MD Horse Council Archives Archives

Maryland Horse Council News

Posted by Editor | Sep 2, 2018 | Archives, Latest News, MD Horse Council Archives | 0 |

Letter from the Maryland Horse Council President Neil Agate (first printed in the September 2018 print edition) I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful equestrian activities that summer has to offer. Although the incredible amount of rain we’ve had this summer may have given some of us less saddle time than we’d like, the weather has not slowed down the Maryland Horse Council. The MHC has been very busy with strategic planning and will be publishing a new Strategic Plan shortly. As always, The Equiery has been hitting its optimum stride and we’re about to publish our eighth edition since bringing the magazine into the Horse Council family in January. The Maryland Equine Transition Service (METS) is kicking into high gear and recently moved into the MHC/Equiery offices in Lisbon. We will also implement over the next few months exciting plans to bring in more members, more sponsors, more advertisers, and more volunteers, all with the goal of broadening our ability to reach, unite and serve the more than 100,000+ horses, their owners, and equine-related businesses in Maryland. All of these activities, and many more outlined in the Strategic Plan, need one thing to guarantee the MHC’s success… VOLUNTEERS. We are fortunate to have a small staff, but they need the support of our member volunteers to make great things happen. Whether it’s helping out at Horseland or...

Bodgie Read: Pumphrey Memorial Award

Posted by Editor | Jul 17, 2018 | Archives, MD Horse Council Archives, People Profiles Archives | 0 |

For 17 years, Bodgie Read has been a reliable force behind Fair Hill International and the Fair Hill Horse Trials, making sure each cross-country and stadium jump is painted, each sponsor has a sign on course, each dressage ring is set up, pinnies, dressage tests and score sheets are in order, judges are coordinated, and volunteers are recruited. You will see her zooming about at the International, or at check-in on schooling days. “She is the ultimate volunteer,” says FHI co – organizer and founder Trish Gilbert. “And not just for us. When she is not helping us, she is helping Pony Club and other local horse trials.” Indeed, Bodgie Read’s volunteerism spans time and organizations within the horse industry. And it is for such dedication that she is being honored with the Pumphrey Memorial Award. Read’s interest in the horse industry came by way of her father, the late Colonel Fair, a founder and former president of the United States Pony Clubs. Although Read was too old to join Pony Club when it was created, she began volunteering while her daughter was a member. From there, her involvement grew to her present position as Regional Supervisor for the Delmarva Region. In the late 1980s, Read began to volunteer at the new Fair Hill International. Her proximity to the venue made it convenient, and she’s been involved with FHI in one...

Who’s Who in the Maryland Horse Council

Posted by Editor | Feb 7, 2018 | Archives, Latest News, MD Horse Council Archives, State Agencies | 0 |

First published in the February 2018 Equiery The Maryland Horse Council is the umbrella organization for all horse organizations in Maryland and recently, purchased The Equiery magazine. The Board of Directors consists of one representative from each member organization, as well as Directors-at-Large who represent individuals, farm and business memberships, and youth groups. The board of directors, which meets quarterly, elects the officers and the Executive Committee. The executive committee serves as the steering committee for the council, meeting monthly and conferring regularly to oversee housekeeping and planning issues for MHC. Here is a look at the current MHC executive committee. For more information on MHC, click here. To become a MHC member, click here. President: Neil Agate Neil Agate is the founder of Four Gates, LLC, a business and technology services firm that works with early stage companies in Healthcare IT. He is a board member of the British-American Business Association and co-chair of the association’s communications committee. While Neil enjoys all horse activities, he is an avid polo player. In addition to playing polo, he has announced many charity polo matches up and down the East Coast. Originally from England, Neil has lived with his wife Kathy and two daughters in Darnestown for the last 20 years. Vice President: Steuart Pittman, Jr. Steuart Pittman, Jr., and his siblings are the eighth generation of his family to own...

Maryland Horse Council News Updates

Posted by Editor | Jun 28, 2017 | Archives, MD Horse Council Archives | 0 |

2018 January 2018 President’s Letter, Strategic Plan Update March 2018 Legislative Update 2017 January 2017 2017 Preview of Activities, MHC’s New Slate Officers May 2017 MHC Day at the Races, Help MHC Go Pro August 2017 President’s Letter, Go Pro Campaign Update 2016 January 2016 MHC Meeting, 2016 Preview of Activities May 2016 Legislative Update, MD Horse Industry Day Report, Upcoming Events August 2016 MHC 2020 Initiative, MHC 10th Annual BBQ Preview, Farm Stewardship Committee Update November 2016 BBQ Report, MHC 2020 and Membership Report, Legislative and Regulatory Report, Horse Council PAC 2015 January 2015 MHC Update, Highlights from Annual Membership and Quarterly Board of Directors Meeting, Horse Council PAC Update May 2015 President’s Letter, Save the Dates July 2015 Hails and Farewells, MHC 30th Anniversary BBQ, Farm Stewardship Spring Meeting Report October 2015 Horse Council PAC Update from Win Hayward, Farm Stewardship Meeting Report 2014 January 2014 Message from the President, Jane Seigler, MHC Annapolis Representative, Why you should be a member of MHC May 2014 Message from the President, Jane Seigler, Legislative Updates, Maryland Fund for Horses Update August 2014 Message from the President, Jane Seigler, Committee Updates • Legislative Updates, Executive Commitee Elections November 2014 MHC: Who We Are, MHC Application, MHC Council Association Members 2013 January 2013 Message from the President, Steuart Pittman, Meet the New Officers, Committee Updates May 2013 Message from the President, Steuart Pittman, Meet the New Executive Committee Members Online County...

Maryland Horse Council to “Go Big”

Posted by Editor | Dec 30, 2016 | County News & Alerts, Latest News, Legislation & Regulation, MD Horse Council Archives | 0 |

As president Steuart Pittman has quipped, the time has come for the Maryland Horse Council to “go big or go home,” and so, in order to “go big,” MHC is looking to “go pro” by partnering with a professional association management firm. MHC was founded 30 years ago specifically for the purpose of influencing legislators to create a horse park; that horse park is the Prince George’s Equestrian Center. By the time it was five years old, MHC had shifted to a statewide mission: to represent the diverse horse industry at the state level on legislative and regulatory matters. Since the mid-90s, membership and activities have skyrocketed, and as current president Jane Seigler explains, “We’ve kind of become a victim of our own success.” Until 10 years ago, MHC was managed completely by volunteers (disclaimer: for about 15 years, The Equiery actually provided the management services for MHC, and is an ongoing sponsor of MHC). By 2006, MHC had outgrown The Equiery’s ability to manage it as a “volunteer” (i.e., donating our labor and our resources), and so MHC hired its first association manager, Vanessa Finney, who also worked part time for several other associations. Soon one of those associations snapped her up full time. MHC lobbyist Nancy Hill helped bridge the gap until Mythic Landing Enterprises was hired to provide administrative services. This was during the presidency of Steuart Pittman, and...