Organizers from the Maryland Horse Industry Board and the University of Maryland Equine Sciences Program have released a Final Report from the day long  2024 Maryland Horse Forum, held August 8 at McDonogh School in Owings Mills. The Forum was attended by nearly 300 horse enthusiasts and has been held continuously every five years since 2004.

The 33-page report, authored and compiled by Forum Co -Chairs Dr. Amy Burk, Anne Litz and Jennifer Reynolds, lists concerns, recommendations and action items from the Forum’s three main tracks and 12 listening sessions. Each session was hosted by skilled moderators who compiled hundreds of comments from participants in the areas of Industry Participation, Promotion and Education; Horse Keeping and Business Sustainability; and Land Use, Legislation and Liability issues.

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“The action items outlined in the Report provide a comprehensive strategy to enhance involvement, maintain and grow our horse businesses and secure support for the equine industry,’ said Dr. Amy Burk, Professor and Coordinator for the Equine Studies Program in the Animal and Avian Sciences Department at the University of Maryland and Vice Chair of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, a program in the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The Rural Maryland Council and 18 other industry partners and organizations sponsored the Forum. The report includes an Executive Summary and a number of photographs from the day’s events.

The Report can be reviewed and downloaded from various online platforms including www.mda.maryland.gov/horseboard; www.agnr.umd.edu; www.extension.umd.edu; www.marylandhorse.com; and websites from various other industry organizations. Printed copies will be distributed to over 200 state and county public officials.

Major concerns expressed at the Forum included workforce shortages; workforce enhancement; optimizing care and management of horses; enhancing horse venues; and protecting open space for equine farms and activities.

“The goal of these Forums is to take stock of where we are, address issues and challenges, help insure the long term success of Maryland’s horse industry, broaden its impact and  help propel its continued growth,” said Kevin Atticks, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

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