthoroughbred.com – with questions.

About the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program

Launched in 2017, the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program is an educational program presented by the Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) that aims to:

• Increase awareness of the diverse career options in the Thoroughbred industry
• Give participants access to leaders of the Maryland Thoroughbred community
• Highlight various paths for pursuing a career in the Thoroughbred industry
• Address a critical need to attract and retain experienced and devoted employees

Over the course of a week, participants are encouraged to fully engage in the Maryland Thoroughbred industry and explore a multitude of career options. Graduates of the MTCP are eligible to apply for Career Development Funds, one-time funding that can be used to further career pursuits within two years after the program ends.

About the Maryland Horse Foundation

The Maryland Horse Foundation was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry.

The MHF has developed and supports several educational programs and is responsible for the maintenance and expansion of the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center. In addition to our programs and projects, we are proud to work directly with several industry partners to promote the entire Maryland Horse industry.

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 is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation, to be used for its educational programs and continued promotion of MarylandHorse.com.

The grants given by the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation reflect the values set forth by founders Herb and Ellen Moelis. The current board includes Co-Chairs Kathleen Anderson DVM and James Orsini DVM, Margaret H. Duprey, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Ellen and Herb Moelis, Wendy Moon, Anita Motion, Scott Palmer VMD, Josh Pons, Lucy Zungailia, Katelyn Jackson, and Lynn Cassimeris, Ph.D.

The educational programs of the Maryland Horse Foundation includes the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program, designed to increase awareness of career options in the thoroughbred industry and give participants access to leaders in the Maryland thoroughbred community, along with the work experience program, which allows qualified applicants to designed a custom internship experience that will benefit their long-term career goals.

To learn more about the Maryland Horse Foundation and its programs, visit MarylandHorse.com.

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.

MARYLAND HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD ACCEPTING 2023 GRANT APPLICATIONS — GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD RUNS FROM AUGUST 1 – OCTOBER 7

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 28, 2022) – The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB), a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, will begin accepting grant applications on August 1, 2022, for research, educational, and promotional projects that support horses, strengthen the equestrian community, and/or develop new opportunities for the Maryland horse industry. The deadline to apply is October 7, 2022.

“Horses are a critical economic driver in Maryland and an important part of our agriculture industry,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “The equine sector alone adds an additional $1.3 billion to the state’s economy and impacts more than 21,000 jobs. The grants provided by the Maryland Horse Industry Board ensure that our state remains a world-class equestrian epicenter for years to come.”

Projects will be evaluated for the quality of their written presentation; possible impact and value to the industry; feasibility of the project; financial need; and potential for matching funds. Grant requests should not exceed $3,000. The average grant amount is approximately $1,000. In 2022, 40 projects received a total of $30,000 in grant allocations.

Applicants are strongly urged to read the 2022 Grant Guidelines carefully. Proposals that are aligned with action items found in the 2019 Maryland Horse Forum Report will be given strong consideration as well as applications that aim to enhance diversity and inclusion in the Maryland horse industry. Organizations eligible for grants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit organizations; clubs and associations; businesses; licensed farms and stables; schools and educational institutions; and government entities.

Grant recipients will be announced no later than January 1, 2023. Funding will be available after that date. Projects should be completed by June 30, 2023.

GRANT APPLICATION PDF

To be downloaded, filled out and emailed to ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.

You can also download a Word doc from the website. 
It is preferred forms are filled out and emailed, but hard copy mailed in forms ( 8 copies of Grant) will be accepted as well.

The MHIB was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. Funding for these grants and for the MHIB is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland. Since the Maryland Feed Fund was established in 2002, the MHIB has awarded over $500,000 in grants to nearly 400 projects throughout Maryland.

Visit the MHIB website to view the 2023 grant guidelines and grant applications. For more information, please contact the MHIB’s Executive Director Ross Peddicord at (240) 344-0000 or ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.

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MHIB GRANTS

(Reisterstown, MD – June 20, 2022) The Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) is proud to announce the launch of a newly designed MarylandHorse.com website. This redesign was completed in partnership with the Maryland Horse Industry Board and funded by a grant from the Rural Maryland Council. The refreshed MarylandHorse.com website features a sortable directory connecting users to a variety of resources in addition to an events calendar tracking Maryland Horse happenings.

“MarylandHorse.com is an incredible resource that showcases the Maryland horse industry,” said Jordyn Egan, MHF director of development. “The Maryland Horse Foundation is proud to partner with the Maryland Horse Industry Board on this endeavor and we are committed to maintaining and promoting the website year-round.”

In addition to the events calendar and robust directory, MarylandHorse.com will be the home for information about the Maryland Horse Park System and annual campaigns such as October – Maryland Horse Month and Horse Industry Day.

Contact Becky Remsberg (bremsberg@marylandthoroughbred.com) if you have an event or resource you would like added to the website.

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The Maryland Horse Foundation (MHF) is a charitable organization that was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. The MHF has developed and supports a number of educational programs and is responsible for the maintenance and expansion of the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center. In addition to our programs and projects, we are proud to work directly with several industry partners to promote the entire Maryland Horse industry.