What do the following organizations have in common?

  • University of Maryland
  • Equine Rescue Regional Network
  • MidAtlantic Equitation Festival
  • Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding
  • Thoroughbred Alliance Show Series
  • Brave HEART
  • Tri-County Dressage
  • Kiddy Up with Horses
  • Star Community, Inc.
  • Maryland High School Rodeo Association
  • Maryland Horse Council
  • Trail Riders of Today (TROT)
  • Maryland Historic Horse Trails
  • Days End Farm Horse Rescue
  • University of Maryland Extension – Worcester Co.
  • Southern Anne Arundel County Junior Riding Club
  • Maryland Council of Equestrian Therapy
  • Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program
  • Pasadena Horse & Pony Association
  • Great & Small
  • The Retreat at Beckleysville, Inc.
  • Mason Dixon Deputies
  • Maryland Pony Breeders, Inc.
  • Greenwell Foundation
  • Circle of Hope
  • Maryland Therapeutic Riding at Normandy Farm
  • De la Brooke Pony Club
  • Valerie Ormond
  • Kent Association of Therapy, Inc.

They are all recipients of the $30,000 grant fund from the Maryland Horse Industry Board for 2016.

49 organizations applied for the current round of funding.

Funding for these grants and the Maryland Horse Industry Board is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in the state. Since the fund was established in 2002, the Board has awarded nearly $400,000 in grants to nearly 300 projects.

Projects are evaluated based on their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds, benefits and overall quality of the written presentation. Grants are capped at $3,000 in order to award funds to as many groups as possible. Eligible projects should have a completion date no later than June 30, 2016. Grant recipients are required to file a project report with the Board detailing how the money was used.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. A full list of recipients including detailed descriptions of each project is available on the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s website.