ROSS PEDDICORD TO LEAD THE MARYLAND HORSE INDUSTRY BOARD

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 14, 2011) – Ross Peddicord, a life-long horseman and 11th generation Marylander, is taking the reins as the new executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board.  The Board promotes equestrian industry and the use of horses for recreation through activities such as raising awareness and visibility, educational and research projects to benefit the equine industry, and developmental efforts to stimulate the growth of the local horse economy.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Peddicord join the department to lead the Maryland Horse Industry Board,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “His personal and professional experience and broad-based knowledge of the horse industry and Maryland will be a tremendous asset to the department.”

Among his first duties will be to release the new 2010 Maryland Equine Census Data, which will be available within the next month.

“I’m excited that the Maryland Horse Industry Board has given me this opportunity and look forward to working with them,” said Mr. Peddicord. “I’ve spent most of my life involved in the horse business and want to do everything I can to help promote, market and grow this vital industry. Raising and breeding horses and all the horse sports connected to it go back over 300 years in our state and we want to make sure that this great Maryland tradition flourishes.”

Mr. Peddicord has a long history of involvement with the horse industry, both professionally and personally. For 30 years, he operated Thoroughbred racing and breeding operations, rode amateur steeplechase races, as well as raised and exhibited champions.  An award-winning journalist with significant marketing experience, he has worked at the Baltimore Sun, Horsemen’s Journal Magazine, Maryland Horse Magazine, Laurel, Bowie and Pimlico racetracks. Most recently Mr. Peddicord co-founded Maryland Life Magazine, which covers the art, history and culture of Maryland, and served as co-publisher and vice president of marketing and advertising for six years until present. Additionally, he served at Mount St. Mary’s University as a professional fundraiser and director of marketing.  There, he also helped found the Mount Intercollegiate Riding Team and served as its first advisor.  He currently serves on numerous boards including the Maryland Tourism Council, Howard County Tourism and Promotion Council, Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts for annual Artscape festival. Mr. Peddicord earned his B.A. in American Studies from Washington College in Chestertown.

Mr. Peddicord is the second executive director to serve the Maryland Horse Industry Board. He fills the position left vacant in July by J. Robert Burk, who accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The Board, originally the State Board of Inspection of Horse Riding Stables, was established in Maryland statute in 1968 to license and inspect stables operating as businesses in the state. www.marylandhorseindustry.org