This is the time in winter when things start to look up. Frozen mud season is almost over and squishy mud season is right around the corner. We start thinking again about warm weather activities. Which is why March is our full calendar of events issue.
Every March we compile a list of as many equestrian activities around the state as we can find that are happening between now and December 31. We include clinics, educational events, endurance rides, hunter paces, marquee Standardbred and Thoroughbred races, recognized competitions, un-recognized competitions, rodeos, schooling shows, steeplechases, organized trail rides, and anything else an organizer sends us. We have multiple horse activities in all areas of our state, every weekend of the year and some weekdays as well. It is an embarrassment of riches.
Our chock-a-block horse activities calendar reflects the diversity and strength of our industry. Our industry has grown exponentially in the last five years, and now that the final report from the American Horse Council’s Economic Impact Survey is out, we can identify where that growth is coming from. Since 2017:
• the total economic impact of the Maryland horse industry on our state’s economy has grown 38%, from $2.1 billion to $2.9 billion;
• the number of jobs in our industry has grown 42%, from an estimated 15,378 to 21,841;
• the total number of jobs supported by our industry has grown 32%, from 21,532 to 28,434;
• the fastest growing sector, the competition sector, has grown 37%, from $270 million to $370 million;
• the recreation sector, which includes lesson programs and trail riding, has grown 20.6%, from $382 million to $461 million;
• the Thoroughbred racing sector has grown 3.3%, from $572 million to $591 million.
We also have some new data that we did not have in 2017, as follows:
• the Maryland horse industry generates $1.124 billion in total wages;
• the Standardbred sector has an economic impact of $278 million;
• the equine-assisted services sector has an impact of $36.8 million; and
• our rescues and sanctuaries generate $3.16 million.
Moreover, we are still leading the nation in horses per square mile (7.5) and horses per horse-acre (2.34). A horse-acre is an acre of land that is in horse use – Maryland has over 220,000 of them.
The almost 40% growth in the competition sector has sparked discussion at the policy level within the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) as well as with various county governments. The Maryland Department of Agriculture recently authorized MHIB, in partnership with MHC, to conduct a study of Maryland sport horse breeders – we know of at least 60 such breeders in our state already! — and conversations about developing a five year strategic plan to support competition venues and competition organizers is in the offing.
Maryland-bred sport horses competing in Florida and Georgia have already started 2024 off with a bang. Recent winners as of press time include:
• Loafer’s Lodge Buckaroo, a 2016 Welsh Pony, bred by John Almond of Monkton, by Rozmel’s Dressed in Scarlet out of Land’s End Jazzeroo (Fox Cry Whinny the Pooh), was Champion USHJA 2’0 at the Venice Equestrian Tour in Venice, Florida, on Jan. 21.
• Bonaire, a 2014 Rheinland Pfalz Saar, bred by Elizabeth Callahan of Oxford, by Bliss MF out of Avalon (A Fine Romance), won the Open Intermediate 1 Day division at the Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials in Florida on Jan. 26.
• Wonderful Courage, a 2018 Thoroughbred, bred by Tim Keefe of Sandy Spring, by Bourbon Courage out of Wonderful Secret (Stevie Wonderboy), won the Junior Novice Rider division at the Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials in Florida on Jan. 26.
• Shameless, a 2011 Oldenburg, bred by Shari Glickman of Mt. Airy, by Stedinger out of Baronessa (Bergamon), was Champion Children’s Hunter 15-17 at Wellington Equestrian Festival 3 in Florida on January 28.
• Land’s End Electra, a 2016 Welsh Pony bred by Nancy Reed of Centreville, by Land’s End Love Note out of Third Try (Feel the Power), was Champion Green Pony Hunter at World Equestrian Center (Ohio) (Jan. 31).
• Indigo Midnight, a 2016 Thoroughbred, bred by Anna Herald of Darlington, by Kozub’s Kin out of Latifah (Allen’s Prospect), was Champion Take2 Thoroughbred Hunter at Wellington Equestrian Festival 4 in Florida on Feb. 4.
• Silver Bop, a 2012 Thoroughbred, bred by Susan H. Wantz of Taneytown, by Bop out of Silver Concern (Concern), won the Training/Novice division at the Pine Top Intermediate Horse Trial in Georgia on Feb. 11.
All of us here at the Maryland Horse Council think 2024 is going to be a barnstormer of a year for all of us. We will see you all at an equestrian activity near you!
