Horse Board to Host EQUUS Film Festival Tour Stop in Maryland

Touring Film Festival Coming to Clark’s Elioak Farm May 12-14

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Horse Industry Board—a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture—will partner with local stakeholders to host the Maryland stop of the EQUUS Film Festival tour, May 12-14, at Clark’s Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City.

Nineteen films from five countries—ranging from full length features to short films—will be shown in the farm’s education center. The films portray a variety of equine topics including polo, dressage, horse racing, steeplechase, natural horsemanship, Western riding, horses in the arts, horse rescues, and the holistic benefits of riding and working with horses.

The EQUUS Film Festival showcases up to 150 horse-themed films from around the world at its annual event in New York City. Festival organizers then send the winning entries on tour throughout select U.S. and foreign cities. The tour will stop in Maryland after a recent stop at Longines FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska.

Show times will run from 5 – 10:30 p.m. on Friday; 12 – 5:15 p.m. on Saturday; and 12 – 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the farm is $6. All-day movie passes for the festival are $5. All tickets will be available at the gate. A complete listing of films and show times is available on the board’s website and at MarylandHorse.com.

“We are delighted to be at Clark’s Elioak Farm where we can show films continuously all weekend in a centrally-located, family-friendly atmosphere,” said EQUUS organizer Lisa Diersen.

Clark’s Elioak Farm offers pony rides and is certified as a Maryland Horse Discovery Center. The farm is also home to a variety of agritourism attractions including a petting farm and an “Enchanted Forest.”

There will be a reception on Saturday, May 13, from 6:30 – 10 p.m., honoring the filmmakers and showcasing two films from Germany and Australia. Tickets to the reception are $50 and are limited to 100 guests. A portion of the proceeds will help fund projects of the Maryland Horse Council. To RSVP for the reception, email ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.

Additional sponsors for the Maryland tour stop include Howard County Tourism, Clark’s Elioak Farm, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, the veterinary practice of Dr. Michael Odian, DBM Productions of Towson, and filmmaker Doug Maddox.

For more information, contact Ross Peddicord at ross.peddicord@maryland.gov or 240-344-0000.

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