Today, the Maryland Department of Agriculture announced the awardees for the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) 2026 grant cycle.
ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 17, 2025) — The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB), a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, has announced the award of $20,680 in competitive grants to 35 organizations and equine operations representing a wide range of disciplines, regions, and community-based programs across the state. Awards were selected from a highly competitive pool of 56 applications.
Funding for the grants is provided through the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland. Since its establishment in 2002, the Feed Fund has enabled the Board to award nearly $700,000 to more than 500 projects, strengthening Maryland’s equine industry from within.
“As the horse industry continues to work together as a unified horse ecosystem, we are better able to see both the breadth of the industry and where opportunities for growth exist,” said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks. “These grants highlight the innovation, collaboration, and commitment that make Maryland’s horse industry such an important part of our agricultural economy.”
This year’s grants support programs across 14 of Maryland’s 23 counties and reflect a growing emphasis on workforce development, youth education, equine-assisted therapy, public outreach, emergency preparedness, and professional training. Funded projects include expanded youth and young adult equine education programs such as the Maryland Horse Career Program, statewide outreach initiatives such as Horseland’s educational programming, advanced training for law enforcement and emergency responders, and a wide range of therapeutic and wellness programs that leverage the unique benefits horses provide to individuals and communities.
“What stands out in the horse industry is the diversity and impact of the programs being supported,” said Anne Litz, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board. “From career pathways and youth horsemanship to mental health, public safety, and community engagement, these grants reflect a modern, inclusive horse industry that reaches far beyond one sector. The Board is proud to invest in programs that strengthen Maryland’s horse ecosystem while delivering tangible benefits to people across the state.”
Grant projects are evaluated based on their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, scope and scale, financial need, potential for matching funds, overall benefit, and quality of the application. Individual grants are capped at $2,000 to allow funding to reach as many projects as possible. Projects are required to be completed by June 30, 2026, and all recipients must submit a final report detailing use of funds and project outcomes.
A full list of grant recipients and project descriptions is available on the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s website at https://mda.maryland.gov/horseboard/Pages/grants.aspx
2026 Maryland Horse Industry Board Grants Awards
| Name | Award | County | Synopsis |
| Maryland Horse Foundation | $2,000.00 | Baltimore | Maryland Horse Careers Program: Week-long residential experience introducing adults to diverse equine professions, creating a pipeline of future employees for all sectors of the horse industry. |
| Greenwell Foundation, Inc. | $1,280.00 | St. Mary’s | Ride into Spring 2026 promotes inclusive equestrian programs through community events, outreach, and new educational displays celebrating the therapeutic and recreational roles of its horses. |
| The Farmyard LLC (Barn Name: Rise) | $1,200.00 | Baltimore | Expansion of Educational Opportunities for Horsemanship Certificate Program Participants. Connects the public with Maryland’s agricultural and equine leaders. |
| Md State Fair & Agricultural Society, Inc. | $1,000.00 | Baltimore County | Horseland Trading Cards: Expands its year-round equine education outreach through library visits, parades, and fairs, engaging youth with collectible pony trading cards to promote learning and enthusiasm for Maryland’s horse industry. |
| Days End Farm Horse Rescue | $1,000.00 | Howard | Expands Equine Cruelty Investigator training, enhancing education for over 100 professionals annually through advanced instruction, expert-led sessions, and hands-on equine welfare training. |
| Tidwater Pony Club | $1,000.00 | Talbot | Tidewater Pony Club Education Program revitalize its horsemanship education by expanding mounted and unmounted programs by adding teaching materials, and clinics to engage and educate more members. |
| Common Ground Inc | $1,000.00 | Frederick | Police and 911- Dispatch PTG Equine Therapy.Helps Maryland police officers and 911 dispatchers manage trauma, build resilience, and improve emotional regulation through interactive horse-based therapy. |
| Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc. | $1,000.00 | Cecil | Expanding Access to Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans, First Responders, and At-Risk Youth |
| Fair Hill International | $1,000.00 | Cecil | Equine-assisted therapy for at-risk youth partners with Cecil County’s Youth Empowerment Source to provide equine-assisted sessions. |
| vR Growth & Learning Center | $750.00 | Howard | Horses Helping People an Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy program, providing ground-based therapeutic sessions to all ages. |
| Name | Award | County | Synopsis |
| Tri- County Council for Southern Maryland (Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission) | $600.00 | Charles | 2026 Southern Maryland Equine Seminar: one-day educational seminar serving Southern Maryland’s equine community. |
| Waredaca Eventing Education Foundation | $600.00 | Montgomery | WEEF Education Seminar Serieson the history, preparation, and participation in Classic 3-Day Eventing. |
| Freedom Hill Horse Rescue | $500.00 | Calvert | Community programs – Scouts, Schools, Homeschooling programs, Veterans, and Equine-assisted service programs for First Responders. |
| Saddle Up Scholars | $500.00 | Baltimore | Saddle Up for Summer at Ruth Kirk Center – a one-week horse discovery camp for underserved youth to inspire interest in horsemanship and showcase Maryland’s equine career opportunities. |
| Potomac Valley Dressage Association | $500.00 | Prince George’s | Supports PVDA Maryland competitions that attract riders from local to international levels. |
| Frederick County 4 H Therapeutic Riding Program | $500.00 | Frederick | Frederick County 4 H Therapeutic Outreach Program to continue therapeutic outreach visits to nursing homes and special needs schools. |
| Full Moon Farm | $500.00 | Carroll | FMF Equine Education Outreach Program Brings miniature horses and educational exhibits to local locations |
| Maryland Horse Council | $500.00 | Howard | Emergency: Ready Reference: Creates and distributes a practical preparedness guide for equine barns. |
| Wellspring of Life Farm, Inc. | $500.00 | Baltimore | Tricks & Liberty Training~ Connecting People & Horses – Host two public clinics to introduce and teach the art of liberty and trick training. |
| February Star Sanctuary | $500.00 | Frederick | Educational Youth Horsemanship and Horseback Riding Program expands hands-on equine education for youth. |
| Maryland Therapeutic Riding | $500.00 | Anne Arundel | Barn University is MTR’s monthly educational series offering unmounted lessons on equine health, behavior, and care. |
| Jacquie Cowan on behalf of The Red Devils, the beneficiary of our fundraising event | $500.00 | Queen Anne’s | 14th annual Saddlin’ Up for Breast Cancer Trail Event |
| Safe Haven Equine Warriors | $250.00 | Howard County | Homewood for HorsesL SHEW and the Homewood School will provide therapeutic equine education visits for students with disabilities. |
| Maryland Pony Breeders, Inc. | $250.00 | Talbot | Funds to increase prize money for MD Bred ponies in the annual Yearling Futurity |
| Old Dominion Equestrian | $250.00 | Charles | Old Dominion Young Rider Clinic offering young riders mounted and unmounted training with equine professionals while providing horses for participants without their own. |
| Maryland FFA Foundation | $250.00 | Carrol | Horse Evaluation Career Development Event |
| Saddle Up 4 Fun Ltd. | $250.00 | Prince George’s | Mentorship With Horsemanship: three-week equine-assisted youth program in Upper Marlboro providing accessible opportunities for underserved families. |
| Fair Hill Emergency Response Team | $250.00 | Cecil | Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training funds large animal emergency rescue training for first responders and animal professionals |
| Kiddy up with Horses Inc. | $250.00 | Charles | Pathways with Ponies: Equine Education & Therapy in Action provids hands-on equine education and therapy programs. |
| Withers and Wellness, LLC | $250.00 | Prince George’s | Reclaim & Rise: Pilot Equine-Connected Empowerment Series for Women in Transition |
| TMSTAR LLC | $250.00 | Baltimore | Expand TMSTAR Western Horse Shows through marketing |
| KOR Productions LLC | $250.00 | Howard | RidersToRiders.com will be an inclusive, moderated online forum connecting riders across all disciplines and backgrounds |
| Stephanie Milton/Lily’s Wild Heart | $250.00 | St Mary’s | Positive Reinforcement with Mustangs Workshop: Maryland’s first positive reinforcement clinic for mustangs |
| Bravo! Equestrian, LLC | $250.00 | Howard | This project launches Maryland’s first United Dressage and Jumper Club show |
| Maryland Mustang Mission | $250.00 | Frederick | Maryland Mustang Mission: promotes adoption of America’s wild mustangs |