NEWSfrom MHC’S INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS Member News In December of 2021, members Joe


Deana Phillips Tice and Celia Vornholt seal the deal!


Tice and Deanna Phillips Tice pur- chased Oakland Ridge Farm, expand- ing their current operation (En-Tice- Ment Stables at Obligation Farm) to include the two Harwood sites. Daugh- ter Brittany Tice will be the head train- er, with the Oakland Ridge operation geared towards competitive show rid- ers. The 116-acre facility has two barns, an indoor arena with an observation


area, and a 135 x 250 outdoor arena. With the sale of Oakland Ridge to the Tices, former owner/manager


and former MHC member Celia Vornholt is offi cially retired. Believe it or not, Deanna Tice is also slowing down: in January, after 14 years, Deanna offi cially retired from leading the Harwood 4-H Club. Congrat- ulations to all!


Congratulations to member Tom Johnson,


owner of Eastern Shore Forest Products; Johnson was recently recognized by the Maryland Forests Association (MFA) and the Maryland Rural Council for his contribution to the environment by repurposing unwant- ed byproducts from the paper industry, the eff ect of which byproducts he saw fi rst hand as a young man working for a paper mill.


“What a shame it seemed to leave so much debris in the woods after each job was completed,” Johnson told the MFA. Thirty-fi ve years later, Johnson’s Eastern Shore Forest Products is one of the largest producers of animal bedding in the US, with their branded Comfort Flakes and Comfort Pellets sold coast to coast. Why did the MFA fi nd Johnson’s company so notable? Because Johnson is Maryland’s largest forest product manufacturer – and he doesn’t even produce lumber. That’s a lot of animal bedding!


We would be remiss if we did not note that another MHC member,


Edrich Lumber, was also recently recognized by the Maryland Forests Association for their innovative technologies and zero waste. Edrich also produces some animal bedding, primarily for the local market. We profi led Edrich and co-owner Sally Stanfi eld in the August issue of The Equiery.


Member and sponsor Paradise Energy Solutions welcomes Nelson Hernandez to the Maryland branch as a new foreman.


WELCOME NEW MEMBERS MHC welcomes a trio of new members–the North American Sad-


dlery School LLC (NASS), Stoneleigh Equine Services, and Hastilow Competition Saddles, USA LLC–who are deeply intertwined in the saddle fi tting business in Washington County. While each is a new MHC


Annette Davis Gavin and Amber Baughman-Markley


member, none of them is a new busi- ness. Their origin stories are remark- able examples of how an interest and a passion can become an “accidental” business. NASS grew out of the Pennsylva- nia-based Hastilow Competition Sad- dles, USA LLC, which was established by Annette [Davis] Gavin in 2005. A native of Great Britain, Gavin came to the US almost three decades ago to


teach in the highly-regarded equine studies program at Wilson Col- lege. Frustrated with the lack of accessible saddle fi tters, Gavin began having a UK-certifi ed Master Saddler visit the U.S. several times a year. As demand for high quality saddle fi tting grew, Gavin’s saddler sug- gested that she herself qualify to sit the Master Saddlery examination. Gavin did just that, and shortly thereafter she established Hastilow, a full service saddlery, off ering saddle, bridle, and bit fi tting services; re- pairs; re-fl ocking; and sales and consignments. Gavin also began off er- ing the Society of Master Saddlers Introduction to Saddle Fitting cours- es. She off ered the courses to anyone, even those who might work for competitors, because Gavin believes that properly fi tting tack is an equine welfare issue and a critical component in helping the modern sport horse to reach its full athletic potential. Today, Hastilow employs three full-time Society of Master Saddlers


Qualifi ed Saddle Fitters, one of whom is Amber Baughman-Markley, whom many Marylanders know as the owner/operator of Stoneleigh Equine Services at Stoneleigh Farm in Washington County - the third of our trio of new members. In December 2021, Gavin spun her saddle fi tting classes off into the


North American Saddlery School with with Markley as her partner and Janice Stroud-Bickes as its director. NASS off ers fi ve weeks of full time courses with Gavin and Markley as instructors, as well as guest instruc- tors from Great Britain. Markley told us that “running an international school in the time of COVID has had its major challenges; however, interest has grown as people look for alternative and second careers. [Annette and I] made the decision that we could no longer run the school and Hastilow side by side. The school…needed to become its own entity.” And both businesses needed more space. Both NASS and Hastilow are re-locating to Stoneleigh Farm. Markley,


“built a purpose-designed facility to warehouse more inventory, ex- pand offi ces and accommodate trailer-in clients [for Hastilow]. Above the warehouse is a state of the art classroom/workshop for the North American Saddlery School.” Don’t get confused if you see Pennsylvania addresses on the websites! All digital platforms are in the process of being updated. Pennsylvania’s loss, Maryland’s gain! Welcome!


Paul Lewis and Julie Lewis, native Marylanders and life-long horse people, have turned their love of horses into a full-service equine busi- ness. Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Center in Brandywine off ers horseman- ship camps for children from all walks of life, as well as both western and English riding lessons, and programs for special needs children.


To submit news & updates, contact Business Network Co-Chairs Jane 52 | FEBRUARY 2022 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION


Seigler & Crystal Brumme Pickett at IndustryNews@mdhorsecouncil.org BECOME A MEMBER • JOIN.MDHORSECOUNCIL.ORG


800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


Edwin Remsberg/MDA


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