Maryland Horse People: RAISE YOUR VOICE!
by Jane Seigler USDF Silver Medalist & VP, Maryland Horse Council -
seigler.jane@gmail.com
Anyone with access to a media outlet these
days is well aware that politics keeps get- ting stranger and stranger, and that many politicians are seriously in need of adult su- pervision. As we put this summer’s oppres- sive heat behind us and dive back into the autumn riding, driving, breaking, training, showing, etc., season, it’s easy to lose sight
of the fact that winter, and the next session of the Maryland legisla- ture, is just around the corner. Maryland’s legislature meets for just three months (roughly mid-January to mid-April) each year, but during that time literally thousands of new laws are proposed. In the press of that schedule many worthy initiatives never see the light of day, and some that shouldn’t, do. But one thing is certain: during those hectic three months the historic halls of the Annapolis statehouse and legislative offi ces are seething with representatives of every interest imaginable. And the real- ity is–rightly or wrongly–those who speak up get heard, and those who speak up with the strongest voice get heard most clearly.
It becomes imperative that someone keep
that make sense. Especially in the legislative context, there is strength in numbers. And the more voters we can represent, the more legislators are going to sit up and take notice. So–the Horse Council needs your support! We need every Maryland horse person to join as an individual, farm, business or youth member. We need every Maryland horse club or association to join as an association member. Dues are minimal, but our impact can be huge if we can honestly represent to our legislators that our membership is 30,000 strong (the ap- proximate number of horse people in Maryland). Visit mdhorsecouncil. org for more information about joining, or ask any one of our members, all of which can be found under “members” on our website. Still not sure if you care? Here are some things we anticipate will be under consideration by the legislature this year: - All kinds of new and creative revenue-raising ideas. T e state desperately needs money, and will be looking under the sofa cush- ions for all the nickels and dimes it can discover. - Potential changes to the agricultural land preservation rules and opportunities
- Changes to the stable licensing requirements - More action on the future of racing in Maryland - T ings we haven’t anticipated
Maryland Horse Council Joint Meeting with the Maryland Horse Industry Board
an eye on what potentially detrimental things the legislature is considering, what poten- tially benefi cial things have been proposed but are “dying on the vine,” and what po- tentially benefi cial things could be proposed that haven’t been. Who is that “someone” for Maryland horse people? T e Maryland Horse Council! T e Horse Council is a non-profi t, all volunteer organization, whose mission is to represent the interests of all Maryland horse people to the state legislature. Believe it or not, the legislature sees numerous bills each year that have a direct or indirect eff ect on Maryland’s horse people. In recent years, we have seen bills relating to: expanding the sales tax to cover services, e.g., boarding and training; helmet requirements for riders; changing the legal standard for liability for injuries; motor ve- hicle registration fees for horse trailers; quarantine rules for infectious diseases; licensing and regulating vets, farriers, massage therapists and acupuncturists; stable licensing, etc. T e list goes on and on. T e Horse Council, through its dedicated volunteer staff , works diligently to stay on top of the dizzyingly fast-paced world of State lawmaking during the legislative session, and to get the word out to horse people about what is being considered. Even more importantly, the Horse Council weighs in with legislators to make sure they understand the full ramifi ca- tions of proposals they are considering, and to lend support to initiatives
96 | THE EQUIERY | OCTOBER 2011 Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Miller Senate Building 11 Bladen Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Reception at 6 p.m. • Meeting at 7 p.m. All are welcomed!
For more information, or to join MHC, please visit
www.mdhorsecouncil.org
But wait–there’s more! Our need to be vigilant is not just a three-month-out-of- the-year thing. For one thing, the bills that will be introduced in the next session in Annapolis are being drafted NOW–right under our noses as we enjoy the moderating weather. For another, Maryland horse peo- ple are also very much aff ected by the State’s regulatory bodies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources, to name just a couple. T ese organizations operate year-round, of course, and can also have major impact on horse people. Just this spring and summer,
the Horse Council has weighed in on proposed striking new and addi- tional requirements for nutrient/pasture management, which are still in the works, and on substantial restrictions on trail riders’ use of the land surrounding the WSSC’s Triadelphia Reservoir, also still an active issue. We’re sure you are ready to add your voice to the cohort of interested, in-
volved and engaged Maryland horse people. Members get regular emailed updates about issues of interest, with information about how you can get more involved in any issue of your choice. We’ve already used the “strength in numbers” cliche, so here’s another: “money talks.” T e Maryland Horse Council has formed a Political Action Committee. Funds contributed to the MHC PAC will be used to support candidates who stand up for the issues important to Maryland horse people and agriculture. Don’t be a bump on a log! Stand up, speak up and join up now!
Maryland Horse Council membership is open to all associations, farms, businesses and individuals. To join, please visit
mdhorsecouncil.org, contact
admin@mdhorsecouncil.org, or call 301-502-8929. The Maryland Horse Council is sponsored by B & D Builders, The Equiery, Farm Credit and Southern States.
800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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