where the horse industry charges forward into the future.

Date:  August 6, 2009

Cost to Attend:  Only your own patience, and time.  It is free thanks to our sponsors.  For information on our sponsors click on the "Sponsors" button to the left.

Location:  The Showplace Arena and Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, MD

Directions:  Please click on the "Directions" button to the left of the webpage

Who is Invited to Attend?:  Any person who has a stake in the Maryland horse industry and wants to lead the industry towards a successful future.  Individual invitations are being sent to over 400 Maryland equine organizations requesting their representatives to attend.  If you do not receive an invitation, you are still welcome to attend but you must register ahead of time.  To see who attended the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum visit click here. 

To Register to Attend:  Register online by clicking on the "RSVP" button to the left and filling out the form that it directs you to.  Alternatively you can call the Maryland Horse Forum Registration Phone Line at 410-841-2785.

Why Should People Attend?:  If you want to have a say in the future direction of the industry you must attend, or express your opinions to your representative organization.  The leadership of Maryland's State Government has consistently asked that the industry to speak with one voice and define clear goals and strategies for the future of the industry.  As one attendee at the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum "This forum is the best opportunity I've seen to create that "one voice" that government wants to hear."

How Does it Work?:  The leaders of the entire Maryland horse industry representing all aspects of the industry gather together for a series of 9 listening sessions on specific topics related to the industry.  Those topics and the exact agenda will be listed on this website (www.mdhorseforum.com)  under the "Agenda" button to the left. 

Each session will have a moderator who is well known in Maryland as knowledgeable on the topic that will be discussed in the session.  The moderator will introduce the topic and turn over the session to a facilitator or facilitators.  The facilitator then invites those in attendance to discuss the issues faced by you, your business, or organization.  The facilitator will encourage the audience to formulate recommendations on how the issue can be solved.  The solutions can be simple or complex, they may require government or private industry action, but once they are all reported through the Maryland Horse Forum, they will be presented in a final report available online and presented to the Governor.  You can see the results of the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum by clicking on the button to the left marked "2004 MHF Report."  There will also be a free lunch and keynote speech by one of the most prominent leaders in Maryland government.  To see who attended the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum visit click here. 

Background:  The first Maryland Horse Forum was held at the Showplace Arena on August 5, 2004.  Over 250 leaders from the Maryland horse industry met that day to discuss the issues facing the industry and establish recommendations on how to grow and improve the industry.  On February 5, 2009 Governor Martin O'Malley challenged the Agricultural leaders of Maryland to get their commodities together for listening sessions to develop strategies for the future.  It is time for the Maryland horse industry to meet for the 2009 Maryland Horse Forum.

Many recommendations from the 2004 Maryland Horse Forum have come to fruition or are in the process of coming to fruition.  Some of the accomplishments of the industry since 2004 include:

• expansion of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to include a broader array of equine activities as acceptable uses of preserved properties, 
• the Mid-Atlantic Animal Import Center Feasibility Study,
  
• the Maryland Horse Park Feasibility Study,
  
• equine activities were defined in law as agricultural activities, 
  
• the Maryland Horse Industry Board  distributed thousands of dollars for the development of facilities for youth equestrian activities,
  
• and slot machines were passed into law with as much as $100 million dedicated annually to purses and breeders incentives. 

Much has changed since the first Maryland Horse Forum in 2004.  While we have accomplished much over the course of the last five years, we still face many challenges including some of the goals we identified in 2004. 

Join us August 6, 2009 at The Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD!