The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) has released the final report from the August 8 Maryland Horse Forum at McDonogh School. The Horse Forum is co-hosted every five years by the Maryland Horse Industry Board and other equestrian organizations. It is an open forum for “sharing insights and developing actionable plans to strengthen Maryland’s horse industry.”
The report summarizes the issues raised by attendees and the potential solutions discussed in breakout groups. Maryland’s Secretary of Agriculture, Kevin Atticks, attended the forum and wrote an introduction to the report. He said the Department “eagerly anticipate[s] the innovative approaches the horse industry will employ to attract a diverse range of participants and ensure its enduring success.” He said the Department knows that “horse owners want to optimize the care and management of their horses while fostering greater cooperation across the industry.” With respect to some of the specific concerns raised, he said that the Department “remains committed to tackling workforce shortages and developing workforce enhancement programs within the equine and animal science sectors.“
Outgoing Executive Director of MHIB, Ross Peddicord, wrote in his forward: “The challenge ahead is to build on this momentum. By continuing to speak openly, work together, and meet challenges head on, we will keep pushing our industry forward—creating positive change and ensuring that Maryland’s equine legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.“
The report is a terrific road map for the next five years. If we, together, accomplish even half of the ideas proposed by the participants, by 2029 we will be in a very good place indeed.