While this facility will include an expansive collection of books and reference materials, it will be more than a library, as the unique space is intended to foster and promote education, community ties and passion to ensure the longevity of the Maryland horse industry.

“The Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will allow us to honor the past, educate in the present and promote the future [of Maryland’s horse industry],” said Capital Campaign co-chair and Maryland Horse Breeders Association Vice President, Richard F. Blue, Jr.

In addition to the reference library, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will include a memorabilia area, versatile meeting space, interactive kiosks and rotating exhibits. Visitors will learn about Maryland’s champion horses and riders and engage with all facets of the state’s diverse equine industry, while educational programs will engage a wide audience of equine-inclined youth, the general public and lifelong industry participants.

“The way [into the horse industry] is through learning, so that’s the most exciting aspect of this project,” said Josh Pons, co-chair of the Capital Campaign and president of the Maryland Horse Foundation. “There’s someone out there who has a passion for the game but just doesn’t know how to get started, and we could be that gateway for people, the portal where people come through the door in Reisterstown and go ‘wow, I met someone really interesting doing research in that library.'”

While paying tribute to and preserving the rich history of Maryland’s horse industry, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will also serve as a center for visitors to document history by providing technology to record oral stories, scan photos and digitize historic footage.

“We’re including all aspects of the industry – horse sports, horse activities – in what we do here and offering that to people who want to come learn,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. “That’s the full circle from the founding of Maryland Horse Breeders Association in 1929, and the Maryland Horse Foundation has allowed us to amplify the focus on education.”

The goal of the capital campaign is to raise $1 million that will be used to update 3,500 square feet of space in the historic building, purchase furnishings, integrate current audio/visual technologies and support ongoing operational costs. Support has been robust to date, with $100,000 in commitments already confirmed. The completion of this project relies on broad support from the Maryland horse community.

The Maryland Horse Foundation was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. The Maryland Horse Foundation supports a number of programs and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center.

Since 1929, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association has been the leading horse industry advocate within the state of Maryland. The main purposes of the MHBA have always been to encourage, educate, promote, protect, and improve the horse breeding industry in Maryland. While emphasis traditionally has been placed on the production of Thoroughbred racehorses, the MHBA encourages all interests that include horses.

Visit MarylandHorse.com/Library to learn about the various ways you can support the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center Capital Campaign.