Maryland Horse Industry Forum Set for August 6

[CountryLady]

CONTACT: Sue duPont, 410-841-5889 or
Julie Oberg, 410-841-5888

Maryland Horse Industry Forum Set for August 6

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 17, 2009) – Leaders of Maryland horse organizations and businesses, influential members of the Maryland horse community, and anyone who wants to help advance the Maryland horse industry will meet on Thursday, August 6 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at The Show Place Arena and the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro. The Maryland Horse Forum will be an opportunity for the State’s horse industry to voice its expectations, hopes and concerns and to provide recommendations to Governor Martin O’Malley and the industry itself on how to lead Maryland’s 87,000 horses into the future. Leaders of the Maryland horse industry will evaluate the future of Maryland racing and the state's other horse sports and recreational activities, and make recommendations on how the industry can stimulate the economy, maintain open space, and contribute to the health of our waterways and bay. The forum is organized by the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) in cooperation with the Maryland Horse Council (MHC).
__________________________________________________________________________________________

WHO:
State and local elected officials, leaders in Maryland horse organizations and business, influential members of the Maryland horse community, and anyone who wants to help advance the Maryland horse industry.

WHEN:
Thursday, August 6, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

WHERE:
The Show Place Arena and the Prince George’s Equestrian Center
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Upper Marlboro, Md.

NOTE:
Space is limited. To RSVP, or for more information, visit Welcome Page, or contact Kelley Fitzgerald, at 410-841-2785 or info@horseboard.org.


MORE INFOR FROM THE WEB LINK ABOVE:
Why Should People Attend?: If you want to have a say in the future direction of the industry you must attend, or express your opinions to your representative organization. The leadership of Maryland's State Government has consistently asked that the industry to speak with one voice and define clear goals and strategies for the future of the industry. As one attendee at the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum "This forum is the best opportunity I've seen to create that "one voice" that government wants to hear."

How Does it Work?: The leaders of the entire Maryland horse industry representing all aspects of the industry gather together for a series of 9 listening sessions on specific topics related to the industry. Those topics and the exact agenda will be listed on this website (Welcome Page) under the "Agenda" button to the left.

Each session will have a moderator who is well known in Maryland as knowledgeable on the topic that will be discussed in the session. The moderator will introduce the topic and turn over the session to a facilitator or facilitators. The facilitator then invites those in attendance to discuss the issues faced by you, your business, or organization. The facilitator will encourage the audience to formulate recommendations on how the issue can be solved. The solutions can be simple or complex, they may require government or private industry action, but once they are all reported through the Maryland Horse Forum, they will be presented in a final report available online and presented to the Governor. You can see the results of the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum by clicking on the button to the left marked "2004 MHF Report." There will also be a free lunch and keynote speech by one of the most prominent leaders in Maryland government. To see who attended the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum visit click here.

Background: The first Maryland Horse Forum was held at the Showplace Arena on August 5, 2004. Over 250 leaders from the Maryland horse industry met that day to discuss the issues facing the industry and establish recommendations on how to grow and improve the industry. On February 5, 2009 Governor Martin O'Malley challenged the Agricultural leaders of Maryland to get their commodities together for listening sessions to develop strategies for the future. It is time for the Maryland horse industry to meet for the 2009 Maryland Horse Forum.

Many recommendations from the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum have come to fruition or are in the process of coming to fruition. Some of the accomplishments of the industry since 2004 include:

• 
  expansion of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to include a broader array of equine activities as acceptable uses of preserved properties,

• 
  the Mid-Atlantic Animal Import Center Feasibility Study,

• 
  the Maryland Horse Park Feasibility Study,

• 
  equine activities were defined in law as agricultural activities,

• 
  the Maryland Horse Industry Board distributed thousands of dollars for the development of facilities for youth equestrian activities,

• 
  and slot machines were passed into law with as much as $100 million dedicated annually to purses and breeders incentives.

Much has changed since the first Maryland Horse Forum in 2004. While we have accomplished much over the course of the last five years, we still face many challenges including some of the goals we identified in 2004.

Join us August 6, 2009 at The Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD!

 

[Wait4It..boom]

Wondering if this would be the venue to discuss the requirements for agricultural use....? To maintain agricultural status, you are supposed to have 1 animal per acre; how would you keep pastures managed with that ratio?

Maryland Assessment Procedures Manual

Use Test - A parcel of land is eligible for agricultural use valuation if it is determined to have 5 acres or more "Actually Devoted". Different agricultural activities may be combined to meet the use test; i.e., growing of various crops, raising of livestock, etc..


For livestock to be considered in the use test, there must be at least 1 animal per acre for animals such as horses or cattle. There must be at least 5 animals per acre for animals such as sheep, goats or swine. Thus, the use test on 5 acres is met where there are 5 horses or 25 sheep.

If less than 5 acres are "Actually Devoted", a parcel or parcels can qualify only by an income test, unless the parcels are part of an agricultural land unit or a family farm unit.

 

[CountryLady]

Wondering if this would be the venue to discuss the requirements for agricultural use....? To maintain agricultural status, you are supposed to have 1 animal per acre; how would you keep pastures managed with that ratio?

Maryland Assessment Procedures Manual

Use Test - A parcel of land is eligible for agricultural use valuation if it is determined to have 5 acres or more "Actually Devoted". Different agricultural activities may be combined to meet the use test; i.e., growing of various crops, raising of livestock, etc..


For livestock to be considered in the use test, there must be at least 1 animal per acre for animals such as horses or cattle. There must be at least 5 animals per acre for animals such as sheep, goats or swine. Thus, the use test on 5 acres is met where there are 5 horses or 25 sheep.

If less than 5 acres are "Actually Devoted", a parcel or parcels can qualify only by an income test, unless the parcels are part of an agricultural land unit or a family farm unit.

The point you make is very interesting!!! I had not heard that. You might want to brush up and get all your questions together and ask them if you attend or email MD Horse Industry Board. A lot of the questions I pose to them will end up being quick links on their website shortly thereafter.

As Horse people we all need to get actively involved with the available agencies or else our Horse industry will change as we know it. IT ALREADY HAS!

MD's recommended Acre per horse is 3 for the first horse, and an additional acre per horse thereafter.

The land I am on was deemed agricultural before I put the horses on it. I have 20 acres with 7 horses on it, and using proper pasture management, my horses cannot possibly eat all the grass.

Like the common example used:

5 acres can support 3 horses very well with plenty of forage if managed properly using pasture rotation. OR 5 acres (not divided) can support only 1 horse.

As far as pasture management, it is our choice/responsibility to manage the resources we have. Some of us still need to be educated in a lot of the how-to's! We have a lot of resources available to us, we just need to actively use them or they may disapear due to the failing economy!

 

[CountryLady]

Helpful Links Below:

Maryland Horse Industry Board

Maryland Horse Industry Site

Maryland Department of Agriculture

Maryland Department of Agriculture

Maryland Cooperitive Extension Office

Maryland Cooperative Extension - Maryland Cooperative Extension

The Equiery

The Equiery

Maryland Horse Council

Maryland Horse Council - Home

 

[CountryLady]

Wondering if this would be the venue to discuss the requirements for agricultural use....? To maintain agricultural status, you are supposed to have 1 animal per acre; how would you keep pastures managed with that ratio?

Any Ideas, suggestions or concerns you have regarding the EQUINE industry can always be/should be brought up to the Maryland Horse Industry Board. Send an Email to Rob Burk. He is always more than helpful.

THE SESSIONS ON AUG 6th are as follows:

Session1:
Labor Issues
Zoning. Land Use and Land Preservation.
Promoting and Marketing the Horse

Session2:
Legal Matters Liability and Insurance
Vision for the future of MD Racing
Trails and Public Lands

Session3:
Going Green
Infastructure & Competition venues
Unwanted Horses

You would have to choose 1 of the 3 topics per session and attend that seminar.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

 

[Wait4It..boom]

Thanks for the agenda. I will plan to go. I am frustrated because our property was agricultural when we bought it. We signed the letter of intent and the county came out for the first inspection soon after. We only had 2 horses on at the time. We have 8 acres in pr frederick. County said there has to be 5. They'll be coming back again soon to reinspect. They told me to 'just find 3 horses.' at the time of their first inspection we were repairing fences and stalls to get them to a min level of our pickiness. Those things just were recently finished but still don't have the other 3 horses right now. It's always something ...

 

[fredsaid2]

Thanks for the agenda. I will plan to go. I am frustrated because our property was agricultural when we bought it. We signed the letter of intent and the county came out for the first inspection soon after. We only had 2 horses on at the time. We have 8 acres in pr frederick. County said there has to be 5. They'll be coming back again soon to reinspect. They told me to 'just find 3 horses.' at the time of their first inspection we were repairing fences and stalls to get them to a min level of our pickiness. Those things just were recently finished but still don't have the other 3 horses right now. It's always something ...

Section off part of your pasture for an ag crop like hay. Then you won't have to take on more horses.

 

[Wait4It..boom]

Thanks! Good idea. We thought about that too. The requirements for crops look like I'd have to section at least 3 acres and everything is flat right now!! it's pretty obvious that we aren't growing anything.

 

[fredsaid2]

Thanks! Good idea. We thought about that too. The requirements for crops look like I'd have to section at least 3 acres and everything is flat right now!! it's pretty obvious that we aren't growing anything.

Maybe having a receipt for seed would be good enough until you're able to sow it. Good luck on getting your ag designation!

 

[CountryLady]

A tremendous amount of good information was brought out by a lot of people regarding the issues we are facing with the horse industry and keeping our industry viable. There were also many solutions presented from different aspects of the horse community which gave many points of view about a lot of the same issues. When information is presented in a forum like that, a lot of good things come from it. Governor Martin O’Malley was present and we were able to present our ideas to him about what the MD Horse industry needs to continue to be viable. There was a lot of interest in MD Developing a Horse park possibly in the Crownsville area.

If anyone has issues that they are facing, problems ideas, and possible solutions in the horse industry Please fax or email Rob Burk at the MHIB. Things don’t happen over night. We can complain quietly, and have nothing get done (and watch our horse industry dissapear before our very eyes), or we can be proactive and foster a better horse industry for all to benefit. The time to act is now. Write the Governor, secretary of the Dept. Agriculture and/or MD Horse Industry Board, express to them what the horse industry means to you and how it could be better.

 

[CountryLady]

Press Release: Governor Martin O'Malley Accepts Report Expanding Math, Science Education and Training in Maryland

“Our heritage, our spirit, our economy, our land and our jobs – all of those things are strengthened and enriched by the presence of the horse through the centuries, and are no less significant today,” said Governor O’Malley. “The work done today to shape the direction of the horse industry is central to its future viability and prosperity, in turn keeping tens of thousands of jobs, enhancing the enjoyment of citizens of all ages, preserving hundreds of thousands of acres of land and contributing over a billion dollars to the State’s economy.”

Still awaiting the official report!
Welcome Page

 

[horse_hugger]

Still awaiting the official report!
Welcome Page

It's coming! We had a MHIB meeting Friday and the rough drafts are due to Rob on Monday (tomorrow). The plan is to have the report available at the upcoming Maryland Horse Council/Maryland Horse Industry Board joint meeting in Annapolis. Speaking of which - If you all are not members of Maryland Horse Council, please consider joining. This is the lobbying organization for horse matters in the State. The Maryland Horse Council will be presenting its action plan in response to the forum at this meeting (their legislative and policy plan). If you want something changed - this is the organization that can try to get it done. The joint meeting is November 17th in Annapolis - this is one where we get legislators to attend, so come! 4:00 is a tour of Annapolis; 6:00 is the "Meet and Greet" (and wine tasting!) and 7:00 pm is the general meeting. Hope to see you there!!

Maryland Horse Council - Home

 

[CountryLady]

It's coming! We had a MHIB meeting Friday and the rough drafts are due to Rob on Monday (tomorrow). The plan is to have the report available at the upcoming Maryland Horse Council/Maryland Horse Industry Board joint meeting in Annapolis. Speaking of which - If you all are not members of Maryland Horse Council, please consider joining. This is the lobbying organization for horse matters in the State. The Maryland Horse Council will be presenting its action plan in response to the forum at this meeting (their legislative and policy plan). If you want something changed - this is the organization that can try to get it done. The joint meeting is November 17th in Annapolis - this is one where we get legislators to attend, so come! 4:00 is a tour of Annapolis; 6:00 is the "Meet and Greet" (and wine tasting!) and 7:00 pm is the general meeting. Hope to see you there!!

Maryland Horse Council - Home

Sounds good!
I'll try to make it.

Wine tasting huh, its a long ride home from annapolis!
Would this be local MD wines?

Also Horsey peeps that are trying to run their businesses as agricultural should also join the local farm bureau.