Maryland Horse Industry Board Hosting EQUUS Film Festival, January 19-20

Event Will Replace Cancelled Horse World Expo

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Horse Industry Board—a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture—will join several industry partners hosting the Maryland tour stop of the EQUUS Film Festival, January 19-20, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. This event will replace the recently cancelled 2018 Horse World Expo.

“We are converting the fairgrounds’ theatre-style Fasig-Tipton sales arena into a movie theatre which seats over 350 people,” said Ross Peddicord, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board. “This will be a great event for our state’s equine community, and we would like to thank the Maryland State Fair and the EQUUS organization for making this happen.”

The EQUUS Film Festival is a touring version of the international festival held annually in New York City. Eighteen equestrian-themed films will be screened over two days, and include feature films, documentaries, shorts, music videos, commercials, educational material, art, and literature.

Tickets for the event are $20 per day, and can be purchased on the Board’s website. The festival will run Friday, January 19, 4 – 10 p.m.; through Saturday, January 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Each day features an opportunity to meet the filmmakers and participate in special activities.

Friday is “Hunt Night,” featuring the film “Goodnight Ladies.” The film is about the life of famed Master of Foxhounds Nancy Hannum, and was made by her granddaughter Christy Hannum, who will be there to talk about the movie. There will also be a screening of “All the Wild Horses,” which focuses on the Mongol Derby—the world’s toughest horse race. Marylander Barbara Smith will be on hand to talk about her experiences in the 650-mile race, completed in eight days.

Saturday features the film “The Wild Ponies of Chincoteague,” a double EQUUS winner made by Kurt Kojala of Chestertown, MD. The film follows the exploits of a Maryland teenager whose lifelong dream is to own a Chincoteague pony. There will be numerous Chincoteague pony activities including a free screening of the classic film “Misty of Chincoteague.”

For more information on the event, contact Anne Litz at anne.litz@maryland.gov.

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