-first published in the April 2026 issue of The Equiery
Dear Members and Friends of the Maryland Horse Council,
Spend enough years around horses and you’ll notice something about old tack. A well-used saddle or a seasoned set of harness tells its own story. The leather is softened in all the right places, the stitching carries the marks of time, and every crease hints at miles traveled together. For many of us, that familiar saddle or harness starts to feel like an old friend — reliable, comfortable, and full of memories.
What’s interesting is that across Maryland, that “old friend” might look very different depending on who you ask.
For some, it’s a western saddle that’s seen miles of trails through the rolling western Maryland countryside. For others, it’s an English saddle that has carried its rider around show rings or across open fields. On the Eastern Shore, it might be a well-oiled set of harness that jingles softly as a horse pulls a cart down a quiet country road. And at our racetracks it could be the tack that goes to the paddock before the horses thunder down the stretch.
Different tack, different traditions — but the same love of horses.
That’s one of the things that makes Maryland’s horse community so special. We’re lucky to live in a state where there are so many ways to enjoy our horses and so many places to do it. One day you might be riding a steep wooded trail, another attending a show or event, and somewhere else in the state someone is hitching a horse to a carriage or saddling up for a ride across open farmland or to the beach.
Our disciplines may look different, but the bond we share with our horses — and with each other — is remarkably similar. We all know the quiet rhythm of barn chores, the smell of well-oiled leather and hay, and the deep satisfaction that comes from time spent with a good horse.
In a state as rich in horses as Maryland, that shared connection is worth celebrating. When we appreciate the many different ways people enjoy their horses, we strengthen the entire equestrian community.
And much like that trusted old saddle or harness, it’s something we can rely on for years to come.
Enjoy those wonderful spring time rides!
Laura Lane-Unsworth
President, Maryland Horse Council
