Maryland Horse Industry Board Awards $30,000 in Grants to Promote Industry

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Jan. 06, 2015) – The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB), a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, awarded $30,000 in grants to 26 organizations that represent a cross section of equine groups and disciplines from various geographic areas of the state. The committee of five MHIB members selected projects from a pool of 47 applications.

Funding for these grants and MHIB is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland. Since the fund was established in 2002, MHIB has awarded more than $350,000 in grants to more than 275 projects.

Organizations receiving funding ranged from Fair Hill International 3-Day Event, which regularly draws 8,000 to 10,000 spectators, to a trail riding group, The League of Maryland Horsemen, which clears and maintains horseback riding trails for hundreds of users. See a full list and description of the projects receiving funding here.

“Horses are a critical component of Maryland’s agricultural industry. The Maryland Horse Industry Board and the Feed Fund do a terrific job helping to stimulate growth and opportunity in Maryland’s equestrian community,” said MHIB Chairman Jim Steele. “As a self-funded commodity marketing entity, consisting of private citizens who are stakeholders in the industry, MHIB is a model of how industry groups can help themselves, without relying on taxpayer dollars.”

Projects are evaluated for their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds and quality of the written presentation. A grant award is capped at $3,000 in order to award funds to as many groups as possible. Projects should be completed by June 30, 2015. Recipients are required to file a project report with MHIB on how the money was used.

MHIB was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. For more information about the grant program and MHIB, please visit www.mda.maryland.gov/horseboard or contact Executive Director Ross Peddicord at 410-841-5798 or email ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.

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