2021

• MHC completed its acquisition of The Equiery.
• MHC created its Equine-Assisted Therapy committee.
• MHC conducted webinar with state legislators and Hogan Administration officials re legislative bond money available for capital projects for horse business.  

2020

• MHC successfully defeated numerous Sunday hunting bills introduced in the General Assembly.
• MHC supported successful legislation to add equine-assisted therapy to programs eligible for reimbursement on the Maryland Veterans Administration's Animal Services program.
• MHC proposed successful legislation to broaden the existing “interference with horses” law to cover all livestock engaged in “any lawful activity,” with the goal of protecting carriage horses.

2019

 

2018

 

2017

• MHC received a $750,000 grant from the WaterShed Animal Fund’s Right Horse Initiative to develop the Maryland Equine Transition Service.
• MHC Board of Directors voted to acquire the Equiery and kicked off the GoPro campaign to raise funds for professional management.
• MHC re-structured the Board of Directors pursuant to a by-laws change passed in 2016.
• 190 people attended the 3rd MD Horse Industry Day, co-sponsored by MHC, in Annapolis.
• MHC awarded grant by the Maryland Horse Industry Board for grassroots activities.
• MHC Legislative Committee monitored 40 bills, successfully defeated hunting bills, and updated members on nine bills of interest that passed this year.
• MHC hosted a successful annual BBQ with 140 attendees.

2016

• MHC, in partnership with the Maryland Horse Industry Board, hosts its second MD Horse Industry Day including a press conference and visits with 25 legislators.
• MD farms certified by the Association of Soil Conservation District’s Farm Stewardship Assessment and Certification Program grows to 28 in large part due to the work of MHC’s Farm Stewardship Committee.
• MHC supports the 2nd annual Maryland Pride Day a Laurel Park to celebrate Maryland-bred and Maryland-sired horses in racing.
• MHC defeats a “county courtesy” bill, House Bill 203, which would have authorized hunting every Sunday during game mammal and game bird seasons in Caroline County.
• Maryland Fund For Horses’ health care rebate program provides financial assistance for veterinary care for half dozen horses and gelding for numerous others. 5000 copies of Safe & Sound: A Resource Guide for New and Prospective Owners distributed since printing.

2015

• MHC amends By-laws to fill committee vacancies, revamps its website, and improves database and messaging capabilities to provide better membership services.
• MHC hosts the “Maryland-Made Sold Worldwide” three-session business seminar for entrepreneurs interested in developing innovative products for the equestrian community.
• MHC votes to support the federal Safeguard American Food Exports Act and adopted a formal resolution, becoming the first state horse council in the nation to take a formal position on slaughter.
• MFFH receives a grant from the ASPCA to create the “Horse Bucks” program to provide financial assistance to horse owners needing help with the cost of equine health care.
• MHC defeats seven Sunday hunting bills, which were among 42 bills and resolutions monitored by the Legislative committee.
• Presents 2015 Legislative Leadership Award to Senator Joan Carter Conway for continued support of MHC positions and, in partnership with the MHIB, hosts first annual MD Horse Industry Day.

2014

• Through promotion by MHC’s Farm Stewardship Committee, enrollment in the MD Association of Soil Conservation District’s Farm Stewardship and Conservation Assessment Program grows to 17 horse farms.
• MHC Business Network hosts session on how to obtain financing for your horse business, with representatives from Mid-Atlantic farm Credit and Sandy Spring Bank.
• MHC presents Leadership Awards to Senate President Mike Miller, House Speaker Mike Busch, and Senators Joan Carter Conway and Roy Dyson
• MHC awarded $3000 from Maryland Horse Industry Board for study of manure management practices and composting opportunities.
• MHC awarded $500 from Maryland Horse Industry Board for improvements to the MHC County Forum web pages.

2013

• MHC Farm Stewardship Committee secures enrollment of 11 horse farms in the MD Association of Soil Conservation District’s Farm Stewardship and Conservation Assessment Program.
• MHC establishes County Forum pages for each county on the MHC website, where county specific news and information is shared.
• MHC creates discounted 3 and 5 year pre-paid memberships.
• MHC amends By-laws to clarify the term and period of service for members of the Executive Committee.
• MHC nominates Beverly Raymond, who becomes the recipient of the American Horse Council Van Ness Award for outstanding service to the industry.

2012

• MHC amends By-laws to create 2-year terms for At-Large Board members, change member categories and clarify voting age.
• MHC awards MHIB grant for Save the Horse Farms campaign research.
• Business Network hosts tours of Sagamore Farm and Select Breeders Services, as well as roundtable discussion of business and financial planning for equine farm and business owners.
• The Save the Horse Farms Committee, in partnership with the Law Offices of Kathleen JP Tabor, publishes the Zoning and Permitting Guide.
• The Farm Stewardship Committee continues to hold meetings on various topics, including: the University of Maryland pasture management seminars, the Maryland Farm Stewardship, Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) for "Certified Agricultural Conservation Stewards", legislative updates, composting and energy efficient stable construction.

2011

• MHC leads the launch of the Maryland Fund for Horses.
• MHC Business Network hosts dialog lunches and tours of Nutramax Laboratories and Farmers' Cooperative Association.
• MHC creates Horse Council Political Action Committee.
• MHC launches its Farm Stewardship Committee to promote quality land management for healthy horses and a healthy horses and a healthy environment in Maryland through identifying resources for horse farms and achieving recognition for sound environmental practices.

2010

• MHC launches the Business Network for Business and Farm members.
• MHC launches the Save the Horse Farms Campaign, which has inspired several zoning-related victories in counties throughout the state.
• MHC launches the Unwanted Horse Project.
• MHC leads a grassroots effort to Save Maryland Racing.

2009

• MHC sponsors 3rd Annual Equine Health and Business Seminars.
• MHC sponsors feed fund legislation to increase funding for the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
• MHC sponsors "Horses as Agriculture" to codify that equine activities are agricultural.

2008

• MHC sponsors 2nd Annual Equine Health and Business Seminars.
• Successfully concluded effort to revise standards for application of MALPF program to equestrian properties.

2007

• MHC sponsors the Maryland Equine Emergency Response Symposium.
• MHC sponsors the 1st Annual Equine Health and Business Seminars.

2005

• MHC celebrates 20 years!
• MHC hosts equine liability and insurance forum with Maryland Insurance Commissioner.
• Maryland Horse Industry Board and Maryland Department of Agriculture ratify Equine Health Advisory Committee.

2004

• MHC relaunches independent newsletter, but maintains Update in The Equiery.
• MHC sponsors and organizes two day-long seminars, one for owners of horse businesses in Maryland and the others for those running nonprofit associations and clubs in Maryland; over 200 people attend.
• MHC launches task force for the creation of an Equine Health Advisory Committee within the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Horse Industry Board.
• MHC advises and sponsors MHIB’s Maryland Horse Industry Forum.

2003

• MHC partners with MHIB for creation of brochure: "What the Horse Industry means to Maryland."
• MHC instrumental in defeating bill that would tax lesson stables.
• MHC advises on changing nutrient management regulations: rather than applying to properties with 4 horses, instead only applying properties with 8 or more horses.
• MHC organizes first open-industry, all equine discipline forum on slots.

2002

• USDA/MDA conducts the first ever equine census in Maryland.
• MHC marshals equestrian community dialogue and position on issues of horses as livestock and the issue of horse slaughter. At the request of the American Horse Council, which sought feedback from state horse councils on how to formulate a national position on federal legislation, and in light of a white paper by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the Maryland Horse Council, following six months of deliberation, voted on August 4, 2002 to endorse the legal status of horses as livestock (this was a unanimous vote), to oppose legislation to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption and to oppose legislation that would ban the transportation of horses to slaughter (this was a majority vote, with two abstentions and no opposition), and to support education efforts for the care and welfare of horses, to support efforts that govern the enforcement of current or future regulations ensuring the humane transportation of horses for slaughter, and to support the development of an infrastructure for end of life options for horses (this was a unanimous vote). These votes were taken in the context of then-pending proposals to ban slaughter, which contained numerous problems such as unfunded mandates to impound horses and consign them to existing rescues without financial support, and no programs or provisions to address the problem of abused, neglected and unwanted horses. The AAEP White Paper warned against unforeseen consequences of ending slaughter options in the US without providing alternatives.
• MHC serves on selection committee for the hiring of an Executive Director for MHIB.
• MHC spearheads support of feed fund bill; bill passes; funding is secured for mission of Maryland Horse Industry Board.

2001

• MHC supports legislative initiative to establish feed fund; bill fails.
• Maryland Horse Industry Board begins distributing grants.

2000

• MHC assembles advisory panel for Columbia Horse Center.
• MHC sponsors the Maryland portion of the Black Stallion Literacy program.
• MHC unveils new color logo.
• MHC Equine Welfare Committee organizes Trailer Rescue Seminar.
• MHC instrumental in passage of legislation to make some forms of intentional animal cruelty a felony rather than a misdemeanor, and increased the potential penalties.
• MHC sponsors the continuing education seminar "Vets: Your Role in Animal Cruelty Investigation," organized by MHC’s Equine Welfare Committee.1999: MHC sponsors contest for new logo.

1999

• MHC sponsors Saddle Up Maryland, in conjunction with Horse Industry Alliance’s Saddle Up America!1998: MHC and DNR partner to host a Trails Maintenance Seminar.

1998

• MHC spearheads legislation to create a Maryland Horse Industry Board; legislation successful; on October 1, 1998 the Maryland Horse Industry Board was established.
• MHC hires first professional legislative representative.

1997

• Pleasure Horse Seminar becomes University Seminars at Horse World Expo; MHC continues its sponsorship and advisement.
• Maryland passes new "Scope of Practice Law" applying to equine health care practitioners; MHC membership divided on topic.
• MHC begins writing formal letters to the Maryland Department of Agriculture requesting a formal census.

1996

• MHC releases brochure on "Insurance, Litigation, Liability Reform and the Effect on the Maryland Horse Industry."
• Horses recognized by Maryland Department of Agriculture as an "alternative form of agriculture."
• MHC releases the "Minimum Standards of Care," an equine industry-wide interpretations of Maryland Annotated Code as it applies to the care of equines; brochure becomes the court standard and is used as a template in other states.
• MHC joins the national Horse Industry Alliance.
• TROT and DNR launch plan to map trails using the cutting edge Global Positioning Satellite technology.

1995

• MHC's 10th Year.
• MHC partners with the Plantation Walking Horses of Maryland to release the "Multi-use Trail Etiquette and Safety Guidelines" Brochure for multi-use trails, which is still in distribution in 2005.

1994

• MHC partners with Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Emergency Management Association, Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Racing Commission and the Maryland Jockey Club to release the brochure "Disaster Action Guidelines for Horse Owners."
• MHC instrumental in defeating legislation that would have banned the use of whips and spurs by non-racing horse people.
• MHC sponsors Youth for America - Ride On!, as part of the Washington International Dressage Classic at PGEC.
• MHC sponsors Maryland Legislative Day, June 5 at the Maryland Horse Center.

1993

• Prince George’s Equestrian Center opens the new indoor arena.
• MHC helps defeat effort to replace State sport of jousting with lacrosse.

1992

• MHC formally partners with Maryland 4-H Foundation on the fundraiser "Maryland Horsemen’s Party."
• MHC provide parade of breeds for Grand Reopening of Rosecroft Raceway
• MHC bumper sticker "Maryland Horses Mean Business" released, featured in EQUUS.
• Maryland Horse Month becomes The Maryland Fall Festival of the Horse.
• MHC instrumental in defeating bill to replace State sport of jousting with duck pin bowling.
• "Why Horses" video, produced by TROT and Montgomery County TV, released; promotes multi-use trails.
• University of Maryland System & Cooperative Extension Services conducts first Maryland Pleasure Horse Survey

1991

• MHC begins newsletter in The Equiery.
• MHC sponsors the Pleasure Horse Seminar in Carroll County.

1990

• Maryland Horse Month is launched; effort to showcase Maryland's international competitions in partnership with the Maryland Office of Tourism.

1989

• MHC produces first Horse Industry Directory.

1986

• Maryland Million Day debuts.

1985

• Maryland Horse Council is incorporated as a 501(c)(6).