NEWS &VIEWS You Can Use MHIB Grant Recipients
T e Maryland Horse Industry Board is pleased to announce the 2012 grant recipients. T e Board received 52 grant applications
requesting over $260,000 in funding. T ese projects ranged from mundane requests for gators, run-in sheds and arena footing to in- novative and cutting edge technology proposals for projects involving rapid manure compost- ing, niche processed feeds, equine genetics and crematoriums. T is grant cycle also saw an ex- citing array of proposals in which horses were part of projects for the greater (nonequestrian) general community, such as antibullying proj- ects, therapeutic and restorative programs for cancer survivors, and helping at-risk youth de- velop marketable trade skills (such as fence and barn building). Of these 52 requests, the Board has selected
15 projects that, in the opinion of the grants committee, met the Board’s objectives: to pro- vide funding for equine-related activities that
aid in equine science and research, that expand economic development opportunities to grow the industry and create more opportunities in Maryland, that support youth activities, that expand educational and heritage opportunities, and that preserve and/or expand green space and farmland. Each project is evaluated for its overall value to the industry (short- and long-term value), the degree to which it will help raise awareness of the industry or grow the industry, and the size and scope of the activity. Also considered are the fi nancial need of the applicant (and whether or not there are other more appropriate funding sources, from grants to business loans) and the detail and quality of the written application. For 2012, the Board will be distributing a little
over $20,000 in grants. Approved projects will receive partial funding. T e grants committee was unanimous in its desire to fund more proj- ects and fund them in full, but were constrained
Equestrian Sports Takes One in the Shorts Special Olympics of Maryland Drops State-Level Equestrian Sports
by Hope Holland In a year when people have had to tighten their belts time and again and where so much has been withdrawn from the public as the iron net of an unforgiving recession draws ever closer it seems that increasing vigilance is the single most important attribute necessary to a person’s well-being. When even vigilance is forsworn by the concealment practices of organizations that exist to serve the public then truly things are very bad indeed. If it is possible to make this even worse, the part of the public that is being deceived by a very quiet maneuver is the people who are concerned with the Special Olympics athletes. And yet, this is exactly what seems to have happened. As so often is the case in things of this kind, it isn’t just that yet one more thing was removed
from a table that has become already abysmally bare; it is how it was done. So often lately the insult is equally as bad as the injury. And when these things happen during the holidays, one really does feel as if the Grinch stole
Christmas, and we all might as well give up. In December of 2011, the Special Olympics of Mary- land issued the following release: “Recently, an extensive assessment process was undertaken by a committee composed of SOMD staff , Board Members, Area/County Directors and Coaches which led to decisions which we believe will greatly improve experiences for our athletes. T e two primary changes are (1.) creating a new three season Sports Calendar and (2.) identifying sports that are sanctioned by SOMD as “State Level,” or “Locally Popular.” Both changes allow for athletes to receive better training, coaches to be more successful in the outcomes they seek, and resources to be utilized much more eff ectively and effi ciently.” Sadly, it seems that the “extensive assessment process” was undertaken without the input of those persons most involved in the equestrian athletes’ actual sports lives, i.e., the coaches. In fact, the whole streamlining of the SOMD process was based not on needs of the athletes involved but on numbers. I don’t know about you, but I fail to see the relevance of reducing a Special Olympian to a number. T ese good people have been handed a life that has left them behind any number of curves to begin with and now reclassifying them as numbers seems unnecessarily harsh. To be absolutely fair, the equestrian sport was not the only one that was cut to a “Locally Popular” continued on page 56
by the available monies. Applicants who did not receive funding can reapply for the next cycle. Funding for the grants programs (as well as the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s primary budget) comes via every bag of feed sold, 15 cents per bag. T e MHIB will formally present the checks at Horse World Expo Saturday afternoon. To learn more about the grant program, visit
http://www.mda.state.md.us/horseboard/ or stop by the MHIB booth during Horse World Expo! Believing in Horses: T is grant money will be used to acquire 16 Believing in Horses books, a children’s story set in Maryland and written by a Maryland horsewoman. One book will be placed in each of Maryland’s County Library Systems.
Cecil County Offi ce of Economic Devel-
opment: As the fi rst county visitors and tour- ists enter when traveling southbound on I-95, Cecil County welcome centers are the offi cial gateways for Maryland, and this rack card (fea- turing Maryland equine stats on one side, and Cecil County equine stats on the other, plus trails, events and places to ride in the county) will be the primary equi-tourism marketing piece for Maryland. Eastern Shore Jousting Association of
Maryland: In addition to being used for Mary- land’s offi cial state sport, the proposed jury stand will travel extensively around the East- ern Shore for use at 4-H shows, horse shows, and fi re company parades, in addition to venues demonstrating the sport of jousting at general audience events. Equestrian Partners In Conservation
(EPIC): EPIC will be expanding the existing Breezy Loop public trail system off of Buck- lodge Road in Boyds (Montgomery County). Fair Hill International: T e FHI website is
the fi rst interface potential visitors, spectators and tourists have with one of Maryland’s pre- miere equi-tourism/spectator events. With this grant, FHI will do a major overhaul of their website to better attract more visitors and tour- ists to Maryland and to Fair Hill. LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc.: T is foundation sponsors a two-year leadership pro- gram for professional adults in the various ag- industries (including the horse industry), provid- ing cross-education of the various ag commodity continued on page 56
IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO Editor at The Equiery, P.O. Box 610, Lisbon, MD 21765 • FAX: 410-489-7828 • email
editor@equiery.com.
Be sure to include your full name, phone number and address. All submissions become the property of The Equiery. 8 | THE EQUIERY | JANUARY 2012 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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