(December, 15, 2022) -- It’s that time of year again. Breeding season is coming soon, and the Maryland Horse Foundation will host the annual online stallion season auction from January 2-6, 2023. This year’s auction will feature no-guarantee seasons for 17 Maryland-based stallions: Divining Rod Friesan Fire Mosler Bourbon Courage Holy Boss Long River Fortune Ticket Alliance Kobe's Back Hoppertunity Galawi Irish War Cry Madefromlucky Uncle Lino Blofeld Rainbow Heir Barbados “This is a good opportunity to support the Maryland Horse Foundation and get a great deal on a season or two to some of Maryland’s top stallions,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Foundation, “and you will also produce a Maryland Million eligible horse for your stable!” All proceeds will benefit the Foundation's educational programs and the brand-new Maryland Horse Library & Education Center, located at 321 Main St. in Reisterstown. For more information, contact Becky Remsberg at bremsberg@marylandthoroughbred.com or 410-252-2100 x 110. — 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 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.

In June 2022, Maryland State Governor Larry Hogan and a delegation of representatives from the Maryland Horse Industry Board and other Maryland equine organizations visited Ireland on a Maryland Dept. of Agriculture Equestrian Trade Mission. The trip included visits to some of Ireland’s top equestrian destinations, including Irish National Stud & Gardens, Punchestown Racecourse, the Royal Dublin Society, and more.  Watch the recap video here→ Interested in learning more? Check out these links: Schedule & Contact Booklet Memorandum of Understanding

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.

(October 19, 2022) -- The Maryland Horse Foundation’s third annual Silent Auction is now open. The auction will run until Monday, October 24 at 8:00 p.m. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Maryland Horse Foundation and will help support its educational work. This includes programs such as the Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program and the Work Experience Program, which are designed to educate aspiring racing professionals about the opportunities available in the Maryland horse industry. Thanks to numerous generous donations, more than 160 items are available. They range from experiences such as a meet-and-greet with two-time Maryland Million Turf champion Talk Show Man and tours of Maryland horse destinations such as the Maryland Hunt Cup course, Sagamore Farm, and Fair Hill, to items such as custom-made silks from Stitches by Chloe, a sterling silver horse cuff bracelet from In House Jewelers, and a gift basket from Spa in the Valley. The auction is available here. Best of luck to all bidders!

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.     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.

Buy Your Tickets Now for the Washington International Horse Show Seven days and three nights of top equestrian sport and entertainment Upper Marlboro, Md. – Tickets are now on sale for the 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™. Join us for one of the most competitive, exciting, and entertaining equestrian events in North America, October 24-30, 2022, at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Experience the beauty and athleticism of the finest horses and riders in the world, including Olympic veterans, as they come together for seven days and three nights of world-class international show jumping, top hunter, pony, and equitation competition plus entertaining exhibitions, boutique shopping, VIP hospitality, and special events. Tickets: What You Need To Know Opening Day Special: On Monday, October 24, all tickets will be free Daytime Tickets (all general admission): Monday, October 24 through Sunday, October 30, prices vary from $2-$10 (plus applicable service charge) Children 12 and under admitted free to all daytime events Evening Tickets: Tickets start as low as $15 for selected night NEW option for Grab & Go buffet tickets that include a meal and beverage: Paddock Room Parties: Grab & Go buffet, beer/wine open bar (adult ticket only) for consumption at unreserved table seat in the Paddock Room at The Show Place Arena Premium: Grab & Go buffet, two beer/wine drinks (adult ticket only) for consumption in reserved arena seat Visit the WIHS Ticket page for more details and links to purchase on Ticketmaster. Tickets can also be purchased in person at The Show Place Arena Box Office. Complimentary Tickets for Military, Seniors, Students, and Teachers Complimentary tickets are available for members of the U.S. military, first responders, seniors, students, and teachers. Daytime only (Monday-Sunday) Affiliation badge or ID required Up to four tickets per badge/ID Show Location The Show Place Arena, Prince George's Equestrian Center 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772 Parking is free. Highlights World Cup Night (Saturday, October 29): Thrilling World Cup Jumping including the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World CupTM Washington CSI5*-W for the President's Cup Military Night (Friday, October 28): $75,000 Speed Final, $25,000 Puissance (high jump), and the Jump For TAPS supporting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Barn Night (Thursday, October 27): Fun for all, especially youngsters, including the $75,000 International Jumper Welcome and the $37,000 Accumulator Costume Class BUY TICKETS For more information about WIHS, visit www.wihs.org, join WIHS on Facebook, follow on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe on YouTube. Tag using #WIHS2022, #FEIWorldCup, #TimeToBeat and #Longines. Contact: Kara Pinato Scro | kara@jumpmediallc.com About Washington International Horse Show Established in 1958, the Washington International Horse Show is one of North America's most prestigious, competitive, and entertaining equestrian events with competition for international, professional, amateur, junior, and child riders. Highlights include the $406,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Washington for the President's Cup, and the WIHS Equitation Finals and Children's and Adult Hunter and Jumper Championships, plus popular community and charity events, like Kids' Day and Barn Night. WIHS, an official USEF Heritage Competition, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. For more information, visit www.wihs.org.

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. # # # Follow Maryland Department of Agriculture on Twitter @MdAgDept MHIB GRANTS

(White Hall, MD— June 28, 2022) The Mill invites you to an educational forage field walk on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 5:00 pm.  The rain date will be Thursday, June 30th. The event will be held at Clear Meadow Farm, 3116 Troyer Rd, White Hall, MD 21161. There are 15 varieties of forages including 4 varieties of orchardgrass, 3 of timothy, 3 pasture blends, Grasshancer 300 (emergency forage extender), 2 types of fescue, Fojtan festulolium, and Kentucky Bluegrass plots.  The plot was established in 2018.  The first harvest of 2022 was the 2nd week of May.  There is adequate regrowth to see differences in recovery and persistency between the varieties. There are no short-term forecasts of feed or fuel price easing and supply chain issues remain a concern.  The best strategy to keep purchased feed costs in check is to maximize nutritional quality and yields from forage stands. Now is the time to plan for pasture renovations.  Fall is the best time to seed since soil temperatures are ideal for rapid germination and cool evenings help retain soil moisture for shallow-root seedlings.  Additionally, there is less competition from annual weeds which allows for a thicker stand compared to spring seeding. September to mid-October is an ideal time to overseed pasture or hay fields. Soil sampling should be performed now to balance soil pH and know what nutrients will be needed for a new seeding or to boost fall forages and prepare stands to overwinter. Join The Mill to hear agronomists’ observations and management strategies for the 15 forage varieties at the plot and see first-hand, the differences between stands.  There is no cost to attend.  To RSVP – email info@themillstores.com or call 410-692-2200.  Visit www.themillstores.com/pages/2022-forage-plot-walk to see more information about the varieties at the forage trials. -- The Mill is a family-owned agriculture service and supply retailer with 7 locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania that offer delivery to farms and homes, agronomic consulting, application services, and precision ag data management services through Decision Ag Solutions.